Saw this one some time ago.
First of all, I was never a big fan of Ralph Bakshi and his films. Stories that try so hard to be "edgy" and "adult" that they just come out boring and lots and lots of rotoscope.
This movie is no different. Granted, it's very colorful. However the rotoscope characters all move and talk like they're stroke victims. Lots of slack jaw expressions and eye lines that go in weird directions. Since all roles were acted out by people, it makes you wonder why the film wasn't just completely Live Action.
Then there is the story. The premise sounds fine enough: Four generations of men have this love for and need to create music. The problem is that each man is a self absorbed jerk who doesn't care how he ruins his life or the lives of others as long as THE MUSIC is top priority. Three out of four of these men were born out of wedlock and the last two in the bloodline were homeless drug addicts. But as long as they got to make THE MUSIC, who cares, right? It's not even a full exploration of music as the time line only covers 1920 through 1980 and only three genres of music; namely Big Band, Jazz and Rock. The closing scene is the silliest of all as you have this kid who struts like Mick Jagger, but sings like Bob Seger. Visually does not fit. Probably animated the sequence before they knew what music they could get the rights to.
This movie would probably be best loved by those who like to do drugs and not think. If you like good stories which are uplifting and inspiring, you would do fine to pass on this one.
First of all, I was never a big fan of Ralph Bakshi and his films. Stories that try so hard to be "edgy" and "adult" that they just come out boring and lots and lots of rotoscope.
This movie is no different. Granted, it's very colorful. However the rotoscope characters all move and talk like they're stroke victims. Lots of slack jaw expressions and eye lines that go in weird directions. Since all roles were acted out by people, it makes you wonder why the film wasn't just completely Live Action.
Then there is the story. The premise sounds fine enough: Four generations of men have this love for and need to create music. The problem is that each man is a self absorbed jerk who doesn't care how he ruins his life or the lives of others as long as THE MUSIC is top priority. Three out of four of these men were born out of wedlock and the last two in the bloodline were homeless drug addicts. But as long as they got to make THE MUSIC, who cares, right? It's not even a full exploration of music as the time line only covers 1920 through 1980 and only three genres of music; namely Big Band, Jazz and Rock. The closing scene is the silliest of all as you have this kid who struts like Mick Jagger, but sings like Bob Seger. Visually does not fit. Probably animated the sequence before they knew what music they could get the rights to.
This movie would probably be best loved by those who like to do drugs and not think. If you like good stories which are uplifting and inspiring, you would do fine to pass on this one.