by Shane Conto, Staff Writer
Why is it so hard to make a biopic work? There is a tricky nature to telling stories about real people, because everyone has a different perspective on the events of a time period. This is especially difficult when you are looking at someone’s story which influenced so many different people over the years, and when they are famous figures, it is just that more difficult. Look at someone who starts a record label. Will their family, friends, colleagues, workers, and performers all see the events in the same way they do? That is one of the biggest challenges with Spinning Gold, the latest biopic release about Neil Bogart of Casablanca Records.
What does this film have to say about Bogart and his legacy? What is most interesting about this film is how many Bogarts are involved. It is written and directed by Timothy Scott Bogart. I wonder— yes, it is Neil’s son. That is not problematic at all. The biggest concern in such a situation is that the portrayal will be sanitized and avoid the grittiness of reality. That is 100% true of Spinning Gold. Neil Bogart is shown at his worst… for a few seconds. When he openly and often cheats on his wife, he is simply experiencing something “complicated.” The way this film warps an incredibly unlikable man into a fun and inspiring figure is miraculous… in a bad way. The worst point is where Bogart sexually harasses one of his artists to “inspire” her, and the film plays it off as sexy and inspiring. It is disgusting and hard to watch. The neutered and tone deft the direction is concerning.
Knowing that this is an uninteresting and problematic whitewashing of this man’s legacy, do we get anything to really appreciate? There are a few moments of light that could have really made it soar, like when it walks the line of almost becoming a fantastical jukebox musical. Those are the moments that are the most interesting and engaging in the whole film. Honestly, it is just the musical moments that feel real and fully engaging. But even those have their flaws. All the songs are re-recorded by the actors, and some of them just cannot do justice to the work of the real artists (especially Bill Withers, played by Pink Sweat$ here). In between the musical moments? A boring and bland slog of a biopic that hits so many familiar beats that it doesn’t even feel like an original film. What is even worse is that the film is at least 20 to 30 minutes too long on top of everything else.
What about the cast? In general, the musicians are portrayed with an inconsistent group of actors. The actors portraying the members of KISS are weak and unconvincing. I never once believed that one of them was Gene Simmons. The likes of Jason Derulo, Whiz Khalifa, and Ledisi do admirable work. But the biggest issue is Bogart himself. Jeremy Jordan is all over the place. He feels like he is forcing his performance, which makes things feel so inorganic, and the audience will struggle to make a genuine connection. So many moments are ruined by awful acting choices. There are plenty of actors who are completely wasted, like Michelle Monaghan and Jason Isaacs.
Is Spinning Gold worth your time? To speak plainly, no. This biopic is way too long and boring at times. The most interesting moments are too few and far between. This film feels like it doesn’t know where its best energy and elements live. Inconsistent acting makes it feel more amateurish than a studio film should feel. But most of all, it just feels like a strange and uncomfortable experience with the portrayal of Bogart, who is easily detestable in the film. Yet the film tries to make us love him and give him so many passes. This character did not deserve those passes, or even our time.
Score: 3/10
Spinning Gold is currently playing in theaters
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