Hard Core Logo (1996)

A group of washed-up Canadian punk rockers get back together for a road trip in memory of a dear friend who was supposedly shot, or so rumors imply. As they travel, they ignore the underlying psychological darkness within each other.

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 | documentary filmmaking | rock band reunion | mockumentary | punk rock | 

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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

Country:

Canada

Language:

English German

Release Date:

11 October 1996 (USA)

Also Known As:

Hard Core Logo auf Reunion-Tour

Filming Locations:

British Columbia, Canada

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$3,864, 15 November 1998, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$17,012, 27 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

Director Bruce McDonald's earlier film, Highway 61 (1991), is referenced by the Band-Aid visible on Billy Talent's finger. Characters in "Highway 61" sold their souls to Satan for something they wanted, signing a contract in blood, after which Satan gave them a Band-Aid for their finger. This implies that Billy sold his soul for his chance at fame with Jenifur.

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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

The characters and events depicted in this motion picture are fictional. Any similarities to actual persons, living or dead, is a wild coincidence. Hardly any animals were harmed or abused during the filming of this production.

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Connections

References Anna Karenina (1918)

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Soundtracks

Bonerack
Written by Gord Lewis (as G. Lewis), Frankie Venom (as F. Kerr), Steve Mahon (as S. Mahon) and Nick Stipanitz (as N. Stipanitz)
Performed by Teenage Head
© L.K.M.S. Music
Loudrock Records

User Reviews

Just wonderful, intelligent film making

To try and comment on this film without mentioning Spinal Tap would be hard considering not only all the comments that have gone before but also the synopsis provided on this site. And the fact that not even real Rockumentary's can be reviewed without mentioning it hints at the brilliance of that film. Hard Core Logo, is not, however, Spinal Tap......and it's none the worse for it.

Hard Core Logo is an intelligent drama (with the occasional comic moment) about the intense love between two friends and their mutually destructive force on each other when their paths once again entwine together years after the dissolution of their band.

The copy I watched was pretty pore so I can't really comment on the cinematography but I can imagine, from the fuzzy version I did see, that its strikingly beautiful in it's own slightly decrepit way. The plot line is almost non-existent leaving the main focus on the four members of the band, mainly founding members Joe Dick and Billy Talent.

So without good actors this film would sink. As it is the director has pulled fantastic, three dimensional, heart rending performances from both Hugh Dillon and Callum Keith-Rennie. Hugh Dillon's Joe Dick is a self destructive black hole that pulls in those around him. His love for Billy can never be doubted but he can't stand to think he's been left behind and will do almost anything to bring Billy back into his life. Dillon's energy and screen presence is quite extraordinary.

Billy on the other hand is trying to get out, not just for money reasons but because he sees it as a way of salvaging his life from his group of self destructing band mates. Keith-Rennie's performance is all in the close ups of his face or his performance in the background of a scene while watching those around him. Billy talks crap but his face never lies.

well, at least that was my take on this film...and that really is where Hard Core Logo comes into it's own. With so much of what the characters actually mean not being said (they chose, instead, to spout the generally expected views of a rock band) it really does depend on the viewer what film they watch. Bruce McDonald is a director that knows the beauty of well acted silence. They don't need to say anything for us to know exactly what these characters are feeling. Truly spectacular.

But I'm rambling, seriously, watch it, don't watch it, but if you don;t you're genuinely missing out!!