Blinded by the Light (2019)

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1. 

   Siskoid

   All I knew going in was that Blinded by the Light was some kind of Bruce Springsteen jukebox musical, so I was confused that the movie would start with a Pet Shop Boys track. Well, you gotta give our hero Javed time to discover the Boss, and then it becomes the soundtrack of his life. Taking place in 1987, in Thatcher's fascist-leaning Britain (oh how we've grown), its musical landscape pre-Bruce (from Javed's point of view, I mean) is pitch perfect. I didn't grow up in Britain, but I was in high school at the same time as these characters, and it was synthland. Though there are a couple of musical numbers - played as real, Javed keeping his outsider status by not having everyone joining in, though some might, and there are some fun tributes to 1980s videos too - I wouldn't call this a proper musical. Rather, it's a coming of age movie where music inspires a kid to follow his dreams and escape his dreary industrial town and throw off the shackles of a strict family life. Well-trodden ground, right? Is this the same old formula? Well, yes and no. First, it's helped along by a diversity voice, as Javed and his family are Pakistani. Set at a time when the UK has, for the first time, a large teenage population of UK-born second-generation immigrants allows us a peek into what amounts to a youth subculture, and the cultural differences between parents and children are well defined. There are times when Javed's love of Springsteen goes overboard, and the movie becomes Bruce this and Bruce that, but I feel like that's exactly what it is to be a teenager and having discovered something you love (whether that's music or something else). The teenage obsessive without snobbery, just sincere and over-earnest (and it's contrasted with other characters), feels real to me. And whether it's that sincere passion, or the father-son stuff, or the scenes with the parents alone because that's a side worth understanding... it got to me. And it got my cohorts in the theater. Not a dry eye in the house. By turns silly, and funny, and tragic, and upsetting, and touching, and of course filled with great tracks (Springsteen and not), Blinded by the Light is a movie that asks you to leave your cynicism at the door and remember a time when you could totally, genuinely, unabashedly love something and be a nerd about it and not care. 4 years 8 months ago
2. 

   Earring72

   Great sweet feel good movie set in the 80ies and inspired by the lyrics from Bruce Springsteen. Terrific acting and soundtrack 4 years 7 months ago
3. 

   jacktrewin

   packs a punch, with some great sequences and use of music. but it's not all wonderful, the script often becomes a bit generic and forces false emotion on the actors. but overall definitely deserves a 7/10 for its energy, thoughtfulness, resonance and intent.
   Rob Brydon in a minor role is hilarious :) 2 years 1 month ago

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