Review of Pink Floyd: The Wall (1982) by Kenneth L — 14 Aug 2011

I can't decide whether this movie is uniquely ambitious and brilliant, or a pretentious and self-pitying bunch of nonsense. Probably a bit of both. Certainly it isn't like anything else, and if you watch it, you won't forget it anytime soon. When you think about it, it's kind of amazing that a musical group as resolutely bizarre as Pink Floyd was ever as popular as they were. Compared to these guys, Lady Gaga is playing it safe.

It's somewhat based on the Pink Floyd album The Wall, from which you've probably at least heard the song "Another Brick in the Wall, Part 2" ("How can you have any pudding if you don't eat your meat?). The screenplay, which was written by lead singer and songwriter Roger Waters, takes us through the memories and nightmares of a chronically depressed rock star (obviously, the film is heavily autobiographical). The images are all linked in that they make the rock star miserable, but there's no clear narrative to the film. The best part of the film is the scene with British schoolchildren set to "Another Brick in the Wall," which, if you know the song, you can kinda guess how the scene goes. About fifteen minutes of the movie, including the part for "The Trial" are animated; the imagery is grotesque, nightmarish, extremely vagina-heavy, and memorable.

Bob Geldof plays the rock star, the only real character in the film. He isn't required to act much in the usual sense, but mostly rather to just be depressed and agonized, which he does very well. Among other things, the movie might be one of the most painful depictions of chronic depression ever made. The animation, sets, and overall visual design are very well-done, and give the film a very distinctive personality.

Honestly, it's hard to really evaluate this movie. It's sad and weird, but memorable, and obviously it has good Pink Floyd music. I'm glad I watched it, but I wouldn't watch it again anytime soon.