Search - The Idolmaker on DVD

An unfairly forgotten classic for you to rediscover

P. I. Johnson | Cape Town, South Africa | 09/05/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

""I've been up, I've been down, I've been playing women all around ..." It amazes me that this great movie seemed to have bypassed modern audiences to the extent that no-one even remembers it anymore. I remember when it was released in South Africa in 1981, my best friend and I went to see it four times in the same week. At that time, we were uncritically into movies about music, rock 'n roll and disco (Grease; Saturday Night Fever; Thank God it's Friday; I Wanna Hold your Hand etc)and this movie delivered big time in terms of our low expectations. As I've matured, movies like these have either dated rather badly (Saturday Night Fever) or gradually revealed their mediocrity (Thank God it's Friday). The Idolmaker has only become better! This is truly a movie that succeeds in being all things to all people. As kids, it delivered the most basic kind of entertainment that made going to the movies a weekly pleasure. As adults, it delivers an intelligent, bittersweet and admirably unsentimental look at the unforgiving dynamics of an industry and culture prizing image and packaging over substance and content. Featuring a remarkably confident career best performance by Ray Sharkey ably supported by the always reliable Joe Pantoliano and a suitably weeny Peter Gallagher, The Idolmaker is the forgotten classic of the musical drama genre. In a funny way, given the setting, the neighbourhood, the wiseguy attitude - I've always kind of considered The Idolmaker as a kind of sub-Scorsese movie - an upmarket, glamorous companion piece to Mean Streets, Raging Bull and other such Italian American neighbourhood tales. But that would be unfair to director Taylor Hackford, who has fashioned a remarkably original stand-alone homage to the hardworking, entrepreneurial, fame-hungry neighbourhood kids who were the real, unseen backbone of the rock 'n roll industry. Breezy and pacy, yet tinged with profound pathos, The Idolmaker is the best of its kind. The fact that it has a terrific soundtrack that'll have you humming all day doesn't hurt either. This is the best, most insightful and intellectually stimulating movie about rock 'n roll ever made. Add The Idolmaker to This is Spinal Tap and A Hard Day's Night in your collection and you'll own the only movies you need to about the music industry and the stupidities -and undeniable attraction - of its attendant celebrity. Oh yes - and I guarantee that after watching this movie, you'll never be able to take groups like the Backstreet Boys and 'N Sync seriously again."

Good movie, great soundtrack that was ahead of its time

P. I. Johnson | 07/20/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This movie has some great performances by Ray Sharkey and in one of his first roles, by Joe Pantoliano as Sharkey's right hand man. Maureen McCormack also has a brief role.The music is excellent and drives the movie. I've been searching for the soundtrack for years and can't find it.With today's current crop of cookie cutter acts, like Backstreet Boys developed by Maurice Starr types, there is talk of a remake of The Idolmaker. I hope that it results in generation of interest in the original and its soundtrack"

One of my All Time Favorites

carididdy | New York, New York | 01/21/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I watched this movie as a little girl and I have loved it ever since. I have seen it hundreds of times and I'm glad to see it out on DVD. If you haven't seen it, then you're missing a great movie that should be a classic!! The music, actors and acting are fantastic and the soundtrack is a part of my life."

Simply the best

mark cheasley | Plantation, Fl United States | 08/30/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"since being a musician myself many years ago, i was pleasantly surprised the way the movie was so accurate as far as the music business goes... the actors did a great job and was a starting point in some of their careers.. if you love music, you will love this film...."