A decent biopic, although a little sanitised and definitely heavy on the schmaltz, it gives a reasonable account of Buddy's career for the casual observer.
The film would have benefitted from a little more of Buddy's early life - specifically his starting out in music, and introduction to The Crickets, of whom there is very little character development.
It is this lack of background on The Crickets which makes their decision to leave Buddy whilst he's on a high, and they're all making a lot of money puzzling.
Equally the film cops out a little, finishing on the High of his final performance rather than showing the drama of the ill-fated plane flight, tossing of coins for seats et al. Sadly, a huge part of the legend of Buddy Holly is his tragic death, and to not depict it in a story of his life is rather like ending a film on General Custer just as he rides into the Little Big Horn.
Busey gives an empassioned performance, but looks nothing like Holly, acts nothing like Holly, and in my opinion is certainly not worthy of an Oscar.
Overall a good, if overrated, film - definitely of its time (some of the musical arrangements, particularly the final gig, are waay more '78 than '58) and is worth a watch.
The film would have benefitted from a little more of Buddy's early life - specifically his starting out in music, and introduction to The Crickets, of whom there is very little character development.
It is this lack of background on The Crickets which makes their decision to leave Buddy whilst he's on a high, and they're all making a lot of money puzzling.
Equally the film cops out a little, finishing on the High of his final performance rather than showing the drama of the ill-fated plane flight, tossing of coins for seats et al. Sadly, a huge part of the legend of Buddy Holly is his tragic death, and to not depict it in a story of his life is rather like ending a film on General Custer just as he rides into the Little Big Horn.
Busey gives an empassioned performance, but looks nothing like Holly, acts nothing like Holly, and in my opinion is certainly not worthy of an Oscar.
Overall a good, if overrated, film - definitely of its time (some of the musical arrangements, particularly the final gig, are waay more '78 than '58) and is worth a watch.