Telstar - The Joe Meek Story (15) **

[EmcProx]

The studio/flat/shop is now a fucking pakki shop -_-

[AstridOlga]

I thought it was a brilliant film! The script is excellent and the actors are miraculous. I love how they managed to maintain so much humour in so tragic a story.

[petelucas51]

Excellent film.. May not be historically accurate. Portrays Meeks paranoia and drug taking very well. Just for the record digging in the family tree my wifes dad came 10miles from where Meek was born and it turns out Joe was my wifes 3rd cousin once removed. The guy was ahead of the game listen to any electro house of today and you can hear the effect of Joes produictions. May have been eccentric but was a pioneer. Whatever else the film portrys the sprit of the 60s.

[RGM304]

DISAPPOINTING Biopic of Joe Meek,most off the film is historically inaccurate...

Most of the film is about the relationship between Joe Meek and Heniz..Heinz is portraid as being a poof,he was not,even his wife Della Burke and his son Simon Burt have spoke out about there discuss and anger about this...see the link on my channel and a fall list off all the Historical in accurates...

[The170460]

a reaal bullshit this movie. I've buy the DVD and it's a nightmare.

[Sids60sSounds]

Was Meek's voice really that high pitched?

[shcocky]

whoever decided that the actor who portrays joe meek should portray him in this way is the main problem. there seems to be little understanding of the essence of joe meek here.

[EmptyasChurch]

@shcocky wow did we watch the same film? What could they have done differently? Judging from archive footage, documentaries it seems to be spot on. If there is exists a source that tells a different story please share.

[shcocky]

@EmptyasChurch the story seems accurate enough, but i've listened to so much footage of joe speaking over the years. his voice & his character is so embedded in my mind that it's like i know him in a way. this is the essence i spoke of. i don't feel it from the actor portraying joe meek in this film. i feel that the actor who played goddard might get joe's spirit better.

[EmptyasChurch]

@shcocky I do get what you mean now, Con O'Neil emphasises the aggressive side of Meek quite abit, which I guess is conventional for the tortured artist biopic and there is more than a whiff of the exaggeration and flamboyancy of the stage play that gets carried over to screen. Tom Burke is brilliant as Goddard and I bet he could be the spit of Joe, though would he have been able to get the anger and paranoia across? less thick set aswell. Anyway Cheers for reply.

[shcocky]

@EmptyasChurch

tom burke has a quality about him that is similar to joe & whether he could pull off the fits of anger or not, we may never know. i would love to see a film reenacting the life of joe meek that nails joe's personality, speaking voice & the look in his eyes. it wouldn't try & compress loads of story content at a fast moving pace. the spiritual & occult parts would go deeper & not flow like a slick, shallow, eye-candy montage. so much more to say about it....

[robrusdavies]

Great film... so different from anything I've seen recently. Please have a look at our version of the song TELSTAR. TELSTAR by THE DUELLING PIANOS.

[SarahSmith666]

Poor accent

[princeofdaftness]

RIP Joe Meek feb 3rd 1967

[jaemel1]

Kevin Spacey is in this!? My desire to see it has just diminished a little!

[NickRatnieks]

Alan Caddy did not play a Hofner- he had a blonde Gibson 335-he played with tissue paper under the strings at the nut to get the special sound. I know this as my mate Dick Middleton knew them all- he's recently played with Clem Cattini- it's on YouTube and he played Alan's 335 which he used with the Pirates. Dick played guitar for Gene Vincent in 63 or 64- he got Blackmore in as his replacement and he was on the tour shown in this film- it's good but much detail is wrong for no good reason

[TheDutch1949]

this film was crap

[miktruk]

@TheDutch1949 Nahhhh

[nickbensond]

This is a gem of a movie. Well looking up if you loved Telstar. I've watched it 3 times and enjoy it more each time.

[wuus666]

Birmingham news: Disappointing bioptic?!?! WTF?!?...Since BSA lost their motor cycle dep. in 1973 only bull shit roles from the production line over there... That was a monster movie!!

[23751]

I would sack the reviewer of this film..this was a true rendition of joe's life with an astounding performance from the very underrated Con O'neil.

[Euterperocks]

Good film, though it underplayed how psychotic Meek became in the end. As early as 1964 Meek confided to those close to him that he felt something was going wrong in his head. Even Meek's family has conceded he was seriously ill the last 6 months of his life. Like other people in that era & industry, Meek was addicted to speed, which was readily available over the counter back then. It is now well known that prolonged use of speed manufactures psychosis. Poor Mrs. Shenton.

[monicalups]

amaaaaaazing movie... gripping and full enough of in-jokes that a true music fan won't be disappointed, yet accessible. LOVED IT!

[8BitROB]

Are you serious...?

I didn't know who the hell Joe Meek was till I saw this movie. And afterwards I went to watch a few documentories about this guy and the film is spot on! Ok, the film didn't go into detail about his childhood or anything but damn! What a GREAT film this was! The acting was brilliant!

[futurestartsnow]

WHAT A GREAT MOVIE.

HOW CAN YOU SAY IT WAS DISAPPOINTING?

[shelly10538]

I loved this movie, it was a Joe Meek fan's dream. I wish it would become available in America so I can legally buy it and watch it repeatedly. I think this is the best music biopic yet, it actually covers most of the things it should.

[gymnastix]

Perhaps there will also one day be a dramatic rendering of "The Dusty Springfield Story" (based upon Vicki Wickham's book)?

Now that has the potential to be a blockbuster, along the lines of the Johnny Cash and Ray Charles biopics, if done properly.

[gymnastix]

Any ideas out there for a lead casting such a film?

I'm thinking Allison Moyet, formerly of the band Yaz(oo), or Joss Stone if they'd go with a younger choice. I suppose they could go with an actress like Kate Winslet and dub in Dusty's actual vocals, too.

I just hope (and I'm writing this as an American) such a project is Brit-produced, because Hollywood would cast a Drew Barrymore or some such and muck it up royally.

[gymnastix]

I'm so disappointed this film was never released in the United States, except for a singular screening at a Seattle, Washington film festival (which didn't do me much good, living as I do in the Boston, Massachusetts vicinity).

But from the trailers, this looks to be the best British rock biopic since 'Sid & Nancy."

Oh well, I'll have to obtain the DVD of it, and ask a friend (who works with the computer & audio-visual services department of a university) to arrange a big screen showing.

[glamrockerqueen1]

Given the amount of material available to select for a film script this is an excellent piece of work. I think keeping Cattini/Hodges/Blackmore and Goddard as the musicians avoided the complexity (and confusion) that involving more would have caused. Fair bit of artistic licence but the end result is brilliant. At least Mike Berry and Cliff Bennet were woven in by name and not left out as were Lionel (picked up Joe from police station) and Bill Kuy's references to 'weirdos' early on. Great!!!!

[glamrockerqueen1]

Given the amount of material available to select for a film script this is an excellent piece of work. I think keeping Cattini/Hodges/Blackmore and Goddard as the musicians avoided the complexity (and confusion) that involving more would have caused. Fair bit of artistic licence but the end result is brilliant. At least Mike Berry and Cliff Bennet were woven in by name and not left out as were Lionel (picked up Joe from police station) and Bill Kuy's references to 'weirdos' early on. Great!!!!

[markdelaney]

I thought it seemed heavily biased towards Clem Cattini and Chas Hodges and I suspect they had the biggest input. Heinz was just ripped to pieces and Mike Berry mentioned only once, despite his success. Good film to watch but very large sections were missed out.

The accent of Con O' Neill was not great either. Joe Meek never came from Bristol nor spoke like he did.

[stevethedrums]

A fantastic film - a look into the 60s and into a genius. 90 minutes of footage could never tell Joe's story but this is an honest and almost sympathetic endeavour. I was only 3 when Telstar was released so I can't claim its the first record I ever bought, but I pestered my dad to buy it, and he did, and I've still got it.

I dont know what disappointed the Birmingham Mail critic, perhaps the lack of special effects, or Cheryl Cole weeping over Joe's injuries.

[jodielake]

Typical. Birmingham Mail giving brummies a bad name again.

This is one of the most AMAZING films i have ever seen.

Far from being disappointed, my expectations were blown sky high. Absolutely brilliant film.

[lilz1101]

Only just seen this movie and I absolutely LOVED it. I cant believe it was described as 'disappointing'...were they watching the same film as me??? Con O'Neill was bloody excellent as Joe Meek. Mind you, the entire cast was brilliant.

[laugurinn]

Excellent movie.

[NEODarmus]

Disappointing? that's your bloody opinion.

[TomMagic92]

Dissapointing!?!

Best film i've ever seen

[blissturpin]

Why has this film been described as disappointing? I thought it was terrific! You should never take any notice of reviews anyway, after all they are only one persons opinion and you have to see it to make your own mind up.

[jasonstlawrence]

Glad I hold no regard for the Birmingham Mail!!

EXCELLENT Movie. Insightful and highly recommended!

[lagerhound]

NOT disappointing at all, thought it was a very good film, and captured that period in the 60's brilliantly. Amazing what sounds he produced from his bedroom gadgets and singers in the toilet.

Joe Meek tried and failed to record Billy Fury, and there was a good line in the film when his manager said to Meek, "I don't see Billy Fury recording in your toilet !!!"

Really enjoyed the film and could certainly watch it more than once. Sad how screwed up he got in the end, and wasn't the only one.

[glamrockerqueen1]

Alan Caddy ( from Johnny Kidd) was the guitarist in The Tornados not Ritchie Blackmore. Great film tho, almost worn out the DVD and can recite huge chunks of dialogue. Brilliantly done and so evocative of the time! 10+

[fattossa]

Exellent fim. exellent story, sad ending.

[cordwoody53]

If this was a disapointing film then i really must be losing it !!!!! this is without doubt the best movie i have seen this year, The mood was fantastic, period costumes were spot on and the dialogue was gritty and perfect, not sure about was Carl Barat ( The Libertines ) playing my hero Gene Vincent but apart from that this a true and touching film about Joe Meek and everyone involved in this project should be very proud .

[cbak12sg]

@cordwoody53 I wanted to see more about his life before Holloway Road. I also felt that at times it was bit too comedic, eg an "in" joke with Chas Hodges (Gertcha), Hodges and Jess Conrad both being depicted and appearing in it. Heinz's family didn't like him being portrayed as gay. They should have moaned about JJ Feild's depiction of him as a dork.

[psychodamned]

@cordwoody53 I enjoyed the film but apart from the lead the casting was awful. What an insult to Billy Fury. The Gene Vincent was awful as was Lord Sutch and hienz. Other than that it was a great film, I agree. Joe Meek may have been wise to use the Gun on the casting director though .....lol :O

[The170460]

@psychodamned i havn't seen lord sutch in the DVD ?

[essertpitay]

An amazing movie...and threatening Mitch MITCHELL with a shotgun !!!

[joemeek304]

i think the film was fantastic, the details to the sets right down to the heinz ep single sleeve recreation was spot on, only mistake i really spotted was when heinz was on the telly singing just like eddie on a show called oh boy. that show had finished in 1959, part from that it was well put together and deserves more promotion than its had

[fastcarspete]

Fantastic movie. If you thought it was disappointing you've either never been to a studio, not heard of Joe Meek, or simply didn't watch the same film as the rest of us.

Studios like his still exist, but Joe Meek was a one off.

[dotnotdot]

this fucking idiot is on crack! shouldnt be let near music or a pen,twat.

[tenterden16]

I have just seen Telstar on DVD. I thought the film was amazing. It re created the 60s perfectly. Telstar and Johnny Remember Me sent shivers down my spine. All the actors were superb, especially Con O'Nell, Pam Ferris & Kevin Spacey. Look out for a cameo role from Rita Tushingham.

[robsbabe90]

this is a great film!!! iv seen the stage show and the film and i loved both, i am only 19 and thought the stage show was amazing and now after seing the film, its just as good. as for DISAPOINTING biopic, i think its far from disapointing!! i think the cast and writers etc have done a great job and the cast have portrayed the characters brillianly!! joe meek was a legend, and this is definately worth a watch, for any true rock n roll fan around...well done great job!!!! :D

[rustypearl]

Great movie. can't wait to get the DVD.

[iangordoncraig]

GREAT FILM!

[garageman]

An excellent film if rather an emotional rollercoaster ride for two full-on hours. I went to see it in the Odeon on the Holloway Road (where else?) and as someone who has read the book by John Repsch and attended a Joe Meek convention, with sadly with a wheelchair bound Heinz gulping beer from a babies mug, thought it quite faithful to Joe's life. A gripping story.

[bveecon]

DISAPPOINTING biopic ???

I guess I must have been at the wrong movie because the one I saw was excellent.