Tommy

Tommy (1975)

Runtime: 111 minutes

Directed by: Ken Russell

Starring: Oliver Reed, Ann-Margaret, Roger Daltry, many other actors & musicians

From: Columbia

No one should be surprised that I found the plot of Tommy a little baffling yet also found the music to be incredible and the bizarre maximalism moments to be hilarious. No one should be surprised either that I have even more to say than typical about the movie.

I hadn’t heard most of the songs on the Tommy album as rock operas aren’t always my bag yet who could believe that a Ken Russell (no relation) film would play on IMAX screens across the United States both Tuesday night & last night in the Year of Our Lord 2026? I’d seen Russell’s OTHER 1975 rock opera starring Daltrey (Lisztomania) so no better way to finally tackle the film. Many Who songs I do enjoy, for the record.

Surprises occurred throughout; having viewed some of the director’s films before, bizarre moments were expected. I wasn’t quite imagining the titular Tommy to become “deaf, dumb, & blind” after a certain traumatic event, Tina Turner appearing in a bedroom above a strip club w/ red cape then turning into a metal knight, Ann-Margaret straddling a long pillow after being doused w/ baked beans & chocolate sauce, her being seduced by Jack Nicholson (on-screen during his one scene… although presumably he also tried to do so off-screen! Also, he SANG), Elton John’s Giant Shoes, or many other moments that probably shouldn’t be spoiled by me.

The film has a wacky plot… yet as I’ve seen others eloquently proclaim, the story is more thoughtful than I expected concerning such topics as abuse, exploitation, religion, cults, stage parents, celebrity worship, & more. At the time I realized the story of Tommy Walker wasn’t a cheery one; after all, he was obviously sexually abused by a relative (a trigger warning for those out there). Well, after reading other reviews, there might have been implicit abuse of that nature by other loved ones that was beneath the surface of the bizarre scenes… yes, morbid.

Perhaps it’s better I be amused by such things as the clothing Oliver Reed wore, or another assumption: on set wasn’t the only time that Reed and Keith Moon partied with each other. The story was more than expected when going in, I only knew the wacky premise of “a deaf, dumb, & blind kid can sure play some mean pinball.”

I’ll give Pete Townshend (I REALLY hope the reason he provided why he got “in trouble” in 2003 was true) and Russell credit; they collaborated on this film and created a product that greatly entertained me-while sometimes puzzling me as well-and was deeper than I first give it credit for. Then again, with hindsight, I should have given Phantom of the Paradise more kudos for presenting serious themes & some evils concerning real life behind the veneer of bombastic moments & catchy music.

Like w/ De Palma, Russell is a talented director despite his proclivities towards seedy genre material. His direction was a huge asset for Tommy; the final few minutes before the end credits alone were incredible… it featured an epic journey to a great song, leading to an awesome shot that mirrored the opening, then hearing the great song again during the end credits. I am glad that a director like Russell had one undeniable commercial success while maintaining his outrageous style.

Between the quality sets, the music, & the ending, that alone is one of the many reasons why I don’t feel quite the same about modern films as I do older ones. I also have to acknowledge that Ann-Margaret was the MVP; afterwards, I discovered she won a Golden Globe & was actually nominated for an Oscar.

As for the crowd that came out on this night: a mix of people, but many older folks who could have watched this on the big screen in ’76. Not all the Gen-Z’ers stuck around to the end of the film (the heck with them. I know those reading this aren’t like them) but most of the middle-aged & older stuck around for the end credits, then loudly cheered & clapped. Not only was I happy they had a great time, but that it’s easier now than ever before to view older movies at all the major theatrical chains in the United States. While it’ll have to be done at home, I’ve probably been sleeping on Ken Russell for too long.