'Not Fade Away' movie shows Rolling Stones' influence on the film's characters

Steven Van Zandt and David Chase at the New York Film Festival premiere of "Not Fade Away" in New York City, on October 6, 2012

"Not Fade Away," the first feature film directed by "The Sopranos" creator David Chase, was somewhat shrouded in mystery before its world premiere, but what was known about the basic story was that it was set in the 1960s and it was about a struggling New Jersey band that was greatly influenced by the Rolling Stones. Steven Van Zandt is an executive producer of the film and the producer of the film's soundtrack. On October 6, 2012, I attended the world premiere of "Not Fade Away," which was held at Alice Tully Hall in New York City, as part of the 2012 New York Film Festival. "Not Fade Away" opens in U.S. cinemas on December 21, 21012.
Chase, Van Zandt and "Not Fade Away" stars John Magaro and Bella Heathcote appeared on stage when Chase did a brief introductory speech before the screening. Chase said that even though the movie's main character, Douglas Albano (played by Magaro), is a drummer in a New Jersey band (just like Chase was in his youth), the story in the movie is not autobiographical or a docudrama, because all of the main characters are fictional. Chase noted that the only other true-to-life similarity in the movie is when Heathcoate's privileged and popular Grace character (Douglas' love interest) says to Magaro's Douglas character, "Time is on your side." Chase said that his future wife had said that to him at a time when they were dating and had broken up.
"The Sopranos" star James Gandolfini plays Douglas' stern father, who disapproves of his Douglas' decision to drop out of college and be a full-time musician. Molly Price plays Douglas' high-strung, worrisome mother. Other cast members include Jack Huston, Brahm Vaccarella and Will Brill as the other musicians in the band. They all attended the premiere, except for Gandolfini, who could not attend the premiere or after-party since his wife is due to give birth. Billy Connolly, Richard Schiff ("The West Wing"), Richard Belzer ("Law & Order") and "The Sopranos" alum Aida Turturro were among those who were also at the premiere. The after-party was held at A Voce restaurant, and attendees included "Not Fade Away" cast members and filmmakers, as well as those who were not involved in making the film, such as Anjelica Huston (Jack's aunt) and Lorraine Bracco ("The Sopranos").
In his speech at the movie's premiere, Chase also thanked Paramount Pictures (which is releasing "Not Fade Away" on on its Paramount Vantage label for smaller-budgeted films) for distributing the movie at a time when he said that most major film studios these days "don't release movies like this."
Chase also said the reason why he did "Not Fade Away" for his feature-film directorial debut (he also wrote the movie and is one of the film's producers) was because he always wanted to make a movie about a time when "rock'n'roll was the most important thing in my life ... Now it's one of the three most important things in my life."
"Not Fade Away" (which takes place from 1963 to 1967) is a drama that isn't just a story about a band that struggles to find fame and fortune. It's also a romance. It's a story about friendships. And it's a portrayal of the generation gap and the changing social times, when the Vietnam War, civil rights for African-Americans, and sexual liberation were all hot-button issues.
The movie, which makes excellent use of the rock'n'roll hits from that era, has its quirky moments. For example, there are some close-up shots that are unusual, such as when the camera lingers on Douglas' ear in one scene or when the crash of drum cymbals is seen from the perspective of the drums. It's also not a movie that ties up the story in a neat little bow at the end. People will either love or hate the ending. And the original songs performed by the band in the movie might be considered somewhat forgettable.
Douglas has an open-minded younger sister named Evelyn and nicknamed Evy (played by Meg Guzulescu), who is the narrator of the film, and she drifts in and out of the story. Some critics might not like the inconsistency of this narration. The other criticism the movie might get is that with the exception of Magaro, the other actors playing the band members look too old to be playing characters that are supposed to be in their late teens and early 20s.
However, the movie accurately portrays that period of time in the 1960s, when men having long hair was still considered dangerous in society, and when trying to make a living in a rock band was still considered outlandish to the average American family.
The band in the movie goes through different name changes and lineup variations. Douglas goes from being a misfit in his high school who desperately wants to join the band to being the band's drummer to being the band's Bob Dylan look-alike lead singer and eventual band leader.
There is a scene early on in the movie that recreates Mick Jagger and Keith Richards as school boys bonding over their mutual love of blues records at a train station in Dartford, England. (This meeting is considered by many to be the birth of the Rolling Stones.)
The Rolling Stones songs in the movie are the band's cover songs that the Stones did early in their career, such as "Not Fade Away," "Time Is on Our Side" and "The Last Time." There is footage of the Stones' first U.S. TV show performance, singing "I Just Want to Make Love to You" on the "The Hollywood Palace" and host Dean Martin's disdainful reaction to the band. "Not Fade Away" is a relatively low-budget movie and presumably could not afford to license the Rolling Stones songs that were written by Jagger and Richards.
The Beatles are also shown as an influence on the band in the movie, although the Beatles are not as influential to the band as the Rolling Stones are. For example, one of the band members is transfixed when he hears the Beatles' "I Wanna Hold Your Hand" on the radio, but it's the Rolling Stones' appearance on "The Hollywood Palace" that ignites Douglas' desire to be a musician in a rock band. John Mayall's 1966 album "Blues Breakers With Eric Clapton" is featured prominently in a couple of scenes. And the Small Faces' "Itchycoo Park" is part of a pivotal scene.
Toward the end of the movie, Douglas sees Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts (played by an actor, of course) at a Los Angeles party but doesn't get to talk to him because Watts is too far away, surrounded by an entourage, and eventually Watts leaves in a car.
Chase and Van Zandt (another alum of "The Sopranos") are longtime Rolling Stones fans, so it's no surprise that "Not Fade Away" captures the essence of what the Rolling Stones meant to young people in the '60s who loved the blues and rock'n'roll.