bugsmoran29
I really enjoyed this movie about Joe Meek, the English musical pioneer and the producer of numerous hit singles during the Sixties. The song "Telstar" was a major hit on the radio when I was a child during the Kennedy years of the early Sixties. Oddly enough I did see Joe Meek's movie "Live It Up" at the theater. I think it was paired with "A Hard Day's Night."I recently watched a BBC documentary from 1994 about Joe Meek's career, as well as his troubled life and violent suicide. I was fascinated by how the man had constructed his own tiny home recording studio that actually produced great records by the Tornadoes, Mike Berry, Jonathan King, Screaming Lord Sutch and the Honeycombs. I had to track down the DVD at amazon.com.I enjoyed this movie and being introduced to some of the early rock stars of Great Britain that were big before the Beatles, the Dave Clark Five and the Rolling Stones. I enjoyed the music very much. I also regret that Joe Meek didn't stick around longer: what he could have done for Pink Floyd. Obviously I quickly made a connection between Joe Meek and Phil Spect0r, another rather sinister and unlikable genius.
john_s_napper
I really wanted to see this film at the cinema, but somehow it passed me by. Maybe it didn't come to my local cinema which would have been a shame.Anyway, I forgot about it until I stumbled across the DVD online, ordered a copy and finally got to see it 8 years late! It was well worth waiting for.If you know about Joe Meek's life (and death), you will no doubt spot a few moments of artistic licence where some details are not exactly right such as his refusal to speak to Tom Jones when in reality he did record him. However, on the whole it is the story that I was aware of.Most importantly, it is well written, well directed, extremely well acted by all concerned and extremely entertaining despite the sad ending. It is worth noting that many of the people portrayed in the film are credited with cameo roles in the film so I think it is fair to say that those around at the time approved of the script and were happy to take part in it as well as give advice to the actors. For example, in the extra interview film on the DVD, James Cordon tells how Clem Cattini coached him in order to look convincing as a drummer – and he did a really good job in my opinion! I would add that although Kevin Spacey has clearly been included in the cast in order to try to sell this film to the USA, plus he is a big Hollywood name that would no doubt attract a few British cinema-goers who might other wise pass this film by, his performance as the very British Major was excellent. The first time I have ever seen an American play a Brit convincingly.I'm soiled that I bought the DVD because I can now see this film again and again, which I certainly will.
chun li
Picked this up on whim in 2015, as it has Kevin Spacey on the DVD cover, and as you probably know, he is usually excellent. Telstar tells the story of Joe Meek (played by Con O'Neill, who is excellent by the way) the world's first independent record producer. As comical as the on screen action is at times, it's also rather tragic. Personally, I wasn't around during the 1960's, I have to assume the film portrays London accurately during that era. Either way, the backdrop to the film is interesting. It's also interesting to see the conditions under which Meek's hit songs were created, recorded, in a grubby flat above a handbag shop in London. Entertaining from start to finish. One of the best films I've seen in ages. Totally recommended.
info-4733
Because I am old enough to remember Joe Meek I approached this film with real relish. That was my first big mistake. Telstar is truly appalling, largely due to the direction of Nick Moran. It is a complete mess from start to finish, lurching around at a frightening speed without any real explanation of what is going on, one minute offering up infantile farce, the next Shakespearian melodrama. It is hard to believe that anyone could have taken such an interesting and sad story and made such a dog's dinner of it. But the director is not the only one to blame. It is hopelessly miscast with not one person looking comfortable in their role. Kevin Spacey looks like he's just wandered into the wrong studio from some sixties sitcom while most of the "band" are totally unbelievable. And Con O'Neil with that horrible squeaky voice delivers a performance so over the top that he makes Brian Blessed look like a restrained actor. The whole sorry mess drags on and on for close on two hours without ever being even remotely involving. I wish there was a star rating below one. Telstar is worthy of it.
AD
