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Editorial Reviews
From The New Yorker
The cautionary, seamy, and putatively inspiring legend of an English dance-music d.j. called Frankie Wilde. The action is set in Ibiza in the nineties, with Wilde as the king of the club scene. The movie, which swerves manically between pseudodocumentary and pure hallucination, chronicles Wilde's descent into total deafness, a condition fast-forwarded by a life style that includes consumption of mass quantities of Scotch and cocaine, and, of course, constant exposure to high-decibel beats. The writer-director, Michael Dowse, displays a colorful flair, and Paul Kaye plays Frankie with crazed abandon. There is a third act showing Wilde's redemption (he gets clean, finds true love, and learns how to d.j. by feeling the beats through his bare feet), but most of the movie consists of tiresome scenes of self-abuse, and it's hard to warm to a picture in which the hero's coke demon is embodied by a guy in a snot-nosed badger suit. -Ken Marks
Copyright © 2006 The New Yorker
Copyright © 2006 The New Yorker
Product Description
Based on a true story and Winner of Best Feature Film at Toronto Film Festival and Gen Art Film Festival, Paul Kaye (Best Actor, U.S. Comedy Arts Festival) stars as Frankie Wilde, the legendary British DJ and musical mastermind of the underground club scene whose career is cut down at its pinnacle by unthinkable tragedy - the loss of his hearing. Darkly funny and inspirational, with fierce performances by both Kaye and Kate Magowan ("24 Hour Party People"), as his sex-crazed Mrs.,you'll laugh and gasp but cheer him on as he struggles out of the abyss to reclaim his life and reputation.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
18 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
It's All Gone Pete Tong is really a rather extraordinary motion picture that has all the earmarks of a cult indie sensation. I guess we should cover a couple of things right off the bat, however. Who is Pete Tong, you ask? Well, he's a DJ, and he is in this movie - but only for a few moments. You see, this movie isn't about Pete Tong at all. It is actually about Frankie Wilde, a wildly successful DJ (and I mean DJ as in music-mixing genius and not "and that was the latest hit from so-and-so, and it's 52 degrees here at 5:00 on a busy traffic day" radio voice) who overcame the tragedy of deafness to make a huge and mysterious comeback. These movie fellows do a great job of making this mockumentary appear to be a real-life biopic, but Frankie Wilde and his incredible story are purely fictional. That fact doesn't really change anything, though, as this is still an inspirational film that will surely captivate you.
It's an oddly powerful story built around a less than likeable fellow who eventually wins you over with his intense suffering and his courageous efforts to finally put his life back on track. In his prime, Frankie Wilde is a celebrity who lives every bit of the high life - drowning his liver in alcohol, snorting bagful after bagful of cocaine, entertaining many a lady, and generally doing everything in a disconnected, vainglorious fashion. The movie pulls no punches in showing us Frankie at his most disgusting. Once he begins to lose his hearing, however, you can't help but feel sorry for him. He covers it up for as long as he possibly can, but - obviously - a man in his profession can't cover up such a devastating truth forever. Once he learns that he is indeed going completely deaf, his life hits rock bottom. He basically loses everything, including his wife and son along with his career. It's not a pretty sight at all, and he eventually holes himself up in his own pitifully constructed rubber room for months on end, basically surviving on drugs alone. His cocaine addiction is presented in a most forcible way - the monkey on his back is actually a disgusting large badger in a fairy tale outfit that isn't above smacking Frankie around when he threatens to cut back on the snorting. It sounds ridiculous, but the imagery works frighteningly well.
In time, Frankie decides to accept his disability and try to reenter the world; he gives up the drugs (but not the booze), finds someone to teach him the art of lip-reading, and eventually rediscovers his music. In essence, he develops the ability to feel and see music all around him and to channel it all into some righteous grooves that fuel the most improbable of comebacks.
This movie isn't just about Frankie's amazing story, however. It also seems to have something to say about the music industry and the callousness of greedy managers and promoters who care about nothing apart from the money their stars generate for them. Frankie was a star, but no one stuck around to help him through a tragedy that almost and probably should have resulted in his death. The ending of the film, which doesn't follow the path you would normally expect, strongly but quietly reinforces this critique of the shallowness of success.
The scenes of Frankie's emotional breakdown truly are dark and disturbing, and there is much in the film as a whole to justify its R rating. The film also has its funny moments, but this is a true dark comedy. I have to say that Paul Kaye is spectacular in the role of Frankie, lending a vitality and brute strength to an unforgettable character who will disgust you, amuse you, and eventually inspire you. I don't know how else to say it: It's All Gone Pete Tong is just a uniquely extraordinary film.
It's an oddly powerful story built around a less than likeable fellow who eventually wins you over with his intense suffering and his courageous efforts to finally put his life back on track. In his prime, Frankie Wilde is a celebrity who lives every bit of the high life - drowning his liver in alcohol, snorting bagful after bagful of cocaine, entertaining many a lady, and generally doing everything in a disconnected, vainglorious fashion. The movie pulls no punches in showing us Frankie at his most disgusting. Once he begins to lose his hearing, however, you can't help but feel sorry for him. He covers it up for as long as he possibly can, but - obviously - a man in his profession can't cover up such a devastating truth forever. Once he learns that he is indeed going completely deaf, his life hits rock bottom. He basically loses everything, including his wife and son along with his career. It's not a pretty sight at all, and he eventually holes himself up in his own pitifully constructed rubber room for months on end, basically surviving on drugs alone. His cocaine addiction is presented in a most forcible way - the monkey on his back is actually a disgusting large badger in a fairy tale outfit that isn't above smacking Frankie around when he threatens to cut back on the snorting. It sounds ridiculous, but the imagery works frighteningly well.
In time, Frankie decides to accept his disability and try to reenter the world; he gives up the drugs (but not the booze), finds someone to teach him the art of lip-reading, and eventually rediscovers his music. In essence, he develops the ability to feel and see music all around him and to channel it all into some righteous grooves that fuel the most improbable of comebacks.
This movie isn't just about Frankie's amazing story, however. It also seems to have something to say about the music industry and the callousness of greedy managers and promoters who care about nothing apart from the money their stars generate for them. Frankie was a star, but no one stuck around to help him through a tragedy that almost and probably should have resulted in his death. The ending of the film, which doesn't follow the path you would normally expect, strongly but quietly reinforces this critique of the shallowness of success.
The scenes of Frankie's emotional breakdown truly are dark and disturbing, and there is much in the film as a whole to justify its R rating. The film also has its funny moments, but this is a true dark comedy. I have to say that Paul Kaye is spectacular in the role of Frankie, lending a vitality and brute strength to an unforgettable character who will disgust you, amuse you, and eventually inspire you. I don't know how else to say it: It's All Gone Pete Tong is just a uniquely extraordinary film.
12 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
It's All Gone Pete Tong was realeased theatrically in the US starting April 14, 2005, and for some reason it never found much of an audience, though everyone seemed to have heard of it. I suspect that it's because the majority of the people who will most enjoy this film are not generally theater-goers and prefer watching movies at home. That said, however, everyone I know who did see the film in the theater couldn't stop raving about it.
I can't wait to see this film again once it's on DVD. I saw it three times in the theater already and totally loved it - I couldn't stop raving about it to everyone I know and taking people to see it!
And Paul Kaye and Mike Wilmot deserve tons of award recognition for thier performances in this movie, come the season.
I hope this movie willl not continue to be overlooked!!!
I can't wait to see this film again once it's on DVD. I saw it three times in the theater already and totally loved it - I couldn't stop raving about it to everyone I know and taking people to see it!
And Paul Kaye and Mike Wilmot deserve tons of award recognition for thier performances in this movie, come the season.
I hope this movie willl not continue to be overlooked!!!
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Paul Kaye is one of the underappreciated joys of British pop culture. He starred in the critically-acclaimed series 'Two Thousand Acres of Sky', which has finally seen airtime over here in the USA on some PBS stations. In this movie, however, he manages to take the story and character of Frankie Wilde from near-total repugnance and make him into somebody you can't help but root for. The first half of the movie is almost too intense, and may be tough going for some, but will truly prove rewarding if you hang in there. Words like 'triumph' and 'inspiration' have appeared in other reviews, and for good reason. An extra bonus is the brilliance of Mike Wilmot as Frankie Wilde's agent, Max Haggar. Stellar casting, biting commentary, and over-the-top production in the party scenes are all icing on the cake. It's a feelgood movie with unexpected turns and twists, and I hope people appreciate it for the brilliant satire and very human story that it is.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Frankie's all gone Mr. Tong...
I got this for my sister who LOVES this movie. She generously let me preview it before I gave to her as a present. It's an enjoyable movie, for sure. Read more
Published 5 months ago by A. Phee
Pleasantly surprised
Let me just say that I had never heard of this movie until I met my boyfriend a year ago. He raved about this movie for months and months so I finally bought it for him. Read more
Published 16 months ago by M. Greer
It's All Gone Pete Tong.....
This movie is funny, dramatic, sexy but most of all, inspirational. For anyone who is familar with Trance/House music, this is a great mockumentry based around DJ Sammy. Read more
Published 17 months ago by Christian
It's All Gone, Pete Tong
"It's all gone Pete Tong" is a derogatory statement meant to criticize electronica and modern dance music. Read more
Published 19 months ago by Reticuli
complete disappointment
i had heard good things about this film so rented and watched it. i thought it was a total waste. every cliche from vh1 behind the music rock star biographies is here, only w/ the... Read more
Published on April 17, 2010 by Chance
Suprisingly uplifting movie
I first got this movie just because I knew it was recorded in Ibiza with all the clubs I've always wanted to visit on holiday but in the end I found it to be deeper than that. Read more
Published on November 17, 2009 by Jaime Moreno
awesome story
This movie had excellent production, great performers, a kick ass soundtrack, and a awesome story.
It was a great story about the rise and fall of a DJ who loses his hearing... Read more
It was a great story about the rise and fall of a DJ who loses his hearing... Read more
Published on October 21, 2009 by J. Gene Porter
Great Movie
I saw it and said it's a great story even tough is fiction is great! I recommend it of any music lover not only clubbing lovers to because at the end is the music what matters!
Published on May 22, 2009 by Leonardo Reyes Perez
Love it!
Great movie! It's funny, it's sad, it's serious and silly. Also the soundtrack is awesome and fun. I highly recommend watching the movie with the volume turned all the way up. Read more
Published on December 16, 2008 by D. Walruff
They told me Frankie's story--and although the penny dropped...
It's All Gone Pete Tong certainly is an unusual title for a movie; and that's certainly one of the reasons I chose to watch and review this film. Read more
Published on November 25, 2008 by Matthew G. Sherwin
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