John Ridley (director)
Curzon (studio)
15 (certificate)
118 minutes (length)
26 January 2015 (released)
23 January 2015
Jimi Hendrix was probably the greatest guitarist of his generation and that is saying something. The film starts at the point when Jimi was a backing player and support for Little Richard. We then move from New York City and his discovery too his time in 60s London, when it was swinging like a member of parliament. The story explores his relationships with women, music and his band.
What can I say about this film that hasn’t already been said? The dark cloud of something can often hang over a film that would have been brilliant if not for its presence. In this films case it is the most obvious and most talked of, the subject is the reason we know of Hendrix and that is his music. The copyright holders, Jimi Hendrix estate refused the use of any of Hendrix’s music and declined for it to be used unless they were directly involved. This robs the film of the power of this work but also the connection to brilliance. They flirt often with Hendrix about to play in a studio or a club but always cut away from the event. It reminded me of when I watched England beat Greece many years ago. In fact I didn’t as the critical goals were all missed due to power outs at the crucial moment!
Now the good news is that Andre Benjamin is excellent, playing the role with a measure you would not expect from a non-actor. The rest of the cast are good, with Hayley Atwell superb. Sound track is interesting and features some great tracks (no Hendrix mind). The bad isn’t major and some are forgivable. Visually the film could have been given a little treatment, it does feel on occasions a little excessively darkened or a little over lit and washed out. The editing is sound but the pacing is an issue in the early portion as dialogue drags you down and moves you out of the story. Locations are a problem as some will be confused about where is where, so to speak. I mean one dingy club is much like another. If however it had the music added back in and the film had scenes reshot, it could be quite near a masterpiece.