Purple Rain

“Purple Rain,” released in 1984 and starring the late rock star Prince, might had created a surprise and sudden box office hit for Warner Bros. Duane Byrge said in his review, “Sensitive and highly visual, this Albert Magnoli-directed film is an accomplished and sophisticated example of storytelling.” Even for people who aren’t Prince probably will get sucked into the energy, love its simple, often emotional storyline.

Prince stars as a determined, helpless young musician. He’s got a short fuse, soaking his music in his anger and insecurities. Simply put, his music is very personal, and Prince soon sees he’s losing his place in the club where he and his band, the Revolutionaries, are close making a huge deal. His enemy, Morris Day, harasses him, “You’re just like your old man. You don’t have what takes to be on top.”

The method to change Prince’s direction is a charming, young singer, played by Apollonia Kotero, who enters into his life. She’s mysterious and amazing, and if Prince wants to stay afloat as a singer, it will be by falling in love with her.

Despite the story being told as a simple story of survival through love, its musical differences (through the editing and soundtrack), along with its highly fluent visuals, realistic emotions and sympathies that rock movies often don’t include.

Byrge credited, “Credit Magnoli’s fluid, evocative direction as well as his and co-editor Ken Robinson’s superb orchestration of shots. In this regard, special praise must be given to director of photography Donald L. Thorin, production designer Ward Preston and set decorator Anne McCulley, whose efforts have added texture and depth.”

Byrge continued, “Despite a slightly slow beginning, Purple Rain builds to a satisfying and climaxing crescendo with Prince’s performance of the title tune an emotional dedication to his father. In short, the story (scripted by Magnoli and William Blinn) jells, both as a romance and as a story of personal triumph.”

The charming Prince and really beautiful Apollonia Kotero as his love interest are (in the usual elements of musicals) a pair you love. Morris Day, lead singer of The Time, and Jerome Benton as his sidekick add parts of humor to his emotionally-led movie. The technical credits are also really great.

If you’re a fan of Prince, you should see this movie. I saw this movie, I believe, last year and I really fell in love with it. I had known this movie for a few years after hearing a comedian reference it in his standup, but I never got around to seeing it until last year. I even got the soundtrack on my iPhone. You should see it because it is a classic.

Look out later today for my yearly Valentine’s Day review.