I really enjoyed the Mayor of Sunset Strip, although for me it was more self help than a documentary, reminding me of how much there is in the world to see and accomplish in our short stay on the planet.
This is the story of Rodney Bingenheimer a KROQ DJ who spends his entire life chasing celebrity, being a part of the in crowd, and hanging out with the who's who of rock and roll.
The history of the bands, their stories, and their lives are interesting to most people and this movie certainly has that. Many documentaries of this genre show the high life and the drama leaving you feeling like you wish you could have been a part of it. In this movie you're left feeling happy you left it all behind in your teenage scrapbook, grew up, and have a career.
Watching Rodney ride the coat tails of fame in the music industry left me feeling empty and pity. During an interview with Cher, not unlike some of the others, you see Rodney almost coaching her through the conversation having to remind her of things they once did or said, events and conversation she has clearly long forgotten or wasn't sure ever happened in the first place. This facade of a life is brought to a head when Rodney proposes to that special girl in his life.
For someone who makes his living behind a microphone Rodney appears boring, and lifeless in many scenes. His conversational skills are are childlike, without substance, and revolve around meeting a celebrity. Rodneys friend Kim Fowley who handed him the reins of Mayor takes a much more aggressive response to his own history but in similarity leaves you feeling like neither of them would have anything to talk about if it weren't for the celebrities they have met.
What I saw was man who never found himself but rather lived vicariously through others and ends up with a shell of a life spent remembering when, while everyone else moved on. I never felt like I got to know Rodney from this movie, never seeming to have an opinion of his own but rather following the Hollywood standard of whomever is in the limelight at the time is great and creative and genius, and how cool it is that I've been photographed with them. It made me feel sad that someone could place so much importance and in essence build a life on such trivial things like an autographed record or a brief meaningless conversation with celebrity.
In closing, I think this movie offers a unique perspective on the life of DJ Rodney Bingenheimer and it was very interesting to watch.
This is the story of Rodney Bingenheimer a KROQ DJ who spends his entire life chasing celebrity, being a part of the in crowd, and hanging out with the who's who of rock and roll.
The history of the bands, their stories, and their lives are interesting to most people and this movie certainly has that. Many documentaries of this genre show the high life and the drama leaving you feeling like you wish you could have been a part of it. In this movie you're left feeling happy you left it all behind in your teenage scrapbook, grew up, and have a career.
Watching Rodney ride the coat tails of fame in the music industry left me feeling empty and pity. During an interview with Cher, not unlike some of the others, you see Rodney almost coaching her through the conversation having to remind her of things they once did or said, events and conversation she has clearly long forgotten or wasn't sure ever happened in the first place. This facade of a life is brought to a head when Rodney proposes to that special girl in his life.
For someone who makes his living behind a microphone Rodney appears boring, and lifeless in many scenes. His conversational skills are are childlike, without substance, and revolve around meeting a celebrity. Rodneys friend Kim Fowley who handed him the reins of Mayor takes a much more aggressive response to his own history but in similarity leaves you feeling like neither of them would have anything to talk about if it weren't for the celebrities they have met.
What I saw was man who never found himself but rather lived vicariously through others and ends up with a shell of a life spent remembering when, while everyone else moved on. I never felt like I got to know Rodney from this movie, never seeming to have an opinion of his own but rather following the Hollywood standard of whomever is in the limelight at the time is great and creative and genius, and how cool it is that I've been photographed with them. It made me feel sad that someone could place so much importance and in essence build a life on such trivial things like an autographed record or a brief meaningless conversation with celebrity.
In closing, I think this movie offers a unique perspective on the life of DJ Rodney Bingenheimer and it was very interesting to watch.