"Rockers" Review
- How does the main character, Leroy "Horsemouth" Wallace, compare to the other main characters (Ivan Martin and Derrick Thompson) in the first two films we saw?
I think Horsemouth's values and reasons resembles more to Derrick's than to Ivan's. They both fought against those who were privileged, had tons of money and used it to abuse the poor. Ivan also kind of did this, but only at the beginning of the movie, because he later lost his way and became an outlaw with selfish motivations. However, personality speaking, I think Horsemouth's and Ivan's are very similar. Both of them were kind of daring and pranksters with their neighbours and family. Also, they both worked in the music industry and were very popular among their communities, always at every person they met in the street.
- Did you like or dislike the film? Why/Why not?
I liked the film a lot more than I thought I would. Since it was released just a couple years later than "The harder they come"; a film which I really didn't like because of it's sexist characters, weird sense of justice and exaggerated violence; I had very low expectations on this one. However, I ended up liking it a lot mainly because it portrayed a not-so violent way of bringing justice to the people and in the end I was left with the feelings of watching a feel-good movie. Through the entire film it mantained some kind of relaxing atmosphere, mostly because of the continuous reggae soundtrack and the relaxed protagonist who, despite the problems that were presented to him, never killed anyone or brutally attacked someone (not as Ivan at least). He didn't brutally killed the guy who led the mafia and was stealing other's people things. Instead, he stole everything from the storage and gave the belongings back to his neighbours and friends. The acting wasn't perfect, I have to say that. However, I researched a little and found out that they were not actors. They were portraying themselves. This characters were real people, so I forgave the movie for it's not-perfect acting. Also, it had a calm and peaceful ending: after having returned all the possessions, Leroy laids in his bed, just wanting to sleep and then his wife enters to wake him up and see what's happening outside (what he did). He just says "Relax, man" with reggae music in the background, as if he were directly saying to the audience to relax now, that the movie is over. A relaxing ending to a relaxing movie.
- In conclusion to our Jamaican film unit, which was your favourite film of all 3? Why?
This is a hard one but my vote goes for this one, "Rockers". Structurally and narratively, "Ghetta life" is better, but only because it was made in the 2010's, with more resources available. I would say, however, that I cried more and felt more with that one, despite it's cliché story. Nevertheless, I have to say that this was my favourite because it was made with less resources and despite that they managed to film a unique and impactful story, plus with no professional actors or actresses, which for ever will be considered as one of the best Jamaican movies ever made. "The harder they come" may be meaningful too but it delivers the wrong message and it doesn't stand up to this day, not as "Rockers" anyway, which now that I come to think off relates to our current situation, where the wealthiest man and women of Chile continuously steal from us right under our noses without us even noticing. I which someone like Leroy Horsemouth Wallace could just bring us back everything these people has stolen from us.
