Purple Rain
There is something so devilishly good about Prince that has me locked inside his sweet guitar riffs. It’s an obsession, an unhealthy one at that. It’s an obsession that allows me t truly appreciate that not only is he an egomaniac narcissist, but that man can wail on a guitar and induce eargasms in everyone. It’s so tantalisingly sweet.
July this year sees his “musical” film Purple Rain celebrate its 30th Anniversary. So before we celebrate that (and trust me, we will be doing,) I am having a look at what made Purple Rain an epic Stale Treat in my eyes.
Because it is just so ridiculous.
Purple Rain is set in a small town of Minnesota where performer The Kid (Prince) and his band "The Time" are top acts in a showcase. That’s if only The Kid could play more than one song before storming off the set. He soon meets the beautiful Apollonia (that's her name in real life too,) and falls in love with her. However, his rival Morris Day is set to steal his girl and his prime position on the stage. With this to contend with and an abusive relationship at home, Prince...I mean The Kid must rise to the occasion and save his mother, his father, Apollonia and himself.
Why Is It Bad?
Prince may be a lot of things but an actor he is not. Having thrust this film on everyone, it’s a shame that Prince struggles under the weight of learning lines, conveying emotions and trying to prove that he is, you know, straight. It boasts the most uncomfortable sex scene in the history of . He isn't the only one, after all, most of the main actors are musicians and they all struggle with simple things like direction and all that important movie stuff; which is more unbelievable because they all are essentially playing themselves. And Purple Rain is as though Prince wrote it himself so it's more difficult to believe that he didn't and that he didn't direct it, produce it and play all the characters.
But what would you know, his one time manager did! So that would explain why it's the most vain peice of cinema. Ever.
Why Is It Good?
Purple Rain, When Doves Cry, Baby, I'm A Star, I Would Die 4 U, Jungle Love, and Let's Go Crazy.
The soundtrack is epic. So epic. Perhaps too epic. Being a musical, you are treated to some of the best songs of Prince's career all in a nice little cinematic showcase. Prince does what he does best and in sheer contrast to his acting skills blows everyone away with some incredible songs that you can't help but shake your booty too. The film is essentially a Prince concert without the ticket prices and the million encores so Purple Rain gets away with being awesome.
Purple Rain is a defiant eighties movie. Big hair, big songs, big costumes and big hearts, it is extremely grand for Prince fans and hilarious for those who aren't. The film has a serious edge which works reasonably well considering the hammed up performances but that is much a credit to Clarence Williams II and Olga Karlantos (yes, those are names too) who play the mother and father in an abusive relationship. Other than that, Purple Rain is only great because it is a triumph of guitar solo's, glitter and hairspray.
And squeaky short men everywhere.
TTFN
Cookie.