Hard Core Logo (1996)

Absolutely the worst movie.

Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

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

An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

This is easily all around one of the best Canadian films evermade. Yes it is a mockumentary, yes it is follows around a rock band(rockumentary) but for every other reason this really should not becompared to Spinal Tap. It really isn't a comedy, although it has some great moments in it. It's also not about a band "struggling with fame" which is whatEVERY OTHER rock movie is about (Almost Famous, That ThingYou Do, Spinal Tap, The Doors, you name it). Just four guysholding on to a dream that should have faded years ago, all thewhile trying not to kill each other. I always knew Hugh Dillon was really the lead singer for theHeadstones, so I realized it wasn't really a documentary butthought Hard Core Logo the band might still have existed and thiswas a tribute. Not the case, but that takes nothing away from themovie. They say not to watch this movie if you're in a band because it'llmake you never want to play. At the same time, I think anyone whohas been in a band will appreciate it that much more picturing howtheir little arguments would be amplified to 10 years later. It's anoverall great gut check to picture just ow much you love playingmusic, especially if noone wants to listen.

It resembles "Spinal Tap" only in that it's about a fictitious rock band on its way down. This is a more ambitious movie, and its mood is much darker -- while it has its comic moments, it's not a film to watch when you're feeling down.This particular American viewer had no trouble with the Canadian references -- yes, we can tell Canadian cities apart and know exactly which Quebeckers the bassist was talking about. In fact, the Canadianness of the movie was part of its appeal, and I'm not just talking about the stunning scenery. I do have to admit overlooking the angle about Canadian musicians selling out to the American scene -- I was more attuned to the sellout on the personal rather than national level. Bands in the States lose musicians to L.A., too.At its core, this is a movie about friendship and betrayal, and in the end, betrayal wins. It's a hard, honest movie, not easy watching but worth the effort.(Parents, this one isn't for the kiddies -- lots of obscenity and some violence, though none of it is gratuitous to the story.)

I've seen most of director Bruce McDonald's films. He's pretty well-known in Canada, and almost all of his films are "road movies" in one sense or another. In this film, he follows Hard Core Logo, a Vancouver punk band reunited for one last tour across western Canada. Though there are lots of laughs, This Is Definitely Not Spinal Tap. Even though his characters look like typical rocker louts, there is so much going on under the surface that it breaks your heart. A funny but heartfelt exploration of perpetual adolescence, male bonding, ambition and desperation, Hard Core Logo is even more enjoyable for anyone who's ever been (or wanted to be) in a band. (As a bonus, the film stars Canada's own version of Brad Pitt, the excellent and very cool Callum Keith Rennie). (8/10)

I was taken for a 3000 mile ride that simply rocked. The band portrayed reminded me in many ways of bands I have been with in the past; they set the scene very believably and the writer deserves several pats on theback. The punk scene was captured well, as were the rigors of touring & staying together and focused on a common interest. The plot developed quite well, and the characters were simply dead-on. I liked thedocumentary aspects, the way they included the 'crew' in shots. And kudos to the twist at the very end. Brilliant picture.