Hey, everyone. ”Moriarty” here. It’s strange being here in Los Angeles and not being at the Los Angeles Independent Film Festival, but a variety of things conspired to keep me from covering it this year. Still, we’re getting some submissions of reviews for films playing in the festival, like this one, and it certainly makes me at least curious to see the film. The Germs were a pretty significant presence on the LA punk scene, and if they can reproduce that well, it’s a film I’d like to see. So did they pull it off?
Harry, It was in 1999 that I got word that a Darby Crash biopic was in the works. This was back when David Arquette (??) was rumored to star as the title role. I emailed the filmmaker often to offer up moral support, "You can do this! Especially if Brendan Mullen is involved!" It seemed the production was stalled. Fast forward to 6 years later, and there's 'Notification of Filming' signs outside of my workplace for the 'Darby Crash Movie'. "I guess they're making the movie. And then, after seeing the trailer on YouTube...I was mortified. "It looks like Saved By The Bell with punk wigs" I told another a fellow Germs fan. ** SPOILERS ** So, after seeing the film previewed at The LA Film Fest last night, I have to say, I was pleasently suprised. It's obvious that there's been several rounds of shooting, re-shoots and b-roll added, but it works. The film starts as an almost docu-style interview of Darby (his Slash Records interview) intercut with footage of him as a child and teen. They waste no time rushing into the band 'Forming' and recording their first album. The majority of the film is centered on the post GI Album period and focuses on Darbys affair with Rob Henley and the tension it created. From there we get a slow, steady recounting of Darby spiraling into disillusionment as he watches his 'Circle' plan slip away, and as his affair with Amber dominates, and later alienates the band. His final death scene inter cut with news of John Lennon's death was a little more underscored than nessecary, but, still effective. Shane West's performance was surprisingly powerful. At first, the character seems too easy going in an overly effeminate way. But, I see that this is the films attempt to give the story a bit of an arc and to present Darby as not knowing what he was getting himself into. The rest of the cast compliment the film well, especially Rick Gonzalez as Pat Smear, the bands heart, and Noah Segan as Don Bolles, the lighthearted counterweight to Darby's seriousness. Also, a great performance from none other than Ray Park (yes, Darth Maul, Ray Park!) as Brendan Mullen, the legendary LA punk rock club owner. We really get to see the heartbreak his band mates went through when they realized the show was ending. The film does have it's drawbacks. Though I realize the lack of budget would have prevented this, The Germs were an LA band, and it would've been nice to see more of this late 70's setting. If you could imagine the characters from this movie running around in the 1979 movie 'Foxes', you would see the real alien presence punk was back then. So, this comes highly recommended. Especially, if any of you have read the excellent 'Lexicon Devil' Germs oral history, as, this film almost serves as video companion, just in terms of it's accuracy and detail. James1
