(Writing out of passion. Therefore grammar mistake beware)
Jimi: All is By My Side is an arts film. Keep this in mind
2014 is a great year for musician based-biopics. Get On Up and Jimi: All is by My Side are the reason why.
Everything about Jimi: All is By My Side is unusual. The fact that 39-year old rapper Andre 3000 plays the then 24 year old Jimi Hendrix. The fact that this movie only takes place during 2-years of Jimi Hendrix's life (being able to focus on a certain period of Jimi Hendrix's life and not rushing over his whole short life gives the movie more focus). The fact that the film was not allowed by Jimi Hendrix's estate to use any of his popular music. Some of this oddities are what make this movie really good.
John Ridley (Oscar-winning writer of the screenplay for 12 Year A Slave) has made the Jimi Hendrix biopic that fans did not expect or honestly want. Yet he also made the original biopic that film lovers look for often yet seldom find. The film is surprisingly subtle and quiet nature may be of putting to some. For some cynical reason, this is the exact reason I respect this movie. It may not be my favorite movie of this year but I think it one of 2014's best because it at least comes across that Ridley cared about his subject and wanted to show his story in a creative way. This movie will not give you Hendrix's whole life story or even make you go, "Yah!!! Now I am pumped to listen to Hendrix", you feel like you know Hendrix as a person yet don't completely know him. Ridley tried to bring as much as Hendrix as he could to life through interesting artistic filmmaking. His screen writing here is also quite engaging. If you have seen 12 Years A Slave, interestingly you'll notice similarities in filming between that film and this one. As for the performances, the three leads are great. Andre Benjamin surprised me with his performance as Hendrix. I did not know much about Hendrix. I do not even know his music that well. All I know is that he is known as one of the best if not the best guitarist of all time.As a man...Hendrix was kind of insecure and awkward. Who knew? For such an influential musician at such a time of political unrest, Hendrix was pretty content simply just play his music. He was simple yet profound sometimes in real life but more often this was evident in his lyrics. Shy in public yet when he wanted to do something that seemed crazy to others, he did it. Imogen Poots is very appealing as Linda Keith, the woman who discovers Hendrix in Greenwich Village, is lover to Hendrix, all the while dating Keith Richards. There is something so charming about Poots and after starring in some pretty bad movies (namely Need For Speed), she gets a real role. Haley Atwell is fiery as Kathy Etchingham, another lover of Hendrix. Good to see her in something unrelated to Marvel. All in all, these actors are trying hard in their roles and they disappear into them to create believable characters. Some of the sound and filming technique in this movie could either be seen as clever or annoying. Your choice.The only glaring flaw I see in it is some of the changing of history. This movie is apparently mostly accurate and I understand that in films like this, history is often times altered. However I cannot stand when things are just made up. There is one scene when Hendrix beats Etchingham with a phone receiver that apparently never happened in real life. Just why? This scene has some purpose in the movie but depth that did not exist in real life should not be added to film.
Jimi: All is By My Side is odd yet strangely unique and engaging. John Ridley puts a tender, realistic, art-house on one of rock 'n' rolls biggest icons. The result is masterful in many ways. If you want to gain an interesting look into the man behind the legend or want to see a new kind of biopic, see this film. If you are looking for a energized mainstream biopic about Jimi Hendrix than wait for the Anthony Mackie biopic in 2016. Honestly this film is not for everyone and that is OK. It may not be the most fun film but it is an interesting one. Is that not why filmmakers make films? To take stories and put new and creative takes on them. Personally, I am just glad that we got a biopic about Jimi Hendrix, the human being.
I cannot explain it anymore even though I wish I could. If this your kind of movie, see it.
" Your people I do not understand, so to you I shall put an end, and you'll never hear surf music again" - Jimi Hendrix
P.S. I am very surprised at the lack of user reviews or ratings for this film on IMDb. This is a movie for movie-lovers and music-lovers and I know it will find it's audience. So why are there less than 20 reviews? Come on people.
Jimi: All is By My Side is an arts film. Keep this in mind
2014 is a great year for musician based-biopics. Get On Up and Jimi: All is by My Side are the reason why.
Everything about Jimi: All is By My Side is unusual. The fact that 39-year old rapper Andre 3000 plays the then 24 year old Jimi Hendrix. The fact that this movie only takes place during 2-years of Jimi Hendrix's life (being able to focus on a certain period of Jimi Hendrix's life and not rushing over his whole short life gives the movie more focus). The fact that the film was not allowed by Jimi Hendrix's estate to use any of his popular music. Some of this oddities are what make this movie really good.
John Ridley (Oscar-winning writer of the screenplay for 12 Year A Slave) has made the Jimi Hendrix biopic that fans did not expect or honestly want. Yet he also made the original biopic that film lovers look for often yet seldom find. The film is surprisingly subtle and quiet nature may be of putting to some. For some cynical reason, this is the exact reason I respect this movie. It may not be my favorite movie of this year but I think it one of 2014's best because it at least comes across that Ridley cared about his subject and wanted to show his story in a creative way. This movie will not give you Hendrix's whole life story or even make you go, "Yah!!! Now I am pumped to listen to Hendrix", you feel like you know Hendrix as a person yet don't completely know him. Ridley tried to bring as much as Hendrix as he could to life through interesting artistic filmmaking. His screen writing here is also quite engaging. If you have seen 12 Years A Slave, interestingly you'll notice similarities in filming between that film and this one. As for the performances, the three leads are great. Andre Benjamin surprised me with his performance as Hendrix. I did not know much about Hendrix. I do not even know his music that well. All I know is that he is known as one of the best if not the best guitarist of all time.As a man...Hendrix was kind of insecure and awkward. Who knew? For such an influential musician at such a time of political unrest, Hendrix was pretty content simply just play his music. He was simple yet profound sometimes in real life but more often this was evident in his lyrics. Shy in public yet when he wanted to do something that seemed crazy to others, he did it. Imogen Poots is very appealing as Linda Keith, the woman who discovers Hendrix in Greenwich Village, is lover to Hendrix, all the while dating Keith Richards. There is something so charming about Poots and after starring in some pretty bad movies (namely Need For Speed), she gets a real role. Haley Atwell is fiery as Kathy Etchingham, another lover of Hendrix. Good to see her in something unrelated to Marvel. All in all, these actors are trying hard in their roles and they disappear into them to create believable characters. Some of the sound and filming technique in this movie could either be seen as clever or annoying. Your choice.The only glaring flaw I see in it is some of the changing of history. This movie is apparently mostly accurate and I understand that in films like this, history is often times altered. However I cannot stand when things are just made up. There is one scene when Hendrix beats Etchingham with a phone receiver that apparently never happened in real life. Just why? This scene has some purpose in the movie but depth that did not exist in real life should not be added to film.
Jimi: All is By My Side is odd yet strangely unique and engaging. John Ridley puts a tender, realistic, art-house on one of rock 'n' rolls biggest icons. The result is masterful in many ways. If you want to gain an interesting look into the man behind the legend or want to see a new kind of biopic, see this film. If you are looking for a energized mainstream biopic about Jimi Hendrix than wait for the Anthony Mackie biopic in 2016. Honestly this film is not for everyone and that is OK. It may not be the most fun film but it is an interesting one. Is that not why filmmakers make films? To take stories and put new and creative takes on them. Personally, I am just glad that we got a biopic about Jimi Hendrix, the human being.
I cannot explain it anymore even though I wish I could. If this your kind of movie, see it.
" Your people I do not understand, so to you I shall put an end, and you'll never hear surf music again" - Jimi Hendrix
P.S. I am very surprised at the lack of user reviews or ratings for this film on IMDb. This is a movie for movie-lovers and music-lovers and I know it will find it's audience. So why are there less than 20 reviews? Come on people.