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 | concert | lost | legs | documentary filmmaker | 

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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

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

John Oxenberger: [diary entry] Why the hell are two grown men still calling themselves Joe Dick and Billy Tallent? When they gave themselves those names they were 16... 17. The question is, when do they stop using them? Forty? Fifty? Sixty? You wonder if they remember their real names. Joe Mulgrew. Bill Boisy. Then there's Pipe... can't even remember his real name. I used to want a punk handle too... just couldn't find one that fit. It was always John. John. John Oxenberger. John. John. John, the bass player. ...

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Crazy Credits

Any unauthorized duplication, copying or use of all or part of this motion picture may result in civil liabilities and/or criminal prosecution in accordance with applicable laws/or a punch in the face.

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Connections

References Lolita (1962)

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Soundtracks

Satan's School For Girls
Music and Lyrics by Lick The Pole
Performed by Lick The Pole

User Reviews

Worthwhile, entirely.

I love "Hard Core Logo", a fine black comedy. Hugh Dillon, Callum Keith Rennie, John Pyper-Ferguson, Bernie Coulson, and Julian Richings as Bucky Haight all did a great job portraying an aging band that never lived up to it's own ambitions. Frankly, I am so tired of "This is Spinal Tap", a film I liked the first two times I saw it. It wore thin on me all too quickly. I still love HCL, and that has to be because it is based on Michael Turner's book. Turner's own experiences in the Hard Rock Miners informed his writing and that legitimacy was kept in tact in the film. Also, from a Canadian point of view, I liked it because it was a straight up story and a straight up film. Far too often it seems that Canadian filmmakers feel that they have to go out of their way to make odd/disturbing films that just come across as pretentious and 'faux-Euro', or make films designed to pander to the lowest common denominator of the Hollywood market. MacDonald made his own film for himself and I for one am grateful.