Absolute Beginners (1986)
Average Rating: 5.9/10
Reviews Counted: 7
Fresh: 6 | Rotten: 1
No consensus yet.
Release Date: Apr 18, 1986 Wide
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Average Rating: 2.8/5
User Ratings: 3,171
My Rating
Movie Info
The rise of teen culture in 1950s Britain provides the backdrop for Julien Temple's unconventional rock musical Absolute Beginners. The film centers on Colin, an 18-year-old with a talent for photography and a fondness for the neon nightlife of British jazz clubs. He also is in love with Crepe Suzette, an impulsive, ambitious young beauty who abandons him after attracting the attention of a powerful fashion designer. Depressed and aimless, Colin turns for help to a flashy ad executive (David
Apr 18, 1986 Wide
Apr 15, 2003
HBO Video
Cast
-
Eddie O'Connell
Colin -
Patsy Kensit
Crepe Suzette -
David Bowie
Vendice Partners -
James Fox
Henley of Mayfair -
Ray Davies
Arthur -
Steven Berkoff
The Fanatic -
Eve Ferret
Big Jill -
Anita Morris
Dido Lament -
Lionel Blair
Harry Charms -
-
Tenpole Tudor
Ed the Ted -
Tony Hippolyte
Mr. Cool -
Chris Pitt
Baby Boom -
Paul Rhys
Dean Swift -
Julian Firth
The Misery Kid -
Ronald Fraser
Amberly Drove -
Irene Handl
Mrs. Larkin -
Sylvia Syms
Cynthia Eve -
Peter-Hugo Daly
Vern -
Johnny Shannon
Saltzman -
Amanda Jane Powell
Dorita -
Robbie Coltrane
Mario -
Robert Austin
Slim Brother -
Jess Conrad
Cappuccino Man -
Graham Fletcher-Cook
Wizard -
Jim Dunk
Slim Brother -
Alan Freeman
Call-Me-Cobber -
Astley Harvey
Mr. Cool Sr. -
Colin Jeavons
Pamphleteer -
Joe McKenna
Fabulous Hoplite -
Bruce Payne
Flicker -
Ekow Abban
Santa Lucia Club Owner -
Sade
Athene Duncannon -
Smiley Culture
D.J. Entertainer -
Slim Gaillard
Party Singer -
Pat Hartley
Ms. Cool Sr. -
Gerry Alexander
Ton-Up Vicar -
Gary Beadle
Johnny Wonder -
Johnny Edge
Trader Horn -
Carmen Ejogo
Carmen -
Paul Fairminer
Eddie Sex -
Hugo First
Maltese Lodger -
G.B.
Zoot -
Alfred Maron
Bert the Tailor -
Sandie Shaw
Baby Boom's Mum -
Bruno Tonioli
Maltese Lodger -
-
-
Zoot Money
Chez Nobody Barman
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All Critics (12) | Top Critics (4) | Fresh (7) | Rotten (1) | DVD (2)
Absolute Beginners is a film worth revisiting for its inventiveness and audacity.
Though the film is flawed, it's still underrated as an exploration of a crucial era of London's pop culture, and the eccentric cast (including David Bowie) adds a lot of color.
More interesting for what it attempts than for what it accomplishes.
Audience Reviews for Absolute Beginners
Super Reviewer
Sure it's not a GREAT film...but as musicals go (I generally hate them) this is one that I don't mind.
Which I'm sure is a testament to the historical aspects of it's story and the fact that it is riddled with cameo's (Sandie Shaw) and musical "numbers" performed by some really great musicians (Bowie, Ray Davies, Sade).
Super Reviewer
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