Paul Weller Movies
- 2008
A charity officially registered in the UK circa 1997 as an arm of Great Britain's National Health Service, the Teenage Cancer Trust strives to raise funds and build treatment facilities for teenagers and young adults stricken by many types of cancer, particularly leukemia and Hodgkin's Disease. One of the Trust's key fund-raising activities, in turn, involves perennially staging a week of all-star concerts headlined by rock 'n' roll heavyweights. This release features, in a single collection, the best performances from the 2007 event; featured artists include The Who, The Cure, The View, Bloc Party, Paul Weller and The Kaiser Chiefs. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide
- 2002
Irene (Cecile de France) is a cute but klutzy thirtysomething who hasn't had a romantic relationship in four years. Tired of circumstantial celibacy, the paralegal consistently finds herself drawn to unavailable men, particularly her co-worker Luca (Olivier Sitruk). Her friends, all passionately single, offer no support to Irene's plight. Meanwhile, Francois (Bruno Putzulu), an easygoing handyman Irene had hired to paint her apartment, turns out to be her perfect match. Though it looks like Irene may be too wrapped up in translating the signals sent to her from various male co-workers to notice Francois, she eventually comes to see what has been in front of her all along. ~ Tracie Cooper, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Cécile De France, Bruno Putzulu, (more)
- 2002
Directed by Jeroen Berkvens, this documentary traces the life of British rocker Nick Drake, who, after a successful musical career during the late '60s and early '70s, died of a possibly accidental overdose of prescription antidepressants in his parents' home in 1974. Berkvens takes a chronological view of Drake's life, beginning with his youth in Burma, where his father was stationed as an engineer, to Cambridge, where he was able to emerge as a musician, to London, the birthplace of his three acclaimed albums, and ultimately to his parents' home, where he eventually succumbed to his long-term battle with depression. The 48-minute documentary includes musical clips, photographs, footage of his various home environments, and interviews with his surviving family, friends, and associates. ~ Tracie Cooper, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gabrielle Drake, Joe Boyd, (more)
- 2000
- Add The Who & Special Guests: Live at the Royal Albert Hall to QueueAdd The Who & Special Guests: Live at the Royal Albert Hall to top of Queue
In 2000, the Who staged one of their periodic reunions, and the highlight of the British leg of their world tour was a date at the Royal Albert Hall, in which the band was joined on-stage by a number of guest stars (among them Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam, Noel Gallagher of Oasis, Paul Weller, Bryan Adams, and Nigel Kennedy) for a special show to Britain's Teenage Cancer Trust. This video presents highlights of that evening, as well as behind-the-scenes footage of the rehearsals for the show, and a glimpse of the goings-on backstage. Selections include "I Can't Explain," "Pinball Wizard," "Behind Blue Eyes," "Baba O'Riley," "So Sad About Us," "Magic Bus," and 17 others. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- 1987
- R
The British Business as Usual stars Glenda Jackson and John Thaw as the husband-and-wife managers of a boutique. When a huge store chain purchases Jackson and Thaw's establishment, chain executive Eamon Boland is sent to check out the place. It seems, however, that he's more interested in checking out pretty boutique employee Cathy Tyson. Jackson slaps a sexual harrassment charge on Boland, who uses this contretemps as an excuse to fire her from her own store. Down but not out, Jackson conducts a determined public campaign to get her job back and to put Boland in his place. Business as Usual makes no bones about its anti-Margaret Thatcher, anti-Big Business political stance. While this aspect of the film might be lost on American viewers, the plight of Glenda Jackson's character is all too familiar. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Glenda Jackson, John Thaw, (more)
The rise of teen culture in 1950s Britain provides the backdrop for Julien Temple's unconventional rock musical Absolute Beginners. The film centers on Colin, an 18-year-old with a talent for photography and a fondness for the neon nightlife of British jazz clubs. He also is in love with Crepe Suzette, an impulsive, ambitious young beauty who abandons him after attracting the attention of a powerful fashion designer. Depressed and aimless, Colin turns for help to a flashy ad executive (David Bowie) who promises to make him a star photographer. The former lovers take parallel paths to success, capitalizing on the youth mania gripping the nation. The film's nostalgic yet gently satirical look at teen culture is tempered by a recognition of the era's social tension, particularly a disturbing rise in racism. Despite these serious undertones, however, the film tells its story with a colorful vibrancy reminiscent of both MTV and old Hollywood musicals, filled with such show-stopping numbers as a memorable sequence in which Bowie dances on a giant typewriter. Critical reception was mixed, with some hailing the film's spectacular cinematography and ambitious scope, while others found the mixture of tones and style too inconsistent. The film also drew lukewarm response at the box office, with the memorable soundtrack receiving more attention than the film itself. ~ Judd Blaise, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Eddie O'Connell, Patsy Kensit, (more)
- 1982
This concert release captures a 1982 show by the popular British rock band The Jam. Frontman Paul Weller and the rest of the guys serve up over a half-dozen tunes including "A town Called Malice," "Move On Up," "Ghosts," and "Pretty Green." ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Paul Weller, Bruce Foxton, (more)
Over the years, British musician Paul Weller has successfully established himself as a crossover artist, recording with concomitant popularity and critical acclaim in multiple genres. He began in the realm of punk, with the infamous group The Jam (1975-82) in the late seventies and early eighties, before developing an enduring interest in Motown-style soul and assembling the sophisti-pop group The Style Council, according to this fascination. Despite the fact that this move temporarily reduced his fanbase in the UK, Weller rebounded with great force as a solo act in the nineties, blending his knowledge of soul with Traffic-style prog-rock strains to create a unique sound. The home video release Paul Weller: As Is Now actually incorporates a 45-minute documentary on the behind-the-scenes production of Weller's hit 2005 soul-rock album As is Now, recorded on the Yep Roc label. The program also features a forty-minute concert in which Weller and his band (Steve Craddock, Damon Minchella and Steve White) play ten numbers including "Blink," "Pebbles on a Beach," "Town Called Malice," and "Make it Alright." ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Paul Weller
