Starring: Richard Dormer, Jodie Whittaker, Mark Ryder
In 1970’s Belfast, sectarian politics and social issues
between Catholic and Irish Republican movements and opposing forces from
Protestant and British Loyalist groups has made the Northern Irish capital
effectively a no-go area for musicians. Eccentric music-lover, Terri Hooley
(Dormer) takes it upon himself to open a record store named “Good Vibrations”,
which leads to Hooley creating a record label and making Belfast a major
location for the burgeoning punk movement.
Based on the true story of Terri Hooley, Good Vibrations
does somewhat traditionally hit the mould of a lot of modern British movies
about rock music, lending some stylistic comparisons with The Boat That Rocked
(2009) on a visual level, if a little more under-stated. Given the reality of
the story however, and the contentious period that is its backdrop, it isn’t
afraid of going after drama, even if the actual devastation of The Troubles isn’t
exactly laid bare (except for one very graphic montage of news footage). Like a
lot of these films, there’s also a genuine love for the material with the music
being underscored by Northern Irish punks bands such as Rudi, The Outcasts and
The Undertones; especially their most famous number, “Teenage Kicks”, which
provides a major plot point. Good Vibrations doesn’t really live up to its
potential or really make a mark for itself, but the love and spirit of the
subject matter are still very much there.
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