Review by John Frame (15^th November 2001) of movie

"Rock Star"

Opened in Brisbane 15^th November 2001

Starring Mark Wahlberg, Jennifer Aniston

It’s 1985, well before Boy Bands ruled the Earth – but it’s still an age when the dinosaurs of Heavy Metal command a devoted and fanatic following.

Mark Wahlberg plays Chris Cole, a cute longhair who fronts Pittsburg’s most genuine "Steel Dragon Tribute Band". He has lived and breathed Steel Dragon since his older brother bought their first LP, hated it and gave it to Chris rather than throw it away. The music speaks to Chris’s very soul, but unknown to Chris, and most of Steel Dragon’s fans, is the fact that their leather-clad and studded front man, Bobby Beers, is totally and utterly gay.

Steel Dragon’s power-broking members know that their fan base is waning and realise that the main consumers of Heavy Metal are young men who want to be just like the Rock Stars and pull heaps of chicks, while taking lots of drugs. Bobby was threatening their pussy-mad image by getting far too out and proud, even on-stage - and they decide that Bobby has to go in favour of a younger and more blatantly heterosexual replacement.

The scenario of Rock Star is based on the real life circumstances of British proto-metal band, Judas Priest whose openly gay ex-lead singer Rob Halford continues to enjoy a successful solo career - performing and recording heavy metal rock.

The original music is arranged by Trevor Rabin - the rock star guitarist who put life into Yes when Steve Howe left that band in 1985. Tracks from classic metal artists like Kiss and Mottley Crue fill out the score. It all sounds huge and satisfyingly powerful (pick a cinema with a big sound system).

The now 100% hetero and ultra-macho Steel Dragon then proceed to bonk and drug their way across America, following the philosophy of Spinal Tap’s drummer: "If I had the sex and the drugs, then I could do without the rock’n’roll!" Jennifer Aniston turns in a sterling performance as the girlfriend/manager who wants to see Chris succeed in rock’n’roll, but who quickly realises exactly why Keith Richards looks like he’s 150 years old.

This is entertainment by virtue of good music, lavish direction and fine enough performances all round. Timothy Olyphant (Dennis in "Broken Hearts Club") is good, Timothy Spall is better, as the tour manager, and Mark Wahlberg convinced me that he can act, in spite of being cursed with exceptionally tragic beauty.

Soundtrack CD List:

Everclear - Rock Star
Steel Dragon - Living the Life
Bon Jovi - Living on a Prayer
Steel Dragon - Stand Up
Motley Crue - Wild Side
Steel Dragon - We All Die Young
Kiss - Lick It Up
Blood Pollution - Wasted Generation
Steel Dragon - Blood Pollution
Ted Nugent - Stranglehold
Steel Dragon - Long Live Rock and Roll
Verve Pipe - Colorful
INXS - Devil Inside
Trevor Rabin - Gotta Have It