Product Details

• Actors: Carole Bouquet, Frank J. Butler, Howard Grant, Richard Hell, Ivan Julian
• Format: Anamorphic, Color, DVD, Widescreen, NTSC
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo)
• Region: All Regions
• Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Starz / Anchor Bay
• DVD Release Date: March 21, 2000
• Run Time: 90 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 2.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6305797099
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #253,824 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "Blank Generation" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

More a curiosity than a meaningful artifact, Ulli Lommel's 1979 Blank Generation eschews pin-pierced cheeks and other mutilation clichés for a different look at New York's punk scene, one that more closely resembles, in all probability, the aspirations and mixed luck of a New York artist such as Richard Hell at the end of that decade. Hell (of Richard Hell and the Voidoids) plays an earnest and likable fellow named Billy, frontman for a band that's, hey, very much like the Voidoids and features the rudimentary sonic noodlings that got Hell kicked out of the now-legendary group he cofounded, Television.

A big draw at CBGB, Billy signs on with a manager to whom he eventually sells, in perpetuity, all rights to his songs and recordings for a measly $5,000. Why? Just to avoid a headache in the future, concentrate on his skills, and explore his mercurial relationship with a beautiful French journalist played by Carole Bouquet. The story has a meandering, unfocused, undisciplined movement to it, which actually furthers one's intuitive understanding of the manic-depressive cycle of Billy's romance, but finally makes Lommel look like he's squeezing out a movie instead of directing one. Hell has an unusually open aspect that runs contrary to his laconic character; it's a nice contrast, but he fares better with his ironic yelping on the title song, a punk classic. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Voidoids live!, July 12, 2000

By 

omaha d perez (torrance, ca United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Blank Generation (DVD)

Worth buying for the live performances alone. The only high quality video (or audio for that matter) footage of Richard Hell & the Voidoids available - outstanding! I only wish there was more band footage.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Crap with some bright spots, March 27, 2010

By 

Michael Toland (Austin, TX USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Richard Hell & the Voidoids - Blank Generation (DVD)

There are really only 4 reasons to watch this film.

1. The scenes of Richard Hell & the Voidoids performing at CBGB.
2. The beautiful cinematography capturing the Lower East Side of New York in the wintertime in 1978.
3. Elliot Goldenthal's wonderfully atmospheric soundtrack.
4. Hell's bluntly honest interview about the film.

Otherwise it's pretty dire - badly acted (as Hell admits), directionless, nonsensical. Ulli Lommel (who would go on to a thriving career in straight-to-video horror flicks) clearly had no idea where he was going with this movie or even what "blank generation" meant. Worth your time only for any combination of the bullet points above.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars see it just to see, June 16, 2003

By 

"rikchick16" (Austin, Texas United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Blank Generation (DVD)

blank generation is a little quirky but quite good. There are a resonable amount of performance scenes which makes the film worthwhile. If you like punk music you should see this movie. There's some great footage and great sound quality. Andy Warhol's brief apperance is interesting and its just a good movie to see. Not outstanding, but good enough.