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"Get
Into the 'Groove'"
by Scott Mantz
"Groove"
Hamish Linklater, Lola Gaudini
Directed by Greg Harrison
Whether it's
your high school prom, your college graduation, or just some really
cool party, some nights last forever. Hollywood has had various
degrees of success with trying to capture crucial moments like these,
but it doesn't get any better than George Lucas' classic "American
Graffiti." With its nostalgic look at a nation trying to hold on
to its innocence, "Graffiti" paid tribute to a generation facing
an unknown future. "Thank God it's Friday" was quick to cash in
on the 70's disco scene, and, while many regarded it as one of the
worst movies ever made, it has since become a late-night guilty
pleasure. Now the rave scene of the electronic underworld gets the
royal treatment in "Groove," and the result is a film that's as
liberating as it is engrossing.
In San Francisco's
warehouse district, a group of hipper-than-thou twentysomethings
scramble to organize a last minute rave party. They spread the word
via e-mail, where it reaches an eclectic group of people. David
(Hamish Linklater) is the straight-laced writer who makes his living
by providing commentary for computer magazines. The party is the
last place he wants to be, but he gets high, falls for a beautiful
East Coast transplant (Lola Gaudini), and opens his eyes for the
very first time. Ernie (Steve Van Wormer) is the rave organizer
who spends more time keeping the cops off his back than he does
enjoying himself. He's not in it for the money (he doesn't even
get paid), but he lives for the positive feedback he gets at the
end of the night. As the evening progresses, the attendees lose
themselves in the music, only to emerge with a better understanding
of who they are and where they're going (in life, that is).
In the 1950's,
rock'n'roll music was a way for kids to rebel against the squeaky
clean image that was being forced upon them by the establishment.
All was not what it appeared to be, and by the time the 1960's rolled
around, that rebellion took on a whole new meaning. Rock music became
art, and love-ins were the equivalent of a drug-fueled museum. People
embraced these happenings and connected to the "free your mind"
vibe that was in the air. As time progressed, music became more
about style than it did about substance, and there really wasn't
much to rebel against anymore.
Even though
the electronic rave scene has been around since the early 90's,
only now is it getting the attention it deserves. For a generation
that came of age with computers, dot-coms, and IPO's, these raves
were the closest thing that gen-Xers had to a human be-in. The hypnotic
feel of the music put these partygoers in a zen-like trance where
they could really let themselves go. Here was a generation looking
for any reason to capture the liberated feel of the sixties, and
these events, laced with tie-dies, lava lamps, and a host of mind-altering
drugs, were just what the doctor ordered. (Talk about recapturing
the past, it's no surprise that two attendees drive around in a
New Beetle.)
Let's face it,
though. The 60's are over. It's the Millennium, and these days,
drugs are moderated by a clear recognition for good health. One
of the drug peddlers has the audacity to follow up his deal with
a recommendation for vitamins. All of the partygoers experience
their mind trips while chugging down Evian Spring Water, and when
the atmosphere really gets to them, they embrace in platonic hugs.
Uptight David loosens up for the very first time and feels better
about his state of affairs for doing so. Another couple experiment
with their sexuality, while the deejays trade places with each other,
pumping up the volume even more with each passing hour.
Like most music
fads, the techno rave scene is destined to vanish into obscurity,
but "Groove" will stand as a testament to what it was like to be
young and confused at the turn of the century. The characters portrayed
here may still not have a clue by the end of the night, but for
one brief moment, they were able to think objectively and realize
that no matter what happens, everything is going to be OK. Most
of us don't end up being astronauts or doctors, but at least we'll
get into a groove that suits us just fine.
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