It seems like forever since I first heard about Vinyl and now it’s finally hit the big screens with its distribution, so last night was my night that my anticipation for the film would finally be quenched.
Vinyl tells the fictionalised story of Musician, Mike Peters, attempt to show the music world that record companies are in it for the younger bands, by using young members of a fictional band to be the face of a song which nobody knew he had written.
So here we have Phil Daniels as Johnny Jones, an ageing rock star who is struggling in life and wants to show that no matter what age you are, it shouldn’t matter and that it shouldn’t be a wall to try to climb over.
One night after a funeral of a friend they get drunk and have a jamming session, recording a single that night, Johnny decides that they should reform and release the single, but being an ageing rocker doesn’t go down well in the industry and it’s at this point that Johnny decides to get a fake, younger, band to release the single.
Vinyl Putting Rhyl on the Map: Blazing Minds Film Review
There are several things that appealed to me while watching Vinyl, the first was the fact that I’m in Rhyl and the surrounding areas almost everyday and it was so weird, but good at the same time, see you Rhyl on the big screen, recognizing places I frequent, yes folks Rhyl is pretty cool in Vinyl.
Local Rhyl director, Sara Sugarman, Â has done a fantastic job directing Vinyl and giving it that down to earth feel and slight grittiness, she shows her love for Rhyl in the scenes that she shoots and not only that she brings out something in all the actors that give the film that endearing feel.
Lets face it Wales has been used for many films in the past for the wonderful landscapes, films such as Captain America: The First Avenger, The Dark Knight Rises and The Inn Of Sixth Happiness.
We also get a lot of the cast from Rhyl and some surrounding areas and even one of my friends, Declan, is in the film, not for long a few seconds, but at least he’s got his name in the credits for everyone to see, nice one mate 😉
With an overall feel of a film that is made with a passion both from Sara Sugarman and from Mike Peters is brilliant, Vinyl is a great Welsh made movie that hones in on the struggles of the characters trying to regain stardom after their years of leaving the industry.
Overall Thoughts For Vinyl
Nicely directed, great use of Rhyl in the locations, a heart-felt story that works with a passion for the music industry, I highly recommend Vinyl and It’s certainly going to be a film I have put down on my list of films to get on Blu-Ray when it’s released.
Karen Woodham is the founder and owner of the Blazing Minds. She is also a Cinema reviewer and works with RealD 3D reviewing the latest 3D releases and IMAX, she has also had several articles published in various publications including the first edition of SFW Magazine. In 2015 she became an Award Winning Blogger and also has her website listed as one of the UK’s Top 10 Film Blogs.
