Rijndri
Load of rubbish!!
Pluskylang
Great Film overall
Adeel Hail
Unshakable, witty and deeply felt, the film will be paying emotional dividends for a long, long time.
Zlatica
One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.
sth_Weird
I bought this movie on DVD because I like Judd Nelson and I like the music. I didn't know who Alan Freed was before watching the movie, I had heard the name and knew he had something to do with Rock n Roll, but that's it. I'm afraid I still don't know that much about him after watching this movie. There were quite a couple of scenes (especially those which showed his private life) when I was like "hello, did I miss something?". Sometimes there didn't seem to be much of a connection between the scenes...there simply was too much music (which by the way was great!) and very little story. I know Judd Nelson as a gorgeous character actor and I read he wanted to do this movie because he loved the music, so I'm sure he put some effort in it. I guess there simply was too little time to support any real character development, or else the movie was made for people who already know about Alan Freed's work and don't mind about the gaps. Anyway, I gave the movie 6/10, but not necessarily as an Alan Freed Story, but a Rock n Roll story.
Craig Smith
This is an interesting movie on several levels. First, a good look at early rock and roll. You get glimpses of what goes on behind the scenes to start something new. We forget that rock and roll was a scary, challenging music to the parents in the early 1950's. We forget how people looked at race relations in the 1950's. This movie provides glimpses of that time.
The teens took to it because they liked the beat, as a means of rebelling, and as a way to show their independence. Mostly I think they liked the upbeat tempo of the music.As Alan Freed liked to keep pointing out, he was Mr. Rock and Roll. He started the revolution. Unfortunately for him, the music grew bigger than him. In time, the music was what became important. It took him awhile but I think he finally understood that.Unfortunately we don't get to see the original stars (this was made in 1991 - 35 years later). But the music is there, how they performed is there, how they danced is there. The story of the movie is the music. And it was (is) great music. Enjoy it.
generic-2
Judd Nelson gave an excellent performance as Alan Freed the disk jockey who coined the term Rock & Roll. All of the performances were fine and the songs of course were great. The lady who played his wife was a new face and very classy. The actor who played the heavy role was also quite good. Well worth watching.
TxMike
OK, so it is a TV movie. And it didn't cost 100 million to make. But there are several charming story lines throughout the movie, and you do get to re-live some of the songs and performances you loved as a teenager. The actors do passable impersonations of the real stars of yesteryear. Give it a look when it is broadcast, you'll not be disappointed!