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13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Living in the shadow of the mushroom tower, March 9, 2004
It's 1982 and I'm a teenager stuck in a small town in Southeast Missouri. Then, one fateful night, I saw 'BREAKING GLASS' on a show called Night Flight. This movie, along with 'SMITHEREENS','THE FABULOUS STAINS', and 'LIQUID SKY' completely lead me into the world of art and music I am surrounded by today. I am begging for this movie to be released on DVD in the United States.I know it may only be a silly low budget movie to some, but, it truly reflects everything I treasure about my youth and I can not praise it enough.
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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Masterful punk/rock extravaganza!, March 6, 2005
Lovely punkette chanteuse Hazel O'Connor plays a blinder in the somewhat autobiographic role of Kate, desperate to succeed, whilst maintaining her ethics, in the cut-throat music business. Hazel's brilliant songs are enough to recommend this movie in its own right but, unlike some musicals, Breaking Glass is far more than just a vehicle to promote the artiste's work. The sense of unease stoked by the rise of neo-Nazi and anarchic groups in late 70's/early 80's urban England and the shadier side of the music industry are expertly recreated here. Furthermore, Hazel's depiction of the roller-coaster rise to stardom, resulting in mental breakdown, is impeccably observed. Why this hugely talented woman's career as an actress never really took off is a mystery to me! She is also very ably supported by Phil Daniels, playing the role of his life and Jonathan Pryce as the sympathetic but messed-up junkie sax player. Anyone familiar with Hazel's music (and I'm pleased to admite that I've seen her live on several occasions) will be delighted by the performances here, from the gutsy "Blackman", "Give Me an Inch" and "Writing on the Wall" to the astonishingly sensual "Will You" - surely one of the most evocative songs about love-making ever written? Her final performance of "Eighth Day" sends shivers down your spine with its intensity and the final track - "If Only" provides an immensely powerful epilogue. The UK release (PAL region 0 DVD) is well presented with adequate, if not spectacular extras (filmographies, trailer, stills etc.) I cannot recommend this movie highly enough.
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
BREAKING GLASS: Breaking Barriers, January 17, 2006
In the PUNK film genre, this film shines as brightly as the Clash's Punk-Doc "RUDE BOY." Hazel O'connor stars and writes her own songs.\ Phil Daniels (Quadrophenia) co-stars as the inexperienced manager who loses grip just as she needs a guiding hand. Jonathan Pryce (Evita/Brazil/Something Wicked This Way Comes) supports the cast as a heroine addicted, deaf, Sax player. James Broadbent (Topsy Turvy/Moulin Rouge) even makes a one line appearance [literally a walk-on part!] as the station conductor announcing a transit strike to the travellers! But "best" little bit of trivia? This movie was produced by Dodi Fayed, yes, the very same as late Princess Dianna's boyfriend. The PLOT: The metaphor of Breaking Glass is the fragile line between art, and fame. The punks were anti-"sell-out" and we see our Artiste evolve from street-hardened punk, to [quite literally] a corporate music machine, in one of filmdom's most amazing concert bits. (if you think this concert ending is too far fetched,to be a real punk show...GARY NUMAN and the Tubeway Army concert performances were almost copied verbatim!] The Phil Daniels anti-hero was a man who a: knows a good thing and how to showcase his find, and b: has inexperience in love and it washes over into the buisiness relationship. AS he builds the band, the members trivialise his role, and edge him out in favor of selling records...the end is then a steamroller out of control. Without her manager, our heroine slips into a fragile existence and becomes broken glass. Thanks hope you like the film!
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