Garage Days (2002)

The story of a young garage band in Sydney, Australia trying to make it big.

Director:

Alex Proyas

Writers:

Alex Proyas (story), Dave Warner (story),

Stars:

Kick Gurry, Maya Stange, Pia Miranda

4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Kick Gurry	...	Freddy
Maya Stange	...	Kate
Pia Miranda	...	Tanya
Russell Dykstra	...	Bruno
Brett Stiller	...	Joe
Chris Sadrinna	...	Lucy
Andy Anderson	...	Kevin
Marton Csokas	...	Shad Kern
Yvette Duncan	...	Angie
Gianluigi Carelli	...	Micky
Tiriel Mora	...	Thommo
Holly Brisley	...	Scarlet
Matthew Le Nevez	...	Toby
Dave Cotsios	...	Sprimp Lead Guitar
Chris 'Skinner' MacGuire	...	Sprimp Drummer

Storyline

A coming-of-age comedy about a young Sydney band trying to get a foothold in the competitive world of rock n' roll. After the band's first gig is a colossal failure, the lead singer takes it upon himself to go out and pursue the most successful rock manager in the country. Meanwhile the other members of the band continue to deal with the kind of every day life issues that can ultimately tear a band apart. It may be the dawn of a new millennium but it's still a long way to the top if you want to rock n' roll.

---

Plot Keywords:

band | rock 'n' roll | australia | coming of age | sydney australia | 

---

Taglines:

What if you finally got your big break and you just plain sucked?

---

Genres:

Comedy | Music | Drama

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong sexual content, drug use and language

Details

Official Sites:

Fox Searchlight

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 October 2002 (Australia)

Also Known As:

Dias de Ensaio

Filming Locations:

Enmore, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Box Office

Budget:

$6,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$20,600 (USA) (18 July 2003)

Gross:

$20,600 (USA) (18 July 2003)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Australian Film Finance Corporation (AFFC), Mystery Clock Cinema

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The motorcycle featured in 'Fun With Drugs 1' sequence is a 1981 750cc T140E Triumph Bonneville

---

Goofs

When they go to their first gig, they have all their instruments on the roof of their car, but when they leave, there's nothing on the roof.

---

Crazy Credits

The main cast dances around Bruno's apartment to the Tom Jones song "Help Yourself".

---

Soundtracks

"It's a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock 'n' Roll)"
By AC/DC

User Reviews

Rattle and Roll music, v 1.01

My first reaction was that I need a widescreen copy of Looking For Alibrandi (2000) and that I need it real bad.

*

Then I was noticing how Lindsay Lohan's Freaky Friday (2003) and Just My Luck (2006) seem to be influenced by Garage Days. They are massively different, some who love Garage Days might consider them to be over-sanitised junk but I interpret them as being geared to a no age restriction audience. In that, the only problem I have with the two Linds is the characterisation. For me, Garage days is difficult but the characterisation is nicer.

Just My Luck has a very magical portrayal of luck, someone gaining by way of someone else losing. I occasionally get the impression that every day reality includes some of that sort of magic. Just My Luck mixing that with a warm charm that leads to totally the wrong solution. On the surface it is a happy solution, on the surface.

Garage Days manages to get the ending to be a bit better. Its luck also takes different paths. Gloom, reality can be way too like this too?

*

Around then I was also noticing the music they play. In my user comments I occasionally mention the music in features as if I am not totally inept re views on music. The commentary differs with me on that, according to that I am inept. That song filmed in front of a large live Homebake audience. The feature explains that Homebake is one of Sidney's music institutions.

According to the DVD commentary, never a source to place 100% of one's faith in, these four were mostly totally new to playing this sort of music or most other sorts of music. They were a band of beginners with a bit of training who were playing to an audience who were there to listen to top line groups. Me, I found them to have an aliveness of sound that some more experienced 'grass roots' bands do not have. I really honestly believe that if Pia and Kick and Chris and maybe Brett had continued in part time music then they would have been developing something in which they showed a bit of potential. As beginners they show that they can Rattle and Roll, in time and with appropriate tuition these might easily do better.