HEAVEN TONIGHT
Australia, 1990, 95 minutes, Colour.
John Waters, Guy Pearce, Rebecca Gilling, Sean Scully, Kym Gyngell.
Directed by Pino Amenta.
Heaven Tonight is set in the rock world of the late '80s. It is a familiar story of the generation gap, the father a musician of the late '60s, early '70s who has not been able to give up his dreams - having had 18 months' success. His son seems a natural as a musician and is bound for glory.
While the material is familiar, the intensity of the performances give it great strength. John Waters acts with his customary brooding intensity (as in Boulevard of Broken Dreams). Rebecca Gilling is attractive as his supportive wife. Kym Gyngell is effective in an offbeat character role of a musician who is bent on self-destruction. The supporting cast includes Sean Scully. Guy Pearce appears as the son - but his role is underwritten so that he does not make such a strong impact.
The film was produced by Boulevard Films, a company very busy in the late '80s with a great number of features including Boulevard of Broken Dreams, What the Moon Saw, Hunting, Flynn. The film was directed by Pino Amenta who also directed Boulevard of Broken Dreams.
1.A local story? The generation gap? The music world?
2.The Melbourne settings, the atmosphere of the city? The period re-created with newsreel footage? The contrast between the '60s and the '80s?
3.The musical score, the title song, the sound of the '60s and '70s, the sound of the '80s? The range of songs?
4.The introduction, the newsreel footage of events of the '60s and '70s? The music of the period? Manner, style, clothes, hair etc? The newspaper headlines and the photos, Johnny Dysart's career, the breaking up of the group?
5.John Waters as Johnny Dysart: in the initial excerpts, the success, the band, the members of the band, his marriage and son, drugs, the break-up of the band? In the late '80s, exercise and trying to keep fit? His love for music? His easy relationship with his wife, supported by her? Difficulties in communicating with his son? The clash with Tim Robbins, sending him the tape, receiving the Christmas card? Ambitions for a deal, money for a holiday? The various gigs, his performance, people leaving the group, his friends and their older appearance? Playing in the pub, support of his wife, the cat-callers calling him `ancient history'? Bas arriving, their talking, reminiscing? Bas's downfall? His hopes, lecturing Paul about the music business? Thinking the younger generation had no heart? His going for the job, the interview, being recognised? The mistake about the interview with Tim Robbins? The angry confrontation with Tim, his drinking, the return home, blaming Annie, hitting her? Going to see Bas, looking at him in the movies, Bas cutting his hand, the police raid, running away, the hot dog, the hold-up, the confrontation, talking about the death wish, the police and Bas's death? The funeral and its effect on him? Blaming himself - and watching the boxer on the television talking about defeat and losing skills? Reconciliation with his wife, her work for the Japanese restaurateur, the decision to go into the restaurant business? Going to his son's performance, Paul's acknowledging him on stage and the applause? The new generation singing `Heaven Tonight'? The generation gap, the age gap, the conservative holding on to the security of something well-known and successful, refusing to blame self? Portrait of a middle-aged man and burnout?
6.Bas, seeing him in the newsreel clips, the drug background, separation from the band, reappearance, the phone call to Annie, seeing Johnny in the street, talking, watching the home movies, shared memories? Bas as a failure, his attitudes towards his own songs, killing himself with drugs, collapsed, cutting his hand, sleeping, feeling sorry for himself, the police raid, the gun, the thrill of the hold-up, the chase, getting to the top for a short moment, ready to die, being shot? The funeral and the clergyman referring to his talent and as `resting in the arms of the Lord'?
7.Tim, place in the band, getting out, business success, listening to tapes, his office and secretarial staff, colleagues, meeting Johnny, sending him the card, the mistake about the interview, the decision to confront Johnny with the truth, the funeral and offering him a job, supporting Paul? Did he sell out or was it a correct reading of the signs of the times?
8.Annie and her love for her husband, the marriage, Paul, seeing themselves as young in the home movies? Her love for Johnny, going to the pub to listen to him, her work for the Japanese restaurant, the opportunity to buy it, allowing Johnny to have his way? Urging him to communicate with Paul? Her relationship with her son, understanding, support? At home for the two of them? Excitement about the interview, Johnny and his collapse, destroying his room, his anger, taking it out on her, slapping her? Her support for him, despite everything? The police, Paul going to search for him? The funeral? The future and the restaurant?
9.Paul, the younger generation, quiet, taciturn? The success with his group? The sound of the '80s, synthesised music? Admiration for his father, playing his tunes? Inability to communicate, tension at meals, in his room, his father lecturing him, him finding it impossible to apologise? His declaration of love for his father and yet his exasperated anger? The possibility of a contract? Looking for his father at the end? Success and being introduced to the public?
10.The police, the hold-ups for drugs, the toy guns, danger on the streets, the violence?
11.How credible the story? The portrait of rock stars and their fading out? The need to adapt? Family support? Money deals? Big business? The optimism of the ending?
