Prince was one of the biggest musical acts of the 1980's and Hollywood decided to get their piece of the pie by offering the musician the lead in a 1984 film called Purple Rain, framed around Prince's music in which he pretty much plays himself (the character is only referred to as "The Kid"), an arrogant musician who has not only alienated the manager of the club where he performs, but his own band members (played by real- life members of his band) who have grown tired of their leaders' music and are ready to walk when the kid adamantly refuses to even listen to a song they wrote, let alone performing it. Things get further complicated when competition from another band (Morris Day and the Time) threatens his regular job as well as a budding romance with an aspiring singer (Apollonia) who the kid attempts to control until he learns she actual has her own career aspirations, which involve the kid's sworn enemy, Morris.
Albert Magnoli's music video directorial approach to this film's mounting is more than appropriate, creating an eye-popping, ear-pounding musical drama that stays consistently entertaining, despite the unappealing lead character...the Kid is a sexist, thoughtless egomaniac who thinks it's all about him and objectifies women to the point of distraction, a trait he apparently inherited from his father (Clarence Williams III, in a brilliant performance), a pig who seems to be blaming his failed music career on the kid's mother, evidenced in his beating of her on a regular basis.
The story is actually a throwback to musicals of the 1950's but its glamorous 1980's visual and musical trappings do help to disguise that fact. Thank God that Prince's musicianship is so intoxicating because the guy is no actor...though the scene where tries to seduce Apollonia musically onstage with a song called "Nicky", is awesome...a sexually riveting musical number that mesmerizes the rest of the audience but sends Apollonia running from the room. For me, outside of the work of Clarence Williams III, the best scene in the film.
The film also features Prince classics like "Let's Go Crazy" "When Doves Cry", and the absolutely gorgeous title song. Morris Day and his band also get a chance to shine as well. Yes, the film is basically just a 90-minute music video, but the music is awesome and the visuals are arresting and despite an unappealing lead character, this film is a lot of fun and has great re-watch appeal.
Albert Magnoli's music video directorial approach to this film's mounting is more than appropriate, creating an eye-popping, ear-pounding musical drama that stays consistently entertaining, despite the unappealing lead character...the Kid is a sexist, thoughtless egomaniac who thinks it's all about him and objectifies women to the point of distraction, a trait he apparently inherited from his father (Clarence Williams III, in a brilliant performance), a pig who seems to be blaming his failed music career on the kid's mother, evidenced in his beating of her on a regular basis.
The story is actually a throwback to musicals of the 1950's but its glamorous 1980's visual and musical trappings do help to disguise that fact. Thank God that Prince's musicianship is so intoxicating because the guy is no actor...though the scene where tries to seduce Apollonia musically onstage with a song called "Nicky", is awesome...a sexually riveting musical number that mesmerizes the rest of the audience but sends Apollonia running from the room. For me, outside of the work of Clarence Williams III, the best scene in the film.
The film also features Prince classics like "Let's Go Crazy" "When Doves Cry", and the absolutely gorgeous title song. Morris Day and his band also get a chance to shine as well. Yes, the film is basically just a 90-minute music video, but the music is awesome and the visuals are arresting and despite an unappealing lead character, this film is a lot of fun and has great re-watch appeal.