Vinyl

Let's not beat around the bush.

'Vinyl' is a low budget film.

It's more akin to a television special than what people currently expect from a cinema release, but that's not to say that it's a substandard movie.

It's just that I think that some cinema goers of a certain age will baulk at what is often called, 'the gritty realism', and which often means that the film was made within very tight financial constraints.

What I mean by that is that it looks dull.

In an age where CGI is king and technicolour has been left in the past to bring us a bigger, brighter and more crisp viewing experience Vinyl does actual look as if it could have been filmed on a digital camcorder bought for fifty buck from a cash generator store.

Then there's the filler such as footage of a caravan park where you get to see some kids on a cheap holiday looking at the camera and such.

These are of course minor quibbles, but ones that may be picked up on.

To be fair the good points far outweigh the criticisms that may be levelled at it though.

The acting itself is of an acceptable standard, especially from the main cast.

No surprise there.

The script is entertaining enough, albeit for some clunky dialogue in places, and the pacing of the story is well played out.

I personally found it to be very enjoyable and would recommend that given the chance people do go and see it on it's short theatrical run.

Just keep in mind that what you are going to see is not a Hollywood blockbuster and you will be fine.

For those who don't know what the film is about then let me tell you.

This is the film whose story is a fictional account of when The Alarm hoodwinked the British music industry, and the media, when they created a young band called The Poppy Fields to front a single that they were releasing after they found that many doors were stubbornly being held closed to them due to their age.

It's a broad side swipe at the industry and probably more relevant now than when The Alarm initially set the wheels in motion for the original swindle-esque caper.

Some may say nothing much has changed, but I would argue that it has gotten worse as lip syncing teens dominate the releases, while companies who manufacture acts appear to be at the fore front of what is called the music business in the present.

That being the case this is a timely reminder that what we have is not representative of what is out there, but instead of what the money men want us to hear.

So while nothing was really learnt from what the Alarm did, we do get to be reminded of it here, and can blissfully wallow in nostalgia as we watch some aged fictional rockers stick two fingers up to the establishment and win out the day.

There's a nice wee cameo from Steve Diggle (Buzzcocks) in it to.

Well worth throwing a tenner at.