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Mojo (1997)

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2 reviews

Movie review

From Time Out Film Guide

Jez Butterworth's viciously funny play (Royal Court, 1995) had the critics throwing Tarantino references like confetti. The movie, scripted by Jez and his brother Tom, is reminiscent of Absolute Beginners. It's set in 1958, in a Soho music club, the owner of which is killed by a rival gangster muscling in on a hot new singing sensation. Designed in bold, bright strokes, this has the kind of dizzy verve that mixes toffee apples with murder and revenge - a rock'n'roll freneticism that's never less than diverting. But the pinball structure may be too clever (the group power dynamics are unclear), and, for all the gloss, the movie still exists in the stunted half-world of theatrical adaptation. Fab performances, exuberance and style ensure that it works, but only in spurts.

Author: TCh

Time Out Film Guide

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User reviews of this film

ranger said...

Posted on Dec 21 2010 17:57 Way to go!
Answering my own review.
The above review was for 'Absolute Beginners' though, now I think of it, it could virtually double for 'Mojo' as well.
Recreating the 50s and 60s on screen is like reacting a sporting event and is virtually impossible to get right and I can't think of one post-60s example that has got it right.

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ranger said...

Posted on Dec 20 2010 17:10 The '59 novel is incredible.
The era is the greatest era for popular culture and popular music that only really tailed off at the end of the 60s.
If you have any regard for the 50s and 60s avoid the DIRE 1980s film like the plague.
It simply oozes the dire 1980s from every pore and is as far from the 50s, and 50s rock 'n' roll, modern jazz and fashion, as it is possible to be.
Given the wonderful novel this is simply the worst film ever made.

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