| PREY FOR ROCK & ROLL |
 2003 - USADirector: Alex Steyermark
- Reviewed by Vickie
So, I present you Prey For Rock & Roll, a loud, raunchy, raucous, rockin' good time that features swoon-worthy Gina Gershon all tatted out as Jacki, a just-turned-40-year-old who's still clinging—however precariously—to her dreams of becoming a musical superstar. She knows the clock is ticking and that she's moved past the prime talent demographic sought by record labels (i.e., she's not a perky twentysomething anymore), but she forges ahead. With her are her bandmates: guitarist Faith (Lori Petty), Faith's baby-dyke girlfriend, Sally (Shelly Cole), and perpetual screw-up Tracy (Drea de Matteo), who comes from money and lives her life through a fog of alcohol and drugs. Together, the women endure personal and professional hardships, from scrambling for gigs to coping with the sudden arrival of Shelley's ex-con brother, Animal (Mark Blucas), to a violent sexual assault and an unexpected tragedy. Jacki remains the group's anchor throughout. Co-written by former L.A. punk-rocker Cheri Lovedog and adapted from her stage play of the same name (that was launched at famed NYC club CBGB's), the film rests largely on the shoulders of its lead, Gina Gershon. Director Alex Steyermark said that she was the only choice to play Jacki and it really is hard to imagine anyone else in the role. Equally impressive is the fact that Gershon does all her own singing in the film, and sings live in the performance sequences. That woman can ROCK! Prey truly is a showpiece for her and her talents. The supporting actresses are just as strong... and, really, they have to be. All learned to play their characters' instruments (or how to pretend to play them convincingly) and it shows. The band's rehearsals and club performances all look authentic. But these women are not just skilled at air guitar or wailing on a drum kit. Petty creates a surprisingly sweet and understated character, as does Shelley Cole, whose Sally bears the brunt of much of the film's heartache and trauma. Who'da thunk Rory's Chilton friend from Gilmore Girls could pull off such a powerful and poignant performance?! Drea de Matteo goes from one tough-gal role (on The Sopranos) to another as Tracy, whose eyes are permanently at half-mast and whose life is spiraling out of control. She's a bit of a train wreck and, I suppose, serves as sort of a constant reminder to her friends of the perils of excess. Although the stories in the film don't necessarily cover new ground (band struggles to make it big), it still feels fresh. The soundtrack (which hits stores on October 7th) kicks ass and kicks it harder when it's blasted through a powerful cinema sound system. Rumor has it Gershon will do a selected-city club tour to perform some of the songs from the film. I say line up now for tickets, see the movie in the interim and be prepared to love both. Rock ON! |
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Man, I love a great chicks-in-a-band movie! And these days, if it's not
pretty young chicks in a fun band (à la Josie and the Pussycats,
which I also adored), you're going to be hard pressed to find anything
that qualifies.
