Hard Core Logo
Hard Core Logo
(1996)
A Review by Grant Kanigan
Directed by: Bruce McDonald
Written by: Noel S. Baker, based on
Michael Turner's novel
Starring: Hugh Dillon, Callum Keith Rennie,
Bruce McDonald
Rating: 14A
Release Date: October 25th, 1996
Release Date: October 25th, 1996
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| Hugh Dillon and Callum Keith Rennie in Hard Core Logo © Copyright 1996 - Miramax Films - All rights reserved. |
Hard Core Logo follows the eponymous band on their last ever tour through Canada: lead singer Joe Dick, (Hugh Dillon), guitarist Billy Tallent, (Callum Keith Rennie), bassist John Oxenberger, (John Pyper-Ferguson) and drummer Pipefitter, (Bernie Coulson). Seen through the lens of a fictional Bruce McDonald, (playing a clueless version of himself as a director), we follow the band from the early hints of a tour to their 'one last shot.' While the film reaches a believable punk rock-verisimilitude, it's also a homeric odyssey through the wintery, subzero bowels of Canada. Nothing in the film looks fun, and every situation lands our heroes in painful situations, physically and mentally, (the bassist literally goes insane mid-tour). But, like Joe Dick says, "at this point you're not doing it for the money."
Hugh Dillon's real life band The Headstones: "When Something Stands For Nothing"
While the film is a documentary-style road movie following the exploits of a punk band, it is at it's core a film about the lasting bonds of friendship. Joe Dick and Billy Tallent have been good friends since their early teens, and like Tallent remarks in the trailer below, "at this point in my life, new friends are hard to come by." The two are representative of the commercialization of punk music. Tallent is being touted as a new guitarist for an arena rock band based out of L.A., and Dick literally spits in the face of a reporter merely asking for a word on Hard Core Logo's history as a band. Tallent is living off of the death of punk, while Dick is dying from the life his punk music scene is giving away to the mainstream. This dualism seems to have always been present in the band, occasionally leading Tallent and Dick to fisticuffs onstage. Ultimately, Hard Core Logo asks the audience 'are you willing to live off of your art? Or die for it?'
The seeming low-budget atmosphere of the film is what makes it truly great. Probably done out of necessity, McDonald does his best with what he can afford. A single camera, (although some of the film is in color, other parts are in black and white, likely due to the fact black and white film is far cheaper than colour), follows the motley crew, pausing for philosophical interludes from each character, (the wisest of which is John Oxenberger, who seems trapped in the band because it's all his fragile mental state can handle). Each interlude gives us insight into their motivations, and their worries for the future. Additionally, the moody voiceovers overtop of a montage of warped highways are a true visualization of the danger, fear and hopelessness that comes from driving non-stop through the night, pushing your cranium to it's wits end. Overall, each section of the film gives us the illusion of reality, and gives the film a lasting effect on one's memory. Fubar, (especially Fubar), the Blair Witch Project, Cloverfield, Chronicle and countless other hand held footage films owe a lot to the pioneering efforts of McDonald. While it's certainly not the first mockumentary, Hard Core Logo was the first mockumentary to attempt to say something intellectually relevant.
As the main character of the film, Hard Core Logo rests almost solely on Hugh Dillon's back. Known primarily as the lead singer of real life rock band The Headstones, Dillon is pitch perfect as an in your face, blood and spit covered punk superstar. Callum Keith Rennie is great as the more straight laced guitarist, but Dillon does most of the heavy lifting. It's no wonder the multi-talented artist has had a long and varied career.
In closing, if you're an avid filmgoer, or lover of punk music, this is one of the best faux-documentaries ever made. Simultaneously hilarious, upsetting, truthful and shockingly violent, this is one hell of a unique story, and one of the best pieces of Canadian cinema ever released.
The seeming low-budget atmosphere of the film is what makes it truly great. Probably done out of necessity, McDonald does his best with what he can afford. A single camera, (although some of the film is in color, other parts are in black and white, likely due to the fact black and white film is far cheaper than colour), follows the motley crew, pausing for philosophical interludes from each character, (the wisest of which is John Oxenberger, who seems trapped in the band because it's all his fragile mental state can handle). Each interlude gives us insight into their motivations, and their worries for the future. Additionally, the moody voiceovers overtop of a montage of warped highways are a true visualization of the danger, fear and hopelessness that comes from driving non-stop through the night, pushing your cranium to it's wits end. Overall, each section of the film gives us the illusion of reality, and gives the film a lasting effect on one's memory. Fubar, (especially Fubar), the Blair Witch Project, Cloverfield, Chronicle and countless other hand held footage films owe a lot to the pioneering efforts of McDonald. While it's certainly not the first mockumentary, Hard Core Logo was the first mockumentary to attempt to say something intellectually relevant.
As the main character of the film, Hard Core Logo rests almost solely on Hugh Dillon's back. Known primarily as the lead singer of real life rock band The Headstones, Dillon is pitch perfect as an in your face, blood and spit covered punk superstar. Callum Keith Rennie is great as the more straight laced guitarist, but Dillon does most of the heavy lifting. It's no wonder the multi-talented artist has had a long and varied career.
In closing, if you're an avid filmgoer, or lover of punk music, this is one of the best faux-documentaries ever made. Simultaneously hilarious, upsetting, truthful and shockingly violent, this is one hell of a unique story, and one of the best pieces of Canadian cinema ever released.
Grant's Rating 4.5/5
Theatrical Trailer for Hard Core Logo
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