Music, especially that one heard in one's youth has a way of evoking happier times which lingers in one's mind forever. David Chase the creator of "Not Fade Away" is fond of the music of an era, in this case, the 1960s where he sets his film, which mixes a somewhat innocent time with the realities of events that marked most Americans who came of age during a difficult time of our history.
The story takes a look at a group of suburban youths in New Jersey. We meet Doug an aspiring musician whose sole ambition was to form a band. Doug came from a working class background, in contrast with some of the other youths he meets to create music. Their models were the Rolling Stones and the Beatles, which ruled the musical tastes of the early 60s. Doug's idea was not exactly innovative, but he, and his friends believe in imitating their idols instead.
Doug, who gets to go to Oberlin, is lucky in meeting Grace Dietz, a beautiful girl from a well-to-do family. Because of the music scene, popular in suburbia, Grace and her older sister, Joy, come in contact with Doug and his friends. It does not take long before Doug falls in love with a girl that was clearly out of his league. Their love will be put to a test, and eventually they separate. As in most of the groups of the era, the band Doug was hoping to take them out his somewhat sheltered life in the suburbs, ends up splitting and the members scattered to pursue different interests. A more experienced, and jaded Doug decides to go West, looking to realize his dream.
David Chase concentrates on Doug Damiano to illustrate his take on the narrative. The film offers a contrast between the reality of Doug's home life and the glamorous world he was after, something that his down to earth father, and a record producer want Doug to realize. Even with showing sings of some talent, this group, like many others were doomed from the start. Mr. Chase inserted popular tunes from the period to good effect.
John Magaro, a young new face to this viewer, has some good moments in the movie. He is an intense young actor with a promise. A good Bella Heathcote shows talent in her approach to Grace. Pat Damiano, the working father is played by James Gandolfini who has worked with Mr. Chase before. The actor makes an impression as a sensible man wanting to make his son consider his sacrifices he has made in his life. Meg Guzulescu, who plays Doug's sister Evelyn, serves as the narrator. She appears at the end in a deserted Los Angeles street addressing us in the audience about to consider two of America's inventions, nuclear weapons, and rock and roll.
The story takes a look at a group of suburban youths in New Jersey. We meet Doug an aspiring musician whose sole ambition was to form a band. Doug came from a working class background, in contrast with some of the other youths he meets to create music. Their models were the Rolling Stones and the Beatles, which ruled the musical tastes of the early 60s. Doug's idea was not exactly innovative, but he, and his friends believe in imitating their idols instead.
Doug, who gets to go to Oberlin, is lucky in meeting Grace Dietz, a beautiful girl from a well-to-do family. Because of the music scene, popular in suburbia, Grace and her older sister, Joy, come in contact with Doug and his friends. It does not take long before Doug falls in love with a girl that was clearly out of his league. Their love will be put to a test, and eventually they separate. As in most of the groups of the era, the band Doug was hoping to take them out his somewhat sheltered life in the suburbs, ends up splitting and the members scattered to pursue different interests. A more experienced, and jaded Doug decides to go West, looking to realize his dream.
David Chase concentrates on Doug Damiano to illustrate his take on the narrative. The film offers a contrast between the reality of Doug's home life and the glamorous world he was after, something that his down to earth father, and a record producer want Doug to realize. Even with showing sings of some talent, this group, like many others were doomed from the start. Mr. Chase inserted popular tunes from the period to good effect.
John Magaro, a young new face to this viewer, has some good moments in the movie. He is an intense young actor with a promise. A good Bella Heathcote shows talent in her approach to Grace. Pat Damiano, the working father is played by James Gandolfini who has worked with Mr. Chase before. The actor makes an impression as a sensible man wanting to make his son consider his sacrifices he has made in his life. Meg Guzulescu, who plays Doug's sister Evelyn, serves as the narrator. She appears at the end in a deserted Los Angeles street addressing us in the audience about to consider two of America's inventions, nuclear weapons, and rock and roll.