Vinyl

Not sure what the last review was about, obviously saw a different film to me. I saw this at the Raindance Film Festival and loved it. A crowd pleaser that was great fun. Almost plays like a continuation of Quadrophenia, see Phil Daniels 30 years on. The young kid in it who plays Drainpipe is a face to watch out for. Considering this is obviously a low budget film the production is great. But it's the story that wins you over most of all. The humour reminded me of Full Monty. Nice to see the UK making films like this again. Want to watch it again and will buy the DVD when it comes out. Hope it gets released and does well so more like this get made.

Whats not to like about this great film? The soundtrack? Phil Daniels? Perry Benson? Seeing the music biz being caught with their pants down? That last notion is worthy enough as a plot for a movie but watching the story unfold with Phil Daniels leading the charge, as only he can with his 100mph attack on life, makes this tidy little film truly worthy of your time watching it. The story will make you laugh, it may make you cry and it will definitely leave you feeling good and glad you watched it. It is a fun caper that never takes its self too seriously yet succeeds in showing all of us that rock n roll should always be 'by the people, for the people and of the people'. If you grew up in the 70s or 80s you will love it and many of its touch points. If you are still "growing up" watch and learn. FREE ROCK N ROLL

This is a low budget British film with ageing actors still showing that they can rock it.

It is inspired by true events from 2004, when Mike Peters of the Welsh rock group The Alarm released a single under the pseudonym of a teenage band called The Poppy Fields.

Peters plays a cameo in this film and The Alarm provide songs for the film.

Phil Daniels and Keith Allen are fellow band members who reunite after a funeral of a fellow rock star. The band fell out 20 years earlier in acrimonious circumstances. They start jamming while drunk and discover they still produce good music.

They look to get a record deal but get knocked back for being yesterday's men. The record executives want young bands with attitude and a teenage fan base.

Daniels gets the idea of getting some youngsters to form a band and mime their songs and hit the charts.

However Allen distrusts him and is an obstacle to this scheme. One of the teenage band member is a talented musician and might have history with Daniels.

Also it seems no one had a good look at the record contract the fake band signed.

The film starts of brightly, Daniels still has a lot of oomph in him. The latter part of the film loses its momentum when it goes for some melodrama. The film is short enough to have a feel good factor and great acting from the veterans.

I was lucky enough to see both the uncut version of the film and the finished product at the Welsh Premier in Wrexham. I must say how proud I am to be from North Wales which is where most of the filming took place, indeed the ending scene takes place in Rhuddlan Castle at a rock gig I attended.

This film is a proper British film based on a true story of what happened to Mike Peters of The Alarm and front man for Big Country in 2004.

Light hearted, funny, entertaining, a real feel good film and one of those films you will want to buy so that you can watch it again.

Some great actors in the film and good music too.

Definitely a hit in my eyes.

Sara Sugarman's music industry film "Vinyl" is built on a terrific premise, and the fact this dramedy originates from a true story makes it all the more ripe for this big screen telling.

Imagine: A long-in-the-tooth rock band is forced by the industry's relentless ageism to release music under the guise of being a much younger rock band. It happened in 2004, as Mike Peters of The Alarm put out music as The Poppy Seeds, along with a music video of lip-synching lads fronting the tune as if they were its proper creators. Sure enough, the tune got radio play. Gotcha!

In "Vinyl," Phil Daniels is the surly, aging frontman, and Jamie Blackley is the younger, fresher face aping the real band's music on camera. It allows for some great moments of both comedy and drama, and in equal measure. True, there is at times a sheeny, Austin Powers artifice to the film, which doesn't always accessorize with the music's scrappy emergence from the cast-off lot. But at its heart is a great story brought to a truthful life on screen, and with terrific competence. "Vinyl" is an underrated, understated success.