Breaking Glass
1980
It's a tough decade, it's a harsh life. Only the hardest make it, or the hardest pushed. But sometimes it drives you over the edge - it's just the music industry... Read more
| Starring | Hazel O'Connor, Phil Daniels, Jon Finch, Jonathan Pryce |
|---|---|
| Director | Brian Gibson |
| Genres | Drama |
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Critics' reviews (3)
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Singer Hazel O'Connor claws her way into the charts, with help from spiv promoter Phil Daniels, only to find the glitter tarnished and the pressures of fame unbearable. Efficiently directed by Brian Gibson, this hopelessly dated musical is completely formulaic on the rags-to-riches front, yet intriguing from a New Wave nostalgia perspective. O'Connor, who wrote all the songs, hit the Top Ten with Eighth Day before fading into obscurity. The “life imitating art” subtext adds another level of interest to what is basically a morose chronicle of music biz clichés.
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Garish, freakish musical with unattractive characters strung along an oft-told tale. Some commendable vigour in the presentation, but it won't appeal to anybody over 21.
-
Super-cynical first feature by ex-TV director Gibson. Its version of punk London in the '80s is a bizarre mix of Big... read more on Time Out
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Most helpful members' reviews (3)
View all -
18 out of 19 people found this review helpful
Underrated Gem!
This film is one of those 'forgotten' gems that surprise you by exceeding your expectations!!
Simple enough story - girl has 'anti-establishment' band, band start to make it, establishment start to take over!
Not putting any spoilers in here - excellent performances by Phil Daniels, Jonathon Pryce, Gary Tibbs amongst others, but Hazel O'Connor stands out as (potentially) a very good actress in this.....so where did it/she go wrong?
If you've not seen this before, rent it. If you have, watch it again!! -
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful
VERY VERY UNDERATED FILM,WELL WORTH WATCHING MORE THAN 7 TIMES,EVERY TIME YOU SEEE IT,IT GETS BETTER AND BETTER BRINGING BACK FANTASTIC MEMORIES OF A BYGONE TIME.X
WHEN THIS GEM OF MOVIE WAS MADE AND CAME OUT,IT LACKED THE PROMOTION THAT IT DESERVED.BUT JUST AS AN EXAMPLE OF HOW BLOODY GREAT IT WAS/IS,EVEN WITHOUT THE PROMOTIONAL CRAP THAT COMES ALONG WITH A MOVIE THAT'S JUST BEING RELEASED,IT SWEPT THE BOARD AT THE BAFTAS THAT YEAR.... THATS SAYING SOMETHING FOR YOU...MY BEST FRIEND IN THE WORLD....I'M A LITTLE BIASED,CAN'T HELP IT...LOYALTY INCLUDED,WAS AN EXTRA FOR THE FIRST 10 MINUTES AND THE CHRISTMAS PARTY SCENE ALONG WITH ALL THE OTHER LONDON ORIGINAL PUNKS AND SKINHEADS REPRESENTING THIS GREAT NATION AT THE TIME(SADLY NOW GONE,ONLY TO BE VIEWED ON CRAPPY POSTCARDS,)ALL MADE APPEARANCES IN IT MAKING IT WHAT IT TURNED OUT TO BE.....A BLOODY ACCURATE AND REALISTIC,HARD HITTING MOVIE OF THE TIMES.MANY FREAKY OCCURANCES HAPPENED PRE-FILMING...ALOT OF PREDICTIONS WERE MADE AND BY THE TIME FILMING HAD FINISHED,ALL THAT HAD BEEN PREDICTED BEFORE HAD COME TRUE UP TO 2YRS LATER:IE:BRIXTON RIOTS etc.DO YOURSELF A HUGE FAVOUR,AND CATCH UP ON A TIME THAT CAN NEVER BE CAPTURED AGAIN,IN A DECADE THAT TRANSCENDED ALL OTHERS IN THE WAY THAT NO OTHER MOVIE MANAGED TO PORTRAY.PLEASE WATCH IF YOU'RE A TRUE ENGLISHMAN THATS PROUD OF YOUR COUNTRIES PAST AND ITS INVOLVEMENT IN MAJOR MOVEMENTS AND EXPERIENCES OF THE TIME....THEY WILL NEVER BE REPEATED AGAIN.....P.S-LOOK OUT FOR THE GUY SPEWING HIS GUTS UP,BELLY FULL OF BEER AND ALSO BEING PUNCHED IN THE GUTS BY HAZEL HERSELF AFTER A PERFORMANCE.P.S.S-HAZEL,IF YOU READ THIS,MY BEST FRIEND WHO WAS BRIEFLY IN THE MOVIE WITH YOU WHO YOU PUNCHED INTHE GUTS,COMING OFF STAGE WANTS TO KNOW IF HE CAN BE YOUR GROUPIE.IF THE ANSWER IS YES-MY E-MAIL ADDRESS IS AT THE TOP,FEEL MORE THAN FREE TO WRITE ME/HIM....HA HA!!!!!!!!!!!! THANKS FOR THE BEST MEMORIES EVER-SAYS MY FRIEND CRIS.IF ANYONEONE OUT THERE CAN LAY THERE THEIR HANDS ON A COPY OF THIS MOVIE,MY FRIENDS BEEN TRAWLING THE SHOPS FOR YEARS TRYING TO GET HIS HANDS ON A COPY,CONTACT THE E-MAIL ADDRESS ABOVE-FEEL FREE...THANKYOU,HOPE TO HEAR FROM YOU SOON,THANKS FROM ME,BUT ESPECIALLY MY FRIEND CRIS.X
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Great film
This is an excellent film. One which everyone who has ever seen it, apart from idiot film critics that is, absolutley love.
If you like artie films like the tripe Kate Winslet makes you may not like it but if you like your films about the reality of life plus some great music, this is the film for you. -
Most recent members' review
View all -
Great film
This is an excellent film. One which everyone who has ever seen it, apart from idiot film critics that is, absolutley love.
If you like artie films like the tripe Kate Winslet makes you may not like it but if you like your films about the reality of life plus some great music, this is the film for you.
-
18 out of 19 people found this review helpful
Underrated Gem!
This film is one of those 'forgotten' gems that surprise you by exceeding your expectations!!
Simple enough story - girl has 'anti-establishment' band, band start to make it, establishment start to take over!
Not putting any spoilers in here - excellent performances by Phil Daniels, Jonathon Pryce, Gary Tibbs amongst others, but Hazel O'Connor stands out as (potentially) a very good actress in this.....so where did it/she go wrong?
If you've not seen this before, rent it. If you have, watch it again!! -
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful
VERY VERY UNDERATED FILM,WELL WORTH WATCHING MORE THAN 7 TIMES,EVERY TIME YOU SEEE IT,IT GETS BETTER AND BETTER BRINGING BACK FANTASTIC MEMORIES OF A BYGONE TIME.X
WHEN THIS GEM OF MOVIE WAS MADE AND CAME OUT,IT LACKED THE PROMOTION THAT IT DESERVED.BUT JUST AS AN EXAMPLE OF HOW BLOODY GREAT IT WAS/IS,EVEN WITHOUT THE PROMOTIONAL CRAP THAT COMES ALONG WITH A MOVIE THAT'S JUST BEING RELEASED,IT SWEPT THE BOARD AT THE BAFTAS THAT YEAR.... THATS SAYING SOMETHING FOR YOU...MY BEST FRIEND IN THE WORLD....I'M A LITTLE BIASED,CAN'T HELP IT...LOYALTY INCLUDED,WAS AN EXTRA FOR THE FIRST 10 MINUTES AND THE CHRISTMAS PARTY SCENE ALONG WITH ALL THE OTHER LONDON ORIGINAL PUNKS AND SKINHEADS REPRESENTING THIS GREAT NATION AT THE TIME(SADLY NOW GONE,ONLY TO BE VIEWED ON CRAPPY POSTCARDS,)ALL MADE APPEARANCES IN IT MAKING IT WHAT IT TURNED OUT TO BE.....A BLOODY ACCURATE AND REALISTIC,HARD HITTING MOVIE OF THE TIMES.MANY FREAKY OCCURANCES HAPPENED PRE-FILMING...ALOT OF PREDICTIONS WERE MADE AND BY THE TIME FILMING HAD FINISHED,ALL THAT HAD BEEN PREDICTED BEFORE HAD COME TRUE UP TO 2YRS LATER:IE:BRIXTON RIOTS etc.DO YOURSELF A HUGE FAVOUR,AND CATCH UP ON A TIME THAT CAN NEVER BE CAPTURED AGAIN,IN A DECADE THAT TRANSCENDED ALL OTHERS IN THE WAY THAT NO OTHER MOVIE MANAGED TO PORTRAY.PLEASE WATCH IF YOU'RE A TRUE ENGLISHMAN THATS PROUD OF YOUR COUNTRIES PAST AND ITS INVOLVEMENT IN MAJOR MOVEMENTS AND EXPERIENCES OF THE TIME....THEY WILL NEVER BE REPEATED AGAIN.....P.S-LOOK OUT FOR THE GUY SPEWING HIS GUTS UP,BELLY FULL OF BEER AND ALSO BEING PUNCHED IN THE GUTS BY HAZEL HERSELF AFTER A PERFORMANCE.P.S.S-HAZEL,IF YOU READ THIS,MY BEST FRIEND WHO WAS BRIEFLY IN THE MOVIE WITH YOU WHO YOU PUNCHED INTHE GUTS,COMING OFF STAGE WANTS TO KNOW IF HE CAN BE YOUR GROUPIE.IF THE ANSWER IS YES-MY E-MAIL ADDRESS IS AT THE TOP,FEEL MORE THAN FREE TO WRITE ME/HIM....HA HA!!!!!!!!!!!! THANKS FOR THE BEST MEMORIES EVER-SAYS MY FRIEND CRIS.IF ANYONEONE OUT THERE CAN LAY THERE THEIR HANDS ON A COPY OF THIS MOVIE,MY FRIENDS BEEN TRAWLING THE SHOPS FOR YEARS TRYING TO GET HIS HANDS ON A COPY,CONTACT THE E-MAIL ADDRESS ABOVE-FEEL FREE...THANKYOU,HOPE TO HEAR FROM YOU SOON,THANKS FROM ME,BUT ESPECIALLY MY FRIEND CRIS.X
-
Great film
This is an excellent film. One which everyone who has ever seen it, apart from idiot film critics that is, absolutley love.
If you like artie films like the tripe Kate Winslet makes you may not like it but if you like your films about the reality of life plus some great music, this is the film for you.
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Critics' reviews (3)
-
Singer Hazel O'Connor claws her way into the charts, with help from spiv promoter Phil Daniels, only to find the glitter tarnished and the pressures of fame unbearable. Efficiently directed by Brian Gibson, this hopelessly dated musical is completely formulaic on the rags-to-riches front, yet intriguing from a New Wave nostalgia perspective. O'Connor, who wrote all the songs, hit the Top Ten with Eighth Day before fading into obscurity. The “life imitating art” subtext adds another level of interest to what is basically a morose chronicle of music biz clichés.
-
Garish, freakish musical with unattractive characters strung along an oft-told tale. Some commendable vigour in the presentation, but it won't appeal to anybody over 21.
-
Super-cynical first feature by ex-TV director Gibson. Its version of punk London in the '80s is a bizarre mix of Big... read more on Time Out
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It's a tough decade, it's a harsh life. Only the hardest make it, or the hardest pushed. But sometimes it drives you over the edge - it's just the music industry...... -
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