Telstar (2008)

User Rating:

6.0/10   

Director:

Nick Moran

Writers:

James Hicks (writer)
James Hicks (play)

Release Date:

19 June 2009 (UK)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | Music

Plot:

A music-infused drama about Joe Meek, the flamboyantly gay, tone deaf, songwriter-producer behind the '60s hits "Have I the Right," "Just Like Eddie," "Johnny, Remember Me" and "Telstar." |

Plot Keywords:

London England | Lawyer | 1960s | Recording Studio | One Word Title

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Con O'Neill	...	Joe Meek
Kevin Spacey	...	Major Banks
Pam Ferris	...	Mrs. Shenton
JJ Feild	...	Heinz Burt
James Corden	...	Clem Cattini
Tom Burke	...	Geoff Goddard
Ralf Little	...	Chas Hodges
Sid Mitchell	...	Patrick Pink
Mathew Baynton	...	Ritchie Blackmore
Shaun Evans	...	Billy Kuy
Callum Dixon	...	John Leyton
Tom Harper	...	Alan Caddy
Jon Lee	...	Billy Fury
Nigel Harman	...	Jess Conrad
Carl Barât	...	Gene Vincent

Runtime:

119 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Argentina:Atp | UK:15

Filming Locations:

Holloway Road, Holloway, London, England, UK

Company:

Aspiration Films

Trivia:

Ralf Little plays the part of musician Chas Hodges, whilst Chas Hodges himself appears in the part of Mr. Brolin.

Goofs:

Factual errors: John Peel is shown interviewing Joe Meek for the New Musical Express in 1963. John Peel was never a regular journalist for the NME, and was working as a DJ in the southern USA in 1963.

The Best British Film in Years

To be honest I only popped into see this at the LFF screening because it had Kevin Spacey in it and that bloke from Gavin and Stacey. I had no idea who Joe Meek was and couldn't sing one of his songs if you paid me. My expectations were low but I thought what the hell and settled into my seat. The first thing that struck me was the style of the piece, Nick Moran has captured the era beautifully, it looks incredible. The performances, to a man, are wonderfully heightened and there is an incredible energy to the piece. I laughed a lot and totally bought into the madness of the Holloway Road studio and its inhabitants. The second half of the film punches you right in the gut. Meeks descent from manic,comedic,volatile, music genius, to heart broken, paranoid, physco is painfully moving. Con O'Neill is amazing, it's one of those performances that just haunts you. Staying with you long after the credits role. I sat in the cinema with the rest of the spellbound audience and watched gobsmaked as Morans film launched into its final heart wrenching act. This is a British film to be proud of. Unlike anything we have seen for many, many years. A truly remarkable debut from Moran. Great stuff.