Backbeat DVD > Reviews > Rock 'n' Roll Music, Its got a Backbeat

Author's product rating:   

Did you enjoy it?	Loved it
Story	Good
Characters / Performances	Good
Special Effects	Standard
How does it compare to similar films?	Good

Advantages:	Soundtrack, a bit of history retold
Disadvantages:	Bit mushy in places

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

Produced in 1994, I first watched this film on video when it was originally released. (This was probably a few years later). I remember thoroughly enjoying it, especially the music as I also bought the soundtrack. About 4 years or so ago I came across my soundtrack tape and after giving it a listen I wanted to see the film again. I ventured into HMV to be told it wasn't available on DVD and that the video had been withdrawn from sale. I resigned myself to not being able to see this again unless I came across it on TV. While scrolling through MyMovieStream I spotted it for rental and so it was added to my list immediately. When the film actually arrived the disc had the same picture printed on it as I have on my soundtrack tape and I was looking forward to watching it but hoped it was as good as I remembered.

~ Whats the film about?~

The film tells the story of when The Beatles first got together and their tour of Hamburg, Germany. At this time the band had five members: John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Pete Best and Stuart Sutcliffe. John and Stuart have met at college and are very close best friends. When John starts up his band he asks Stuart to play bass although Stuart has no previous experience of playing. Stuart is more of an artist, but being 19 years of age jumps on the opportunity to live a rock & roll life on tour. The majority of the film is set in Hamburg and there are plenty of scenes of the band playing at a seedy back street club in between strippers and exotic dancers. The band are shown performing cover tracks of songs like 'Mr Postman','Rock & Roll Music' and other rock & roll classics by the likes of Chuck Berry. Everything is running along just fine until Stuart meets Astrid Kirchherr. Astrid is a photographer and her boyfriend Klaus designs album covers. A relationship starts to develop between Astrid and Stuart and he starts to neglect the band as the tour starts to pay off. The film implies that Paul McCartney felt they were carrying Stuart just because of his friendship with John. As well as the touring, music and rise to fame angle of the film it is a love story between Stuart and Astrid. It outlines Stuarts passion for his art and how he is torn between the band and his painting. It also touches on the jealousy felt by Lennon as he feels he is losing Stuart and is also quite keen on Astrid.

To continue with any more information would give away too much of the story for anyone not familiar with Stuart Sutcliffes part in the Beatles story.

~ Whos in it? ~

Stephen Dorff - Stuart Sutcliffe
Ian Hart - John Lennon
Shery Lee - Astrid Kirchherr
Gary Bakewell - Paul McCartney
Chris O'Neill - George Harrison
Scot Williams - Pete Best
Kai Wiesinger - Klaus Voorman

The film is directed by Iain Softley.

~ Did it live up to my expectations? ~

Once again I enjoyed watching the film. When I first saw it I was a typical teenage girl who swooned at Stephen Dorffs boyish charm. So did the film have enough to keep me interested now I've got over my childish crush? Definately. 3 days later the songs are continually popping into my head. If only I had a tape player! The performances in the film were believable. American Stephen Dorff does a decent job of a Liverpudlian accent although Ian Harts Lennon is better. (The actor in this case is liverpudlian so may have an advantage). The scottish actor cast as McCartney also pulls it off. There are some great scenes
between Stuart Sutcliffe and John Lennon and I feel that Dorff and Hart have captured the relationship brilliantly. Some of the love scenes between Stuart and Astrid are a little too mushy for my liking but the actors have a good chemistry together on screen and the passion felt appears real enough.

~ Soundtrack details ~

The actors playing the musicians in the film did not perform the music used. This was done by a band put together by Don Was (of Was not Was fame) and included the then Nirvana drummer and now Foofighter frontman Dave Grohl on the drums. A good job was done by all as I would say the best part about this film is the soundtrack and the feel good factor it radiates. I believe the decision to keep most of the music as covers and not the familiar Beatles tracks was a good one as you were not tempted to compare to the Beatles themselves.

~ Other stuff ~

The film is classified as a 15 and I think this may have been better classed as an 18. The film has a lot of abusive language as you would expect from 5 young lads. It also has several scenes of nudity and sex.

The film has a running time of 96 minutes but there were a lot of extras on the DVD. We didn't watch all of these and so I don't know how long they ran for but I have detailed them below.

~ Dvd extras ~

The main menu has the Backbeat picture showing the faces of the Beatles in black and white with Stuart and Astrid in colour. You are given the following options:

play
scene selection
audio
subtitles
bonus

Moving through the option with the yellow guitar image, by selecting bonus you are then met with a picture of Stephen Dorff and the following choices:

FEATURE COMMENTARY WITH IAN SOFTLEY, IAN HART & STEPHEN DORFF
INTERVIEW WITH DIRECTOR IAIN SOFTLEY
RETROSPECTIVE INTERVIEW WITH DIRECTOR IAIN SOFTLEY & ACTOR IAN HART

If you continue onto the 2nd & 3rd Pages of the menu you are greeted with a picture of Astrid with her camera and these options:

STILLS GALLERY
DELETED SCENES (This has two very short scenes, both not worthy of the film!)
CASTING SESSIONS (This shows some of the cast reading from scripts. Im not sure when Stephen Dorff perfected his Liverpudlian accent but it wasn't there at this stage)
DIRECTORS ESSAY
A CONVERSATION WITH ASTRID KIRCHHERR (This is quite moving. Astrid talks as relevant scenes from the movie are played out and actual photos of the real band are shown)
TV FEATURETTE (This looks like a TV made advert for the film with interviews with the cast and crew etc. This was quite good to watch)

~ Recommend? ~

If you like 60s rock and roll music or have any interest in the Beatles and want to see a well made British film with a great cast then this is a must see.

It is available on Amazon from £5.14 used and £10.97 new. The soundtrack cd is also available from £2.01 used and £6.98 new (This I may be investing in myself!)

"He had to choose between his best friend, the woman he loved and the greatest rock and roll band in the world"