Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll

2010

Action / Biography / Drama / Music

3
Rotten Tomatoes Critics - Rotten 66% · 47 reviews
Rotten Tomatoes Audience - Upright 66% · 5K ratings
IMDb Rating 6.5/10 10 4556 4.6K

rock star 1970s punk rock biography polio

Plot summary

A biography of Ian Dury, who was stricken with polio at a young age and defied expectations by becoming one of the founders of the punk-rock scene in Britain in the 1970s.

Director

Mat Whitecross Photo
Mat Whitecross

Top cast

Andy Serkis Photo
Andy Serkis as Ian Dury
Toby Jones Photo
Toby Jones as Hargreaves
Ross Boatman Photo
Ross Boatman as Pub Landlord
Luke Evans Photo
Luke Evans as Clive Richards
720p.BluRay 1080p.BluRay
1022.74 MB
1280*682
English 2.0
NR
Subtitles us  
23.976 fps
1 hr 55 min
Seeds 2
2.06 GB
1920*1024
English 5.1
NR
Subtitles us  
23.976 fps
1 hr 55 min
Seeds ...

Movie Reviews

Reviewed by cottrellpj 7 / 10

Somehow Unsatisfying

Lots of good performances here, but a lack of cohesion. I'm an Ian Dury fan (as well as Elvis Costello, Nick Lowe, Wreckless Eric et al) and I was struck by the lack of historical context. Other than a brief reference to The Sex Pistols, there's no sense of time or place here, no evidence of the seminal Stiffs Live tour that cemented Ian's fame and a lack of recognition to the Blockheads, who were (and are) one of the best bands ever - their funkiness and elasticity were unique. A lot of psychological flashbacks and a last 20 minutes that reminded me of a "Movie of the Week". Nowt about the years leading up to his passing. A newcomer might wonder what all the fuss was about.
Reviewed by crossbow0106 7 / 10

Brilliant Andy Serkis. Film Isn't Otherwise Bad

In the states, Ian Dury is mostly unknown, especially now. He was a UK rocker who came out of the pub circuit. He was the most unlikely of rock stars, stricken with polio and possessed of a less than tuneful voice. Still, the music is well crafted and other than the film title some may remember the clever "Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick". Andy Serkis does an amazing job as Dury, he catches his ugliness, his drive, his indifference and his fury. They don't make musicians like Dury anymore, and thats a pity. He was an original. The film gets a bit confusing jumping from the present to the past, but stay with it. If you've never heard of Dury, read up & listen before you watch this. Otherwise, I think this is a faithful film about a difficult person but one who contributed well to popular culture. R.I.P. Ian.
Reviewed by madandbad 8 / 10

Serkis is no Blockhead!!!

The magnetic performance of Andy Serkis is reason alone to watch this film! Masterly performance! The film itself held my interest throughout... but having bought Dury's stuff on 7" vinyl when it came out, I had a vested interest!!! People unfamiliar with the man and his music might struggle to last the pace.I would have liked the movie to have paid more attention to the great chart success the man had... rather than just fast forwarding to the ensuing self-destruct mode of fame!!! Missed opportunity... one could indeed say What a Waste!!! Interested in British music history... success over adversity... controversy... go and see it. A fan of Dury and the Blockheads... go and pay homage.Might have been better... but still a great tribute to a great artiste, and well worth a view!
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