tlavideo.com

Review

To paraphrase the tagline for the film, what if you got a break and you just plain sucked?

Director Alex Proyas’ latest endeavor really tries to be an underground hit about a group of underdog musicians, but, like the band in the film, it never gets itself out of the “garage” level of filmmaking. Garage Days plays like an extended video dedicated to the MTV generation, complete with neat little effects that clutter the screen and attempt to cover up an otherwise muddled story about an incestuous group of friends in a band who all seem to be fucking each other, or themselves, at one point or another over the course of the movie. Days isn’t a total loss, and those looking for entertainment with a great soundtrack (songs by Supergrass, Roxy Music, Joey Ramone, and The Hives) may be satisfied. There are a few nice moments, particularly towards the end (no, not when the credits roll…well, maybe), but, oh, what you have to endure to get the payoff. Let us hope and pray that Proyas, who also helmed the two more successful features Dark City and The Crow, didn’t bring the sensibility shown here with him while filming I, Robot.

 -- Bill Parker