Review of CBGB (2013) by Thomas W — 11 Dec 2013
Could've Been Good But ... The oddly-named (real!) CBGB was opened in the Bowery section of New York City in 1973 by the lackadaisical yet idiosyncratic proprietor Hilly Kristal (Alan Rickman - Die Hard, Harry Potter, Galaxy Quest) who decided to open another venue in the same city in which his first club had been shuttered some four years earlier.
NYC openly embraced art and creativity and the musical scene thrived in NYC as it appeared that nearly everyone from all musical genres were given a chance to succeed. Hoping to cash-in on the "nearly alls", Kristal named his club CBGB - Country, Bluegrass, Blues - and attracted singers and musicians from nearly ALL other genres as he encouraged original content and wanted his musicians to be true to themselves.
CBGB is a very lack-luster film with a lot crammed into the short runtime. This New York rock era along with punk helped develop music that followed decades later on the west coast. The film makes mention of thousands of artists getting their start(s) in one of Kristal's clubs - which is a wonderful thing and an interesting bit of trivia - but trying to fit so many into the movie in such a short span of time makes the film falter.
The film features Malin Akerman (Watchmen, 27 Dresses) as Debbie Harry and Kyle Gallner (Beautiful Creatures, Jennifer's Body) briefly cameos as Lou Reed who actually NEVER made it into one of Kristal's establishments.
The soundtrack is the reason to view the film as it features: The Ramones, Blondie, Misfits, Television, The Cramps, The Voidoids, The Dead Boys, The Fleshtones, Patti Smith, The Shirts, Talking Heads, Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, The B-52's, U.
S. Chaos, Murphy's Law, Agnostic Front, Warzone, Gorilla Biscuits and Youth of Today. The movie wants to fit in so many acts to give it (the movie) and the place an authentic, crazed and hyped frenzy but it does nothing for the actual story.
I enjoyed seeing the cameos and loved the music; but the movie leaves one wanting a LOT more.
This review of CBGB (2013) was written by Thomas W on 11 Dec 2013.
CBGB has generally received mixed reviews.
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