Stoned (2005)

A chronicle of the sordid life and suspicious death of Rolling Stones co-founder Brian Jones, who was found in the bottom of his swimming pool weeks after being let go from the band.

Director:

Stephen Woolley

Writers:

Neal Purvis, Robert Wade

Stars:

Leo Gregory, Paddy Considine, David Morrissey

4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Leo Gregory	...	Brian Jones
Paddy Considine	...	Frank Thorogood
David Morrissey	...	Tom Keylock
Ben Whishaw	...	Keith Richards
Tuva Novotny	...	Anna Wohlin
Amelia Warner	...	Janet
Monet Mazur	...	Anita Pallenberg
Luke de Woolfson	...	Mick Jagger
David Walliams	...	Accountant
David Williams	...	Speecy
Gary Love	...	Jeff
Johnny Shannon	...	Landlord
Melanie Ramsay	...	Mrs. Thorogood
Rüdiger Rudolph	...	Volker
Will Adamsdale	...	Andrew Loog-Oldham

Storyline

Fact-based story about the drug-addled and sordid life of The Rolling Stones founder Brian Jones. Unfortunately the story moves so quickly into the sensationalized decadence and drug-induced state of Jones, that the unknowing viewer has to wonder why anyone would care. There are only a few framing sequences with members of The Stones, particularly Keith Richards, that show they had a great respect for him and tried to bring him back into the band as he drifted away. Mixed into the destruction of Jones is a common builder, Frank Thorogood, who is given the unenviable task of trying to please Jones by rebuilding his estate and to watch him per Jones' manager's instructions. Thorogood's life is so far removed from all of the sex and drugs that he sees, that he envies and desires the tawdry life as well, but never quite fits in. Unfortunately, at least according to this film and according to a supposed death bed confessional of Thorogood in 1993, it led to Thorogood's murder of Jones in a...

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Plot Keywords:

swimming | swimming pool | pantyhose | reference to brian jones | panties | 

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Taglines:

the wild and wicked world of Brian Jones

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | Music

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for drug use, sexuality, nudity and language

Did You Know?

Goofs

Andrew Loog Oldham tries to convince The Rolling Stones to take him on as manager by telling them "I broke The Beatles in America." In truth, Andrew's ties with the Beatles (he worked for their manager Brian Epstein for a spell) ended long before they broke in America. One could argue Andrew's claim was merely a bluff, but being as Andrew became the Rolling Stones' manager in April 1963, ten months before the Beatles broke in America, there was no American breakthrough to even bluff a credit claim for.

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Quotes

Brian Jones: Thanks for making a marytr of me. If it wasn't for you i'd still be alive and, no one would care.
Tom Keylock: You know that isn't true. It was you screwing with Frank's head what did it, because you had nothing better to do. But you did know her...
Brian Jones: Anita.
Tom Keylock: You just had to go and screw it up, didn't ya? Your problem is, you were never happy - even Frank was happy.
Brian Jones: You're wrong you know Tom. I was happy, somewhere in the middle there. The thing with happiness was... It was boring.

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Connections

References Blow-Up (1966)

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Soundtracks

Paper Sun
Composed by Steve Winwood and Jim Capaldi
Performed by Traffic

User Reviews

a nod to performance

The opening shots of the film shows an early stones line up under the leadership of Brian Jones getting their first gig. It is stylishly shot in black and white and as they roll through little red rooster a camera takes stills of the action. Then from the slow blues rift you are suddenly thrust to the frantic end as Brian is found dead in the pool. It is the stark contrast that works well and shocks the viewer into the heart of scene. Then the incredibly tragic and eccentric life of Brian Jones is told in a heady mix of flashback drug trips and sly nods to 'performance'. Leo Gregory stumbles through the film as Brian much like Michael Pitt did as Kurt Cobain in Van Sant's 'last days', you already know the outcome but it's the road on which you get there that forms the backbone of the plot. As Jones becomes more estranged, paranoid, wildly extravagant and more drug fuelled it begins to rub off on frank the builder who is doing work on Brian's house. Brian being bored and in need of not only a nanny but a drinking partner takes frank under his wing to a certain extent. But Jones being the flamboyant pop star doesn't see frank as anything more than a builder and taunts him until its too late. Frank see Jones' world of excess and wants in, although when he finds it out of reach that want turns to anger and jealousy. If you approach this film looking for a story of the stones you wont find it, this film like last days is a film that shows one mans downfall and the lives of those around him who should have helped. Jones portrayed as never happier than when making music is rock and roll myth personified. Without the tragic end to his life, the question is posed, would anyone still remember the tortured genius behind the stones early formation? There is obviously a love for the era and Jones from director Woolley, who not afraid to show Jones' vulnerable side also tries to show the man behind the myth. Whether a fan of the band or not this is an interesting film full of directing techniques and skillful editing that blend into a heady mix of rock and roll excess which takes the viewer to the sixties and back through one of the most interesting stories of the time.

Details

Official Sites:

Intandem Films [UK]

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 November 2005 (UK)

Also Known As:

Stoned

Filming Locations:

Battersea Park, Battersea, London, England, UK

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$15,409, 26 March 2006

Gross USA:

$38,922

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$187,160

Company Credits

Production Co:

Number 9 Films, Finola Dwyer Productions, Scala Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

102 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Black and White Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1