Purple Rain (1984), DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect Director: Albert Magnoli; Screenplay: Magnoli and William Blinn; Rated R for language, sexual situations, nudity Starring: Prince (The Kid), Apollonia Kotero (Apollonia), Morris Day (Morris), Olga Karlatos (Mother), Clarence Williams III (Francis L.), Jerome Benton (Jerome), Billy Sparks (Billy), Jill Jones, Wendy Melvion, Lisa Coleman, The Revolution, The Time, Appolonia 6 Plot Summary: A talented but troubled musician, known as The Kid, struggles with a difficult home life and intense rivalries with other performers in the Minneapolis club scene. He attempts to forge a career with his band, The Revolution, while navigating a complex romance with an aspiring singer named Apollonia. The story explores The Kid's artistic journey as he confronts his personal demons, deals with a rival band, and learns to collaborate with his own band members.
The kid and Appolonia's love affair is being strained by her own musical ambitions that just to happen to involve Morris Day, the kid's rival. The Revolution's nightly set begins and they begin the song "Computer Blue", a funky sexually-charged ode love and technology in the 80's. The band's choreography and rhythm is unmatched, as Prince prances around in shirtless with a black lace veil hiding his eyes. It gets so racy folks watching start to squirm, especially the club's manager. Then Appolonia walks in with Morris. The band breaks into "Darling Nikki", another heart-rendering song about a very nasty little girl. Yeah, this took the film into new, more daring territory. And I loved it. Something subtle you might have missed: magic number 6 Appolonia, who portrays Prince's love interest, is paired with two back-up singers, played by Brenda Bennett and Susan Moonsie, to form the group Appolonia 6. In real life, they would cut one album, featuring the song "Sex Shooter" from the film, before disbanding. Both Bennett and Moonsie were Prince protégée singers in a previous group featuring the singer, and Prince's girlfriend, Vanity (aka Denise K. Matthews). Yes, you guessed it, their three person group name was Vanity 6. They only made one album, and she exited the band when they called it quits. Memorable Quotes: "I can make you happy. If you just believed in me." - Francis L. "Well, for starters, you have to purify yourself in the waters of Lake Minnetonka." - The Kid to Apollonia when she asks for career help "Tell me I'm wrong! You're not blind! Look around you. No one's diggin' you. Oh, buddy, what a fuckin' waste. But, like father, like son... Let me give you some good advice, junior: your music makes sense to no one... but yourself." - Billy, the club manager Dad's Review: How is it possible for young man, raised in Texas and reared on a massive cattle ranch, to connect and be influenced by a black pop artist from Minneapolis? What could ever have occurred? Well, since you asked, I will tell you... Musically I have always been a rebel. When my country classmates were two-stepping to Waylon and Willie, I was rocking to Kiss and Aerosmith. When MTV hit the scene, I gravitated away from rock and towards New Wave bands like Devo and The Cars. However, my real awakening was my four years in college (1981 to 1985). It was my first real exposure to people of different demographics and races. One of my best college buddies loved R&B music and exposed me to The Commodores, Cameo, The Sugar Hill Gang, and his favorite, Michael Jackson. Also awakening within me was my sexuality. Sure, every male of my age was a horny mess. Anything on that topic was so awkward. Let's face it, the adult men I grew up with rarely talked about sex, and they were not people I would ever deem as "sexy". In fact, if a male acted "sexy", they were often chided as "gay" or "sissy".
Don't get me wrong, I (and everyone else on earth) liked Thriller, but I connected with Purple Rain. So did fans. Purple Rain spent 24 consecutive weeks atop the Billboard 200, with several singles in the Top 10. The film would win the Oscar for Best Original Song Score. Through the years, when I watch this musical masterpiece, I visualize my transformation from a dusty West Texas cowpoke into the gyrating, confident man in purple, named Prince, who stood for what he believed in. Here was a man not afraid to use his talents and sexually make an audience feel. Yet, if you believe the film's plot, underneath it all is a struggling kid desperately trying to make it as an artist. You don't have to agree with him, but it's hard to ignore him. What makes this film so much more than a concert film is that it touches on many themes, most about relationships. We see this in how he gets along with his fellow Revolution band mates, particularly Lisa and Wendy. We see the growing between the Kid and his brooding father, a failed songwriter and abusive husband. The Kid's own relationship is Appolonia starts out cutesy at first, but soon gets emotionally real when his jealousy and insecurities threaten everything they have. Who know Prince could act? Here, he pulls it off. Then there is the concert footage... did I mention that is some of the best ever filmed? We know that it is not really live, but is sure feels that way, which is a testament to the filmmakers. If you take out all the character-building scenes, the concert segments would STILL make this a classic. It is that powerful. So just stop fighting it. Admit that you love this film about a very talented musician. Admit it's better than Thriller. Be purple. Like me. ཤི་གཞག། (Shix) On to No. 100... A Yuletide Anecdote
|
Defining Moment:
computer blue and darling nikki
In
1984, two monumental albums hit stores: Michael Jackson's