Rock Star is a 2001 drama about the lead singer of a metal rock tribute band who becomes lead singer of the real band he idolizes, leaving him a changed man
The life of the rock star is a fantasy a for many on the outside. The wealth, the freedom, the sex and wild lifestyle. Count me in. The movies, however, have often taken to showing the darker side, the great toll is seems to ravage on those who fall too deeply into the grinder. From Oliver Stone‘s The Doors to Alan Parker‘s The Wall to Rob Reiner‘s This Is Spinal Tap and many more, livin’ large on stage might not be all it’s cracked up to be.
Stepping into the wayback machine, we arrive in 2001 (four days before the 9/11 attacks) to the release of Stephen Herek‘s Rock Star, an ode to the spirit of the music and a dream come true. It’s based loosely on the real life story of Tim “Ripper” Owens, a singer in a Judas Priest tribute band who found himself suddenly leading the very group he copied for years, becoming front and center when the band’s frontman Rob Halford left. Talk about WTF? luck. That’s it.
Rock Star follows Chris Cole (Mark Wahlberg), not just a Pittsburgh fan of the (fictional) group Steel Dragon, but the leader of a cover band who is so dedicated to his idols, he knows everything, and I mean everything, about them, right down to the embroidery stitching on a leather jacket worn by the group’s singer Bobby Beers (Jason Flemyng) on tour from years before. That’s some next level deep. Chris is not easy to get along with though, his fanatical insistence on keeping his tribute band note-for-note the way the real band plays is driving a wedge between him and the others, most especially guitarist Rob Malcolm (Timothy Olyphant), who take exception to the berating corrections Chris volleys at him. It gets to its worst during a live show, when the two break out into a fight on stage. This leads to Chris being let go from the very band he created, replaced by his rival of all people. Major bummer.
Unbelievably though, not long after, Steel Dragon’s founder and guitarist, Kirk Cuddy (Dominic West), having seen a recorded performance of Cole with his tribute band, called him up with a surprising offer: come on down and audition for the group, they having also allegedly let Bobby Beers go for being a closeted gay man. These were different times. It’s the chance of a lifetime, and when Chris blows them away with his incredible stage presence and vocal skills, is hired as the new frontman. Boom. Dream come true. But of course, some dreams are really nightmares and it’s not long before life in the fast lane changes everything about who Chris really is.
In all this is the lovely Emily, played by then television superstar Jennifer Aniston, who was earning bucketloads of praise for her work on the hit series Friends while landing more and more roles in film. She is the supportive girlfriend here, Chris’ lover at the start who adores him and his dedication to his cover band, but when he hits the big time, things get out of hand. Unable and ultimately unwilling to travel around on tour like a groupie (she and the other girlfriends and wives aren’t even allowed on the tour bus), she promises him that she’ll be waiting for him when he gets back. Of course, by the time that happens, our dear hero has sunk to the lowest rung on the rock star ladder, boozing every chance he gets and sleeping with any girl who comes backstage.
So, what do we have here? Sounds like your basic rock & roll celluloid saga again, and in most ways, it really is. Directed by Stephen Herek, who a few years earlier helmed the magnificent Mr. Holland’s Opus, Rock Star is much better in the first half than it is in the second, the story of Cole’s rise much more interesting, with plenty of great moments that feel exaggerated but authentic. There’s a knee jerk reaction to compare this with Wahlberg’s 1997 much celebrated Boogie Nights, a film that follows a nobody with big dreams who gets discovered and learns that life on top (in porn) isn’t to great, losing much to the price of fame. Walhberg was well cast in that movie, his natural sort of naiveté adding much to the role of Dirk Diggler. He’s a bit more cartoonish here though it works for what it’s meant to be, the movie edged with a hint of dark comedy and silliness seemingly inherent in the system.
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There’s other good work though as well, with Aniston making the best of the mostly thankless role. Emily’s destined to be what she is, with not much wiggle room for Aniston to give the character any real direction to take her, but be that as it is, she’s really convincing. Timothy Spall also shows up as Steel Dragon’s manager and is very good in several key moments, offering the most genuine feeling bits about what the business of Rock & Roll must be like. All members of Chris’s tribute band Blood Pollution are also excellent.
Rock Star is not the epic it feels like it should be and lacks the larger impact the message is intending. It never quite goes as dark as it could or as funny as it wants to be, even as a few solid moments connect. Still, I like this movie. You don’t have to be a fan of the music to appreciate the story and if anything, this is a great film in a double feature with the aforementioned This Is Spinal Tap. Loads of real metal musicians, including Jeff Pilson, Zakk Wylde, and Jason Bonham, son of former Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham round out the bands in the movie, lending a lot authenticity to the music. And if you’re a fan of Aniston, this is a must. If you have a dream and want to get inspired … well, this will certainly do the trick, and if not, at least have plenty to entertain for the night.