Hair (1979)

Stylish but barely mediocre overall

Boring

It's entirely possible that sending the audience out feeling lousy was intentional

It's a good bad... and worth a popcorn matinée. While it's easy to lament what could have been...

This takes place in the late 1960s. Claude Bukowski (John Savage) travels from Oklahoma to NYC to join the Army. While in NY he falls in with a group of hippies. They sing and dance about 1960s issues. Claude also falls for rich beautiful Sheila Franklin (Beverly D'Angelo). They all try to prevent Claude from going but he does...and finds basic training is a living hell.The plot is kind of vague as are the characters but this still works. The songs are great, the acting is on target, the costumes are VERY colorful and the dancing is energetic and directed by the legendary Twyla Tharp. Naturally it's dated but you get caught right up in it. Also, like the stage play this has female AND male nudity! This was a bomb when it came out in 1979 but has since developed a cult following. Highly recommended. Look for the late Nell Carter singing "White Boys".

Hair (1979) This is a musical anti-war drama film based on the 1968 Broadway musical Hair: An American Tribal Love-Rock Musical. It is about a draftee who meets a tribe of long-haired hippies on his way to the army. They introduce him to their environment of drugs, unorthodox relationships and free love. The film received generally favorable reviews from film critics at the time of its release. At the 37th Golden Globe Awards, the film was nominated for a Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy. Despite this, it did poorly at the box office. Treat Williams was nominated for New Star of the Year in a Motion Picture - Male. It's one of the better translations of a musical film and cultural gem.

I never saw the play, and it sounds like many of those who have are finding fault with the way the film was done, but since I've only ever seen the film version I don't have any way to compare the two. Treat Williams excels in the role of Berger, and he's supported by a very capable and talented cast. It's an interesting, thought-provoking film with some beautiful music and dancing, and it's very entertaining. Unlike some films of its era, it's still relevant and watchable today.I also find it interesting because in a way it parallels my life when I was that age: I was a small-town Claude type, and I traveled to the big city and got involved with a couple of rather cutting-edge New Yorkers who were amused by my naiveté. They had a completely different lifestyle than mine, but we learned something about each other and accepted one another at face value rather than passing up the chance to become friends just because of our extreme differences. That's a life lesson worth learning.Parents very strongly cautioned: no real violence to worry about, but your kids will be asking awkward questions and seeking the definition of some fairly off-beat words and concepts if they sit through it.

Claude Hooper Bukowski (John Savage) leaves his Oklahoma family farm to go to NYC. He's a draftee ready to go to the Vietnam War. He encounters a group of hippie led by George Berger (Treat Williams). Sheila Franklin (Beverly D'Angelo) is from the stiff upper class riding a horse in Central Park. Claude is enticed by the free-spirited hippies. They crash Sheila's coming out party. Sheila and Claude fall in love with a lot of help from George. Eventually Claude goes to training in Nevada followed by Berger, Sheila and the hippies.This has a few iconic songs. The movie takes too much time in Central Park at the beginning. Treat Williams is great but the movie meanders. The cinematic style from Milos Forman is pretty weak. It's probably a much better musical play than a movie. The hippies aren't necessarily portrayed in the most positive light. There are some pretty harsh digs. The movie also feels dated without being a period piece.