Purple Rain

CinemaSerf

If this were a piece of vinyl, then there would be one side that features a strong and charismatic concert-style performance from the star and another that depicts a second-rate brat-pack style drama that is almost cringemaking to watch at times. The latter element follows a young musician who is regularly his father's punchbag at home and who struggles to avoid travelling down the the same path, especially when he meets the wanna-be singer "Apollonia" (Apollonia Kotero). Though she's keen, she can't be doing with his temperamental behaviour and switches allegiance to the more stable "Morris" (Morris Day). That all meanders along offering little new or even interesting and way too many facial close ups. It's the musical performances - expertly staged, choreographed and produced that make this worth watching. Prince just exudes a chemistry, a sexuality and a swarthiness that makes it clear why the man was an huge international superstar. The upshot of the film, though, is really - just buy the album or watch the videos on MTV. As a drama, this is pretty hopeless.