Spike Island (2012)

Very disappointing...

The film creates a perfect balance between action and depth of basic needs, in the midst of an infertile atmosphere.

Unshakable, witty and deeply felt, the film will be paying emotional dividends for a long, long time.

This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

It's May 1990, Great Britain, and The Stone Roses are about to play a monumental outdoor gig at Spike Island in Widnes, Cheshire. A bunch of teenage acolytes of the band, aspiring musicians themselves, embark on a journey to Spike Island whist at the same time embarking on personal journeys of the real life kind.Us Brits do like ourselves a coming of age drama set to the backdrop of musical importance. Mat Whitecross (Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll) taps into the era of Baggy Manchester, of a Northern Britain dominated by pills, thrills and romantic bellyaches. To many of a certain age The Stone Roses were "their" Beatles, a power pop foursome that rocked it big time, their influence on the British music industry is still being felt today. This in spite of their relatively short life span. Re: The Sex Pistols at Winterland, see The Stone Roses at Spike Island (in other words it was a pretty awful gig all told).However, the band are secondary to the teen angst narrative threads, to the scallywag japes and sexual growing pains. As Messrs Ian Brown and John Squire weave their chordal magic in the background, a bunch of spotty Herbert's with mad mac haircuts and iffy accents try and make sense of it all, of life, death, loves and hates. Music binds them together, but does anything else?It's all very formulaic stuff, but for those of the time, or for those with a love for how music can define your life, or at the least shape its direction, then this hits the requisite chords. It's funny at times and the cast are ebullient enough to carry the clichéd and thin material home, but come the finale you will be remembering the soundtrack more than the story itself. 6.5/10

I never usually write reviews, but I really think this movie needs more credit! I grew up in the 90s and this movie sums it up perfectly! From getting drunk with your friends and trying to get into places with no back up plan, whilst underage, to having a laugh with your friends whilst dealing with issues at home! There were serious elements to the film, whilst being really lightheaded and it left me feeling really happy and craving a adventure! I thought the film was shot really well, and acted brilliantly! Overall just a all round awesome film, with an EPIC soundtrack...

Spike Island is the kind of film that makes you nostalgic. Very nostalgic. But that doesn't deter the fact that the story is something we've seen a dozen times before in this sub- genre of film.There's your group of friends, and they are an aspiring group who are desperate to get tickets to the titular event, featuring everyone's favourite band of the nineties, The Stone Roses.They all have their individual problems. Ones dad is dying, ones dad is abusing him, one fancies the girl, but she fancies the other from the group, so on, and so on.But it makes it an easy watch. Its funny in places, dramatic when it needs to be, and characters are ones you've seen in endless nostalgic movies.But it captures the early nineties down to a tee. The music was, and still is phenomenal, and The Roses music is used with the utmost respect that it deserves.So its a good nostalgia trip, albeit a little predictable, but would make a great double bill with Shane Meadows documentary.

Nice story. Simple straight forward, and well acted. These young actors take you on a journey that changes all of their lives forever trying anything they can think of to get into the concert of their generation. There is a very strong sense of family in this movie, you see both the good, and the bad sides, and you see how people will create a family to shield themselves from all of the bad. I Enjoyed the youth, and vigor of these people, and the feeling that they are all giants walking among the people always above the rest, and sort of worshiped all the more. Mostly though this is just a nice little coming of age film with some good music, and acting.