Born to Lose: The Last Rock and Roll Movie (1999)

User Rating:

6.0/10   

Director:

Lech Kowalski

Genre:

Documentary

Plot Keywords:

Misery | Band | New York City | Mysterious Death | Concert Footage

Cast

Willy DeVille	...	Himself
Wayne Kramer	...	Himself
Dee Dee Ramone	...	Himself
John Spaceley	...	Himself
Sylvain Sylvain	...	Himself
Johnny Thunders	...	Himself
Mick Webster	...	Himself

Runtime:

Canada:90 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Essential for any Johnny Thunders fan (if you can find it).

This documentary offers a fantastic (if fragmented) view into the life of tragic guitar hero Johnny Thunders. I would call this far from complete; the history is left vague, with almost no regards to chronology or the progression Thunders took from the New York Dolls to the Heartbreakers and his solo career. The interviews (often with current or ex-junkies) are mostly semi-coherent, and there are several moments in the film where the editing leaves a bit to be desired, including an extended sequence where Dee Dee Ramone is all but inaudible as he talks over a loud Heartbreakers performance. Lech Kowalski also decided to use almost no footage of Johnny Thunders talking, one lone clip at the beginning being the only exception

All that being said, the film is still a very watchable and enjoyable look at the man himself. The incredible footage from both the days of the New York Dolls and early Heartbreakers is fantastic to watch, as are some of the stories shared about Johnny by friends and family.

For a more complete look at the history and untimely death of Johnny Genzale, a far better source would be the book "In Cold Blood..." by Nina Antonia, but for either a quick introduction to the man and the music or as an integral part of your obsessive collection, Born To Lose is well worth the time spent trying to locate a decent copy.