Good Vibrations

Koptain Liverpool

Just checked out this movie tonight and thought it was excellent - one of the best films from Northern Ireland I've seen in a while. I thought it captured the times really well and the acting was great. I was a bit dubious when Darren from Love/Hate appeared as the singer of Rudi but he was actually really good. I'm interested to know more about the real story behind the movie but seems hard enough to find it. Well worth checking out!!!!

johnny_ultimate

I'll just copy when I said elsewhere, but thought it was basically a misjudged attempt to capture an intriguing era and character.

This portrait of Terri Hooley and his famous Belfast record store / label didn't really come together for me. I did like that they twisted genre tropes around, and presented most victories as bittersweet - despite the filmmaker's admiration for Hooley, his flaws aren't painted over. But it all just seemed flat, and for a film about the social power of music it lacked a spark or passion, failing to find its own groove. Apart from Richard Dormer as Hooley (a tad irritating but at least enthusiastic) the cast are under utilised and the characters underdeveloped. Visuals are all over the place - the fantastical flourishes particularly (including a pointless drug trip). Even the music, good as it is, doesn't feel like its utilised particularly imaginatively.

There's a few fun scenes, and the spirit of the real-life musical revolution is hinted at from time to time. But as a whole the film just lacks the passionate teenage kicks that come to dominate the soundtrack. Watchable, but forgettable.

adamski8

Really cant understand how people think this is great, average at best

Technocentral

I really wanted to like it, but it's a poor film, due I think to a lack of talent/vision by its Directors, its like a series of vignettes rather than a film with a cohesive thread throughout, if you're interested in his real story his autobiography is worth getting:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hooleygan-Music-Mayhem-Good-Vibrations/dp/0856408514

Kooli

I absolutely loved this film, felt totally carried along by it. I thought his performance was brilliant.

I am not a fan of punk in ANY way but for those two hours I was, and I felt genuine emotion along with Terri Hooley as he responded to the music he was hearing. Absolutely loved the scene when the song first got radio play. Really surprised to hear people say it lacked spark/passion, as I felt it had both those things in spades.