Not Fade Away

A beautiful story about a band of friends living in that space after high school and before reality sets in, a space where its possible (at least somewhat) to live in one's own dreams. Little by little hard reality comes around and though we don't want them to, dreams fade away. Its the story of the arc of youthful late 1960s idealism, though there is strain of skepticism throughout, as there always is. The soundtrack is exceptional, from the opening all the way through the end credits. The acting is strong and the characters so well developed that I could not help myself from wondering "what happened next" to many of them. I enjoyed it so much, I watched it straight through a second time the following morning.

60s garage bands. Teenage rebellion. Angry parents with the added power of James Gandolfini. Even the love story was done well. A winning combination for me. Everything was great until the end which I thought was too abrupt and open ended. Still I would watch this again.

"Not Fade Away" is a film that had such promise. The beginning if the film hooked me, but as the film meandered I lost interest. This is a film by David Chase of 'Soprano' fame about a boy and his band I. The 60's. Steven Van Zandt was the musical producer, and he brought in some members if the 'E' Street Band to make the music.Douglas, played by John Magaro, the nerdish boy from New Jersey, plays the drums, longs to be big man in the band. He comes from a dysfunctional family, dad, played by James Gandolfini,who works hard but is in a loveless marriage. Mom, who always gas her hair in curlers, drab and depressed, and young sums who narrates the film at times.Douglas, finds himself in a high school band, and saying the local beauty girl, Grace, played by Bella Heathcote. Douglas is in revolt with his music, his long curly hair, and his Cuban pumps. Fads is from the old school, but they do gave a relationship of sorts. The band has an audition to the big time, but never seem to make it. The film meanders between the 60's music, the Vietnam War, segregation and family tumult. It goes too far off track to have become a film the masses wanted to see.Great acting by John Marago and Gandolfini. The storyline should have stayed with the music.Recommended with reservations. prisrob 12-27-13

The flickering of a black-and-white television set projecting the images of "The Hollywood Palace" where the Rolling Stones are finishing up their set. Cut to host Dean Martin who snidely remarks, "The Rolling Stones. Aren't they great?" eyes facing upward not to conceal his dripping contempt. A young white kid extolling the virtues of bluesmen Leadbelly and Robert Johnson to his co-worker, a genteel black man, who tells the incredulous youngster he prefers Duke Ellington and Tony Bennett. These are just two of the terrific moments that encompass "Not Fade Away". Unfortunately as memorable as these moments are they don't add up to a cohesive whole. Writer-director David Chase, creator of "The Sopranos", does not fully succeed in crafting a coherent narrative. For starters the film is narrated in the first person not by the main character, Douglas (John Magaro), but by his baby sister. This conceit could work but Chase doesn't see it through. Maybe it's a case of Chase biting off more than he can chew. The film's time span is the weeks after the assassination of John F. Kennedy and weeks preceding the slaying of Robert F. Kennedy. To Chase's credit he has the look and sound of the era down to a tee. I would recommend this film because despite its shortcomings at least it has the courage of its ambitions.

Worth a watch.

It’s sort of like “That Thing You Do” except Meandering , Sad and Woke. Too bad, it had some good performances. In Between the scenes about the band are scenes that push political woke commentary that detracts and bores. After watching it I’m trying to figure out, what the point of the movie was? It was sort of about a band trying to make it at first, and then ?? It introduces all these side plots, none of which pan out or get paid off. The whole movie just meanders along in different directions and then just ends randomly. Direction is at times confusing. Some good music in the soundtrack. Whats most frustrating is it had so much potential.

I am a musician of 40+ years and this film delves more deeply into the common aspects of a musician's experience than any film I've seen. I was extremely impressed by its authenticity.

I wish I could have seen this in a theatre with optimum sound, etc. When I saw a preview on another DVD last fall, it caught my interest. I waited for its December release but couldn't find it in my area. I am especially impressed with the actor John Magaro. I thought he was amazing - his display of emotion (much of it various "shades" of melancholy at first) seemed so real. There was one scene near the beginning where John's character is looking through a door window or somthing at his high school crush making out with another guy at a party, and I could have sworn I was watching Dustin Hoffman in a scene from the Graduate. Was that my imagination? Anyway, when his love interest finally noticed him and made a "late night call with nothing to say" (and struggled to say something), you could see a literal shift in Doug's (John M) confidence. He didn't appear to age in the 5 or 6 year time span, but you could see him growing up through the subtle shifts in all of his gestures.No, there was no perfectly wrapped up ending. Somehow with this movie I found it more interesting to be left pondering both the movie, as well as my own chosen path. Sometimes it's more interesting to be left pondering.

From someone who also played in a garage (Er, basement) band too it brought back memories of another musician seeking fame and fortune!

Grandioser Film über unser 1960s Feeling!

This was a present

super