If you fancy a night in watching a DVD, then take a look at the selection available at Island Libraries. At just £1 per night, they’re a great bargain. Ed
In a perfect world, the performance of Ian Dury and The Blockheads on ‘Top of The Pops’ when ‘Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick’ reached number one in the charts, would be played and projected in a loop, in every art gallery and museum.
Although this film is made with serious energy and some remarkable perseverance, it lacks occasionally in areas, pertaining it to be somewhat hurried at times in its release.
Stylish performance
As a lead actor, Andy Serkis is remarkable in the role and on occasional moments has an uncanny knack to reveal enough mannerisms carefully studied to portray Ian Dury as not only talented, but also acts with style to carry the film forward.
Considering that few audiences would realise that Ian Dury was as real as can be, as well as incomparable. It may also ignite interest in the music, which has never lost its immediate impact.
Written by Paul Viragh, it could be questionable if held up to the light for too long and at times the direction weaves from drama to humour, but in its bottled 115 minutes it achieves a general ‘alright’ factor, yet mixing narrative fiction and perhaps truth in much the same fashion as ‘Man On The Moon’.
‘Sex and Drugs and Rock & Roll’ would have achieved a great deal more if it had used more of Ian Dury & The Blockhead’s music, but undoubtedly the versions that are performed are accurate to a degree.
Unfortunately Mat Whitecross has directed a film that has a great deal to achieve. Just within three or four minutes of performing, Ian Dury could and did achieve a chilling mix of infatuation and cabaret anteater tension.
Yet within the ongoing cogs of industry there might perhaps be a suitcase of finances passed in darkened car-parks and pens pushing to get the contracts of re-release moving. ‘What A Waste’ it would surely not be.
