Rating: 
Summary: If Spinal Tap were Canadian, and *really* pissed off
Review: "Hard Core Logo" is about punk rock, Canada, friendship, hatred, burning out, dying young, poetry, and insanity. And oh yeah, a whole lot more. Actually, it's about a legendary (but fictional) Canadian punk band, reuniting after five years for one last kick at the can. We follow them (faux-documentary style) on a tour of Western Canada, as they play shows and ruin whatever's left of their sad little lives. It's a brilliant piece of work that, although it bears a striking cosmetic resemblance to, owes little to "Spinal Tap".Director Bruce McDonald does a fine job blurring the line between fiction and reality, actor and rock star. If you didn't know it was fake, you'd be hard-pressed to find the seams in this little make believe. A lot of that has to do with establishing credibility in the details. From early appearances by real Canadian punk legends D.O.A. and Art Begmann (not to mention a very confused looking Joey Ramone), to a kick-ass set list written specifically for the movie ("Who The Hell Do You Think You Are" is a great stand-up-and-shake-your-fist punk tune), to the palpable sweat and stink of the small clubs the boys play, McDonald covers all the bases. He even includes himself in the mix, in a great narrative conceit, as a documentary filmmaker named 'Bruce McDonald', who is the repeated object of the band's barbs and spit. But the biggest credibility coup is the casting of Hugh Dillon as the Hard Core's frontman, Joe Dick. Dillon is a real life rock star, fronting the post-punk Canadian band 'The Headstones'. In his first beefy screen role, he acquits himself spectacularly as the angry core and creative force of the band. He spits, he lies, he snarls, he waxes rhapsodic, and he oozes charisma like nobody's business. His credibility does wonders in the film's final moment, which would, in the hands of a less capable actor and director, feel contrived and manipulative, but comes off totally legit here. Coupled with Callum Keith Rennie, a fine actor who does an excellent job playing right hand man/best friend/guitar hero Billy Tallent, the two make a wonderful team. "I suffer for his art," says Tallent at one point, in a line that perfectly sums up their relationship. Joe wants the low rent tour to go on forever, while Billy is pondering a move to the big time. They fit in wonderfully in the history of rock and roll love/hate relationships that includes Jagger/Richard, Lennon/McCartney, and of course the Tap's St. Hubbins/Tufnel. The rest of the band includes John Pyper-Ferguson as bassist John Oxenberger, a calm schizophrenic who loses his medication and his sanity, and Bernie Coulson as drummer Pipefitter (as ridiculous a nom de punk as I've ever heard), an overgrown child with no prospects, who's putting off "a lifetime of collecting garbage". They make a fine fearsome foursome. My one complaint with the movie is an intense, LSD-inspired scene of bacchanalia, that fits in perfectly with the narrative, but is too over the top to be interesting. A minor complaint, that. Otherwise, this is a well-crafted and entertaining ode to bitter nihilism and Canadiana, that I can watch over and over and over.
Rating: 
Summary: Hardcore mockumentary
Review: "This is Spinal Tap" created the mockumentary genre in film with brilliant caricatures of washed-up rockers, and a sly wit that often slipped past on the first viewing. Bruce McDonald has upped the ante with "Hard Core Logo," his mockumentary about a defunct band of punk rockers who come together for a charity show, stay together for a short tour, and implode rather spectacularly on the road from obscurity to nowhere. Yes, it's funny. It's monumentally funny in a nasty, painful way. You can't like these people, but you can come to love them, unloveable as they are, because they are so completely human and messed up. Though you know there is no way on earth the band can hold together you'll find yourself wanting them to succeed. The performances are amazing; there is not a false note in the whole film. Particularly fine are John Pyper-Ferguson as John Oxenberger, Julian Richings as Bucky Haight, and Hugh Dillon who gives a brilliant performance as Joe Dick. There's even a cameo by the late Joey Ramone. HCL requires steady nerves, it's harrowing, but it's absolutely worth the time. "4 guys - 5 nights - 3000 miles - 764 gallons of gas - 987 bottles of beer - 3457 cigarettes - 1 last shot" Amen.
Rating:
Summary: Hardcore mockumentary
Review: "This is Spinal Tap" created the mockumentary genre in film with brilliant caricatures of washed-up rockers, and a sly wit that often slipped past on the first viewing. Bruce McDonald has upped the ante with "Hard Core Logo," his mockumentary about a defunct band of punk rockers who come together for a charity show, stay together for a short tour, and implode rather spectacularly on the road from obscurity to nowhere. Yes, it's funny. It's monumentally funny in a nasty, painful way. You can't like these people, but you can come to love them, unloveable as they are, because they are so completely human and messed up. Though you know there is no way on earth the band can hold together you'll find yourself wanting them to succeed. The performances are amazing; there is not a false note in the whole film. Particularly fine are John Pyper-Ferguson as John Oxenberger, Julian Richings as Bucky Haight, and Hugh Dillon who gives a brilliant performance as Joe Dick. There's even a cameo by the late Joey Ramone. HCL requires steady nerves, it's harrowing, but it's absolutely worth the time. "4 guys - 5 nights - 3000 miles - 764 gallons of gas - 987 bottles of beer - 3457 cigarettes - 1 last shot" Amen.
Rating:
Summary: Since DVD is so woefully lacking in extras...
Review: ...try picking up a copy of the book (...) ROADSHOW, a making-of diary kept by the HCL screenwriter, Noel Baker. The book is alright, but at least it satisfies some of the behind-the-scenes cravings you might have after watching the movie. Found out some surprising things, like how several GREAT story plot points and that ending came to be. What's up with Quentin being so stingy with the extras on the DVD?? Even though I give the movie itself five stars, the DVD presentation merits only three. Somebody re-release this (...), and do it RIGHT!
Rating:
Summary: Since DVD is so woefully lacking in extras...
Review: ...try picking up a copy of the book (...) ROADSHOW, a making-of diary kept by the HCL screenwriter, Noel Baker. The book is alright, but at least it satisfies some of the behind-the-scenes cravings you might have after watching the movie. Found out some surprising things, like how several GREAT story plot points and that ending came to be. What's up with Quentin being so stingy with the extras on the DVD?? Even though I give the movie itself five stars, the DVD presentation merits only three. Somebody re-release this (...), and do it RIGHT!
Rating: 
Summary: about as good as watching wedding videos of strangers
Review: Ever watched 90 minutes of DIY tour footage by a band you don't like or care about? (Why would you?) Well. that's what this movie is like. Comparing this to Spinal Tap is like comparing toilet water to holy water (okay, I'm exaggerating but it was a ridiculous comparison to begin with). Spinal Tap was an enjoyable mockumentary for a lot of people whether they enjoyed the music or not - the humor and the distinguishable characters were enough to drive the movie. With Hard Core Logo, it wasn't so much that I didn't understand what was going on or who the characters were... I just didn't care. This is a 90 minute experiment in pointless, witless, and directionless drivel that begs to be ejected.
Rating:
Summary: Finally...
Review: Finally the Canadians are getting some credit for their films. I was actually thinking the other day what the hell Quentin Tarrantino has been doing with his time (he hasn't released anything lately), and I am pleased to find that he has realized that there are some films that deserve a wider release, not just the Pearl Harbour and Erin Brockovich ... that has been shoved down our throats. Quentin Tarrantino has once again impressed me and gained my respect. The print even looks better than the version that has been widely available under Canadian distributers.
Rating:
Summary: Hard Core Logo
Review: Hard Core Logo is one for the best movies, If you want to see a movie about a traveling punk/rock band. Hugh [Headstones] is not only a great musician but a great actor. This also shows the band [Hard Core Logo] playing songs on stage. [Note: Hard Core Logo is not a real band]
Rating:
Summary: Good punk rock mockumentary!(in ref. to HARDCORE EDITION)
Review: Hugh Dillon is great as the role of Joe Dick and PIPEFITTER is an absolute blatter buster with his no nonsense on track minded conversations. This band is cool and a director documents a benefit tour they are doing of a man who was never really hurt and living quite fine! So it all comes back to them in the end and everything goes downward. It's your typical rock and roll movie but it is definitely a classic and if your into music or into movies with some good dialogue than this one is for you. Last time I remember it was very hard to get the soundtrack to this movie but the hardcore edition gives you a nice new copy of the soundtrack with a booklet of the whole shibaggin history of the making of the films. I am pretty sure that Quentin Tarantino actually has nothing to do with the ACTUAL MAKING OF THE FILM! But his name is even on the HARDCORE EDITION so I'm sure he gave some help in distributing and making of the HARDCORE and DVD versions of the films and the many others that are appearing on the shelves with his name on it!(what a guy) Anyways it's a good movie and if your into a little cool collectible for your DVD collection and if your Canadian than you should definitely look this one up!
Rating:
Summary: Great movie.
Review: I don't know what dvd version the reviewer named Elena Innes saw, but everything that she said was missing from the dvd version she saw was in MY copy. Maybe in the United States version of the dvd it's missing, but i live in Canada and the dvd version is great! It's a two disc set and it DOES include a commentary by Hugh Dillon and Bruce MacDonald that she said wasn't on her copy. And my version DID include the video for Cemetery, which she said was absent from her dvd. So i don't know what she's going on about. The second disc is actually a tribute cd of Hard Core Logo songs played by other artists. The only thing i'd have to say about this great movie is you shouldn't watch it expecting that it's some kind of comedy along the lines of Spinal Tap. Far from it! Although the dvd booklet gives a cynical, humorous view of the movie, especially with the "bios" of the band members, and there are some light moments in the movie, this movie is not a comedy. It's about the darker side of being a rock group and how the group's individual personalities clash and get along with each other as they tour. The lead singer is played by the very charismatic lead singer of The Headstones, which is probably one of the five best rock groups to come out of Canada ever. He plays a character that is very outgoing and cocky and also very obnoxious and arrogant, yet you can't help but love the guy. For all you Americans who put down Canada and Canadian talent, i'll just say this: if Quentin Tarintino himself puts his name on the coverbox in order to help get this smalltime movie noticed by Americans, then that says something right there about how important this film is. Canada rocks! The final ending, which happens seconds before the credits roll, will shock and surprise you, i guarantee it. This is a must-see film for anyone who is a fan of rock with a punk edge to it, and fans of rock music films. Highly watcheable, with a very likeable cast of talented actors.
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