Purple Rain — It's Later Than You Think

“Advice to successful artists”

Media type: Film
Title: Purple Rain
Author(s): Albert Magnoli
Publisher: Warner Brothers
Year: 1984

I’d never seen Purple Rain until a few weeks ago, nor had I ever listened to Prince. Not that I had any specific aversion to either the film or the man’s music, I’d just never felt particularly compelled to investigate. On something of a whim, I bought both Purple Rain and Under the Cherry Moon on blu-ray, and now having watched the former, I’m struck mostly by the strong impression that Prince is essentially the villain of the story. He’s conceited, arrogant, spiteful and harsh, he disrespects his band members and leaves his love interest wet and cold in the woods. He’s almost certainly a model for Paul Rudd’s impeccable bad boy satire character in the eternal Wet Hot American Summer. Imagine that lunchroom cleanup tantrum, but it’s Prince. Perfection.

That said, I do appreciate that we get compelling insight into his background, how and why he’s come to be the way he is, and we do see some growth by the film’s end. There is compassion here, which is always a good thing.

Regarding the music, I found it consistently frustrating how the songs would start out amazing, then get worse as the guitar solos and self-indulgence appeared, and then would be good again for the reprise at the end. I’m not trying to have a hot take here, and I feel no joy in saying any of this. I love the idiosyncracy, I love the gall, it’s a wonderful spectacle, but it doesn’t really click with me.

I also find it odd how, despite sexuality being such a huge part of Prince’s whole image, he comes across as a completely sexless being to me. He’s an alien doing an impression of hypersexuality, but I almost get the impression he had no actual sexual impulses.

In conclusion, Morris Day is awesome, The Time are better than The Revolution, and now I’m going to watch Under the Cherry Moon and probably Grafitti Bridge as well, for the sake of completeness.

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There is an end, and you have reached it.

おめでとう