Hard Core Logo (1996)

Bruce Macdonald follows punk bank Hard Core Logo on a harrowing last-gasp reunion tour throughout Western Canada. As magnetic lead-singer Joe Dick holds the whole magilla together through ... See full summary »

Director:

Bruce McDonald

Writers:

Noel S. Baker (screenwriter), Michael Turner (book)

Stars:

Hugh Dillon, Callum Keith Rennie, John Pyper-Ferguson

4 wins & 6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Hugh Dillon	...	Joe Dick / Joseph Mulgrew
Callum Keith Rennie	...	Billy Tallent / William Boisy
John Pyper-Ferguson	...	John Oxenberger
Bernie Coulson	...	Pipefitter
Julian Richings	...	Bucky Haight
Benita Ha	...	Pipefitter's Girlfriend
Claudia Ferri	...	John Oxenberger's Girlfriend
Joey Ramone	...	Joey Ramone
Corrine Koslo	...	Laura Cromartie
Bruce McDonald	...	Documentary Filmmaker
Danny Nowak	...	Documentary Cameraman
Jochen A. Schliessler	...	Documentary Sound Recordist (as Jochen Schliessler)
Jeremy Bishop	...	Bongo Player
Tony Tucker	...	Bongo Player
Art Bergmann	...	Himself

Storyline

Bruce Macdonald follows punk bank Hard Core Logo on a harrowing last-gasp reunion tour throughout Western Canada. As magnetic lead-singer Joe Dick holds the whole magilla together through sheer force of will, all the tensions and pitfalls of life on the road come bubbling to the surface.

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Plot Keywords:

band | western canada | concert | gun | lost | 

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Taglines:

4 guys - 5 nights - 3000 miles - 764 gallons of gas - 987 bottles of beer - 3457 cigarettes - 1 last shot

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Music

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong language, substance abuse, some violence and sexuality

Details

Official Sites:

Ed Festus Productions

Country:

Canada

Language:

English German

Release Date:

11 October 1996 (USA)

Filming Locations:

British Columbia, Canada

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$3,864 (USA) (13 November 1998)

Gross:

$17,012 (USA) (25 June 1999)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Terminal City Pictures, Shadow Shows, Ed Festus Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

92 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Black and White Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Several of the extras for some of the film's smaller shows were recruited from local punk and street hangouts. Volunteers were well fed and entertained.

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Goofs

At the beginning of the movie when Joe is talking to Billy in the bar, Billy lights a cocktail umbrella and puts it out in Joe's beer. However, a minute later, the umbrella is back on the table and Joe is drinking his beer.

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Quotes

Pipefitter: All I wanted was a fucking burger.

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Crazy Credits

Accountant Goddess...Wendy Ladret

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Connections

References High Noon (1952)

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Soundtracks

"Tired Of Waking Up Tired"
Music and Lyrics by John Catto
Performed by Hugh Dillon and Callum Keith Rennie
© Crash and Burn Music (SOCAN)

User Reviews

Really interesting character study NOT to be compared to "This Is Spinal Tap!"

Let's get it over with right from the beginning: the only thing that "This Is Spinal Tap!" and "Hard Core Logo" have in common is the documentary set up. While Spinal Tap was a comedy that - as the name of the genre "mockumentary" suggests - mocked the heavy metal scene, "Hard Core Logo" is a character study that takes an honest look at a band and life on the road. Actually, the whole framework is rather unnecessary in this movie as it serves no real purpose and characters didn't act like they were in front of a camera (unlike say "The Office", where people behaved as if they were aware of being filmed). Besides, the pictures are shot too beautifully anyway for this to feel like a real documentary. That's not to say "Hard Core Logo" isn't realistic, though. The movie gives us a quite real impression of being in a punk band, caught between different agendas, personalities, power struggles and the sheer need to survive. This is why, apart from a few moments that will make you chuckle, "Hard Core Logo" isn't really trying to be funny, either. Just like real life the tragic moments outweigh the comedic ones by far. The acting is great and the soundtrack is accurate, two very important things to make a movie about punk rock work. Apart from maybe the drummer the band members aren't over-subscribed and you can really see guys like Joe Dick or Billy Talent playing in actual bands (guess what, Hugh Dillon actually was the singer of his own band, The Headstones). "Hard Core Logo" works on every level and is very entertaining to watch, too. There are quite a few details in the story hinted at rather subtly, which you're probably not going to get the first time around, so a second or third viewing is recommended.