Sunday, January 11, 2009

Performance

Performance. 1968, 1970 Goodtimes Enterprises, distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures.
Starring: James Fox, Mick Jagger, Anita Pallenberg
Directors: Donald Cammell & Nicolas Roeg
Buy Performance at Amazon.

A "performer" named Chas (Fox) is a violent enforcer for an East London gang. His insubordination prompts his boss Harry Flowers (Johnny Shannon) to send some hitmen to punish him, leading to a violent and bloody scene where Chas kills one of them, Joey Maddocks (Anthony Valentine). Chas goes into hiding, trying to avoid the police and his former colleagues, setting up shop in the basement apartment in a house owned by a reclusive, eccentric former rock star called Turner (Jagger). Turner lives there with Pherber (Pallenberg) and Lucy (Michele Breton). At first Chas dislikes Turner, and Turner tries to evict him by returning his rent money, but the two start influencing each other.

Warner Bros. expected this film to be the Rolling Stones' version of A Hard Day's Night, and the studio was completely surprised when they received the finished product, to the point that one Warner executive's wife vomited in shock.

This one isn't for everyone, but I still enjoyed it. Recommended, but use caution.

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