Friday, September 7, 2001

Movie review
Rockstar
By Lauren Martin

‘Rockstar’ is an inspiring rags-to-riches story of an aspiring lead singer.

There are very few music movies that make me want to go back to my room and start playing my guitar again. The movie “Rockstar” just happened to be one of them.

“Rockstar” is a typical rags-to-riches story, starting when Chris (Mark Wahlberg) gets kicked out of his band Blood Pollution, which is a tribute to his favorite band Steel Dragon. (Don’t call it a cover band — it’s a tribute band!) Meanwhile, Chris is still living at home, left with nothing but his girlfriend Emily (Jennifer Aniston), a mind full of Steel Dragon lyrics and a voice to sing them with.

Chris is pretty destitute until he gets a call from a member of Steel Dragon who tells him that a plane ticket to Los Angeles is waiting for him at the airport. He and Emily fly to Los Angeles the next day to find that he is to audition to become the new lead singer of Steel Dragon.

To make a long story short, he starts the next day, playing huge concerts as “Izzy” all over the country. But with the life of a rock star come the problems that come with the territory: drugs, drinking and sex. This is especially problematic with his relationship with Emily.

This film is the story of a cover-musician trying to come to terms with music, reality and his identity. In an excellent portrayal of the lucky but confused Chris, Wahlberg shows some of his best acting since “Boogie Nights.” Aniston manages to finally get out of her Rachel Green rut that seems to carry over into every movie she has made. Her supporting role showed real depth and emotion which is a welcome change.

Although periodically in the film there were parts that trailed off and left you wondering what happened next, these were few and far between. I recommend this movie, however farfetched, to anyone who loves any kind of music. “Rockstar” was a great two-hour escape into fantasy land. Rock on.