A major theme of the film is that the pursuit of celebrity for its own sake is a dangerous and addictive thing. This point is made very clear as we see the end result of Tony’s achievement of the goal and the inability to handle the rewards of success whereas his son Brendan Kaye’s success has not gone to his head at all. In fact, while he does all the things required by his agents to maintain his success and exposure, he does not appear to delight in it the way Tony might have. Instead he seems more concerned about producing good art in terms of the modern standard.
The 80s and the 20s are quite well represented in father and son whenever we are privy to the past exploits of Tony K through video or exposition vs what Brendan is doing in the here and now. Brendan is atypical for a seeming majority of performers as one who is not living indulgently for the sake of it as it seems he has avoided the sins of his father. Though it is implied that his art lacks the passion and vigor that fueled the music of the 80s with a generation motto that seemed to be “live fast, die young and leave a good looking corpse”. In contrast Brendan’s music is far less visceral than his father’s.
In the opening of the film we are shown evidence that Tony is still very popular in his native New York. Decades after his fall, he is still recognized, revered and autographs are asked for. Even after all the trouble and all the time he has been remembered and you can’t help but get the impression that Brendan will one day be replaced by the next flavor of the month and become a footnote instead of leaving a lasting mark.
Sorrentino makes Tony K a very likable and sympathetic character. Even when his darkness erupts to the surface in flashes of temper you find yourself hoping he will find a way. We Americans do love a good redemption story. He has clearly overcome much but his issues run deep and the craving for fame rests just below his surface. Those closest to him see this and remain wary. In the end we are left to wonder if his motivation to reconnect with his son is of a purely paternal nature or will he use Brendan to step into the limelight once more.
I had inclinations about where I thought the climax might go before the end and I was proven right. I can’t spoil the ending but there is absolutely no ambiguity here. Sorrentino brings Tony K’s story to a definitive end and one that feels appropriate for the character.
The acting is in general good to descent, with Sorrentino giving the best performance. Some of the acting felt a little Hallmark movie to me but I didn’t lose interest. This was Tony K’s story after all and he owns it. The production value was nice and I enjoyed the Florida and New York locations. I did feel like some of the cinematography could have been better, a little more interesting. Though I understand some of this is due to the restraints of budget and locations. No three walled sets for this shoot. Still while this wasn’t a bad film at all there was something lacking that would have taken it to the next level. Not a great film, but a good one and an interesting look into one man’s psyche.
Stars:
3.5 out of 5 stars
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