Groove (2000)

Just perfect...

Absolutely the worst movie.

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

Not sure how, but this is easily one of the best movies all summer. Multiple levels of funny, never takes itself seriously, super colorful, and creative.

Groove has often been compared with Human Traffic, but both are actually quite different. While Human Traffic was about a group of people who go to clubs and take drugs, Groove is about an actual rave. Director Greg Harrison is less interested about depicting the lives of the people who go to a rave than trying to cinematic ally get his audience to experience what a rave is like. On that level, Groove is a triumph. For those who used to rave, this film is the best flashback you'll ever get, the best way to relive the experience. For those who currently rave, it will make you want to go out and find a party NOW. For those who have never raved, the film brilliantly shows the sight and sounds of a rave while trying to be like a rave itself through careful pacing and use of music.The characters are thinly sketched in the early scenes but that's all we need, it's what they are and do at the rave that matters ,with the exception of the squabbling gay couple who may not make it to the party at all and are hilarious. The growing attraction between experienced 'partied out' girl and dorky novice is touching, and all the characters in the film have at least one stand out moment. Performances are generally strong, and some of the use of sound is superb, such as when the main protagonist is 'coming up'.The film has been criticized for being pro drugs, but it just shows the drug {especially E}experience in it's various forms. Some characters abstain, some overdo it and pay the price {though like Human Traffic there are refreshingly no deaths or serious fatalities}, most just enjoy themselves. The film is not saying drugs are good for you, it's just saying that drugs are something many people do, and maybe not because that are addicted, but because to them it's fun!The music is excellent, varied and well chosen. The appearance by a certain superstar DJ at this small rave of around 200 people has been rightly called unrealistic, and lets just say that acting is not his strong point! However comments that parties never start up again after they are shut down {as in this film}are untrue, I experienced it! In any case, it climaxes the film on a true 'high'.The many shots of people dancing may bore some, and there will be many for whom this film will have no interest at all. But ignore some of the hardcore purists, this is as close to a depiction, and more importantly the experience, of a rave as cinema can probably get.

Crazy picture about a group who go to all manner of effort to put on techno dance parties in abandoned buildings. The spaced out dancers [for want of a better word] were entertained for several hours by a succession of DJ's, each with his/her own collection of tunes. Since the law was being broken to hold the event things didn't go smoothly all night, however everyone seemed to take it in stride. Interesting look a portion of a degenerate generation whose sole intent is to have a good time.

After an impressive opening shot, Greg Harrison's "Groove" uses quick cuts and blaring music to introduce most of its characters. This is a section of the film that is wasted in a typical case of style over substance. This film mostly takes place at a rave party, but instead of trying to grab the audience's attention at the beginning, writer/director Harrison should have been more concerned with elaborating the people attending the rave. When the party finally happens, not only is it hard to care about the outcomes of the characters but more importantly there is no emotional anchor to keep enough attention to them. The thin story "Groove" has is about a post-school limbo of uncertainty. It is about a struggling author being pulled to his first rave by his free-spirited, party-loving brother and sweet girlfriend. All of them are drifting in life without really realizing it. The mix of drugs and pulsing dance music helps to take them out of their misery for one long night. The ending is a high point in the film, but when the movie ends it is hard not to get a feeling of nothingness about the movie. Like the life its characters lead, "Groove" is aimless, occasionally fun, but ultimately empty.

I used to be into the rave scene myself, so i'm pretty familiar with the subject, and i thought the movie was pretty entertainiing. If you're a trance addict, or used to be, this'll give you a little flashback to the times you experienced in the club, those moments when the DJ puts on a track that just gets the place jumping and blows your mind. The dancefloor shots were done pretty well(although i could've done without the little slo-mo during Digweed's set), and the soundtrack is great, very well selected. If you dont know much about the trance scene, this is a nice intro to what being at a rave is like, but dont take it as a guide, because the actual rave/candykid/PLUR scene is dying out and shifting to the more commercial setting. The music is still around, and still great, but it is no longer as underground as it used to be even 4-5 years ago. Anyway, nice little movie,despite some plotholes and some little things that could have been done a bit better, it keeps your attention, and not a waste of time. Digweed just rocks the house during his set, especially with Heaven Scent.