Swing Kids
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Movie Reviews of Swing Kids
Movie Review: Good Movie
Summary: 5 Stars
I bought this movie because I like swing dancing. It was a really good movie I really enjoyed it.Movie Review: An Interesting Story of Rebellion and Divided Loyalties
Summary: 4 Stars
The film SWING KIDS has a familiar setting: Nazi Germany but it tells a story that most people, at least most Americans, may not know. In 1939, Swing music was sweeping the world as Germany was continuing to invade its neighbors, and Germany was just as caught up with the popular form of music as any other country. The problem? The music was banned in Germany because it was not of German origin and due to the fact that many of the performers were of Jewish origin. The music became more than just a means of enjoyment for many German youth. It was also a form of rebellion and this is where the story begins.
Robert Sean Leonard plays Peter, a young man who is struggling with the loss of his father as well as his hatred for the Nazis. He has avoided joining the Hitler Youth to this point, but knows he will soon have to make a choice. Most of his time is spent with his friends Thomas (Christian Bale) and Arvid (Frank Whaley) and their life revolves around collecting swing recordings, learning swing's lingo, and dancing. Tension begins when Peter and Thomas steal a radio as a prank and in order to avoid being sent to a work camp, decide to join the Hitler Youth and the remainder of the film deals with the choices these two have made and how it has an effect on the people closest to Peter and Thomas.
The film does have an American feel to it, which may put it at a bit of a disadvantage as far as having an authentic feel is concerned, but it's strengths make it worthwhile. Peter is struggling, wanting to make different choices but also knowing he may not have too many options. We feel for him as he struggles with the realities of his day and feel his resentment at his mother's boyfriend who is a Nazi sympathizer but also tries to take the role of his father. We see Thomas change from a rebel to Nazi supporter but we see his change may be less a conversion to a cause and more of a form of parental rebellion. Likewise, we're not certain that Arvid hates the Nazis because of their ideology or because his disability would never allow him to join. Because the characters are multidimensional, the struggles and fights seem realistic and this alone keeps us interested in the film.
One final note. While the story is paramount, the film has another advantage. The swing dancing is phenomenal. The people in the clubs are not casual dancers. They know swing and they dance with life and vigor. The intensity of the dancing also helps viewers see how people can rebel when there's no other way to do so.
Movie Review: An Odd Little Film
Summary: 4 Stars
I wasn't expecting much from Swing Kids, and I was pleasantly surprised. Yes, the plot could be tighter. Yes, the dialogue is a little stilted at times, and the stupidly worded slide at the beginning is a problem. Other than that... wow. The acting, particularly from Leonard and Bale, shows a depth that some actors never manage. Since Peter (Leonard) is the main character, we see more of his conflicts between prevailing opinion and what he knows in his heart to be right. Thomas (Bale) hates his liberal-minded father, and I got the sense from Bale's performance that Thomas is looking for some way, any way, to rebel against dad. He trades the Swing Kid ethic for the Hitler Youth ethic fairly easily. We see him seduced by the power of belonging just as we see Peter step up and do the right thing, even if "the right thing" will cost him his freedom and probably his life. He goes to his fate at peace. My favorite scene in the movie is the one where Peter comes home to find Thomas showing the younger brother his knife. Their exchange is powerful and perfectly acted.
This is not a perfect film. Bad directing telegraphs Arvid's (Frank Whaley) eventual end point, and Arvid serves as the audience substitute, screaming from the anachronistic, hindsight point of view. Whaley almost pulls it off, but Arvid's conflict, despite being very dramatic, rings false.
Peter's preparation for his last night at the club is gorgeously photographed, and heart-rending, and a better director would have found a better way to transition from the slow shots to Peter's manic dance solo with more grace. The movie would have benefitted from de-emphasizing the younger brother, who was really only necessary in one scene.
The very end, with the little brother shouting "Swing Heil!" is one of the most embarrassing things I've ever seen, and it overshadows the fine last bit between Peter and his Gestapo patron. Leonard has chosen to vary his accent from nearly German to casual American depending on the scene. It's obviously an acting choice, but since the rest of the cast didn't make that choice, it doesn't quite work. The director ought to have put the quash on it. He is still underrated as a film actor, but this is an extremely thoughtful performance from him, and it stuck with me. Ultimately, the story of Peter and Thomas, the compromises they make and the reality of Germany in 1939 is very compelling.
Movie Review: FRIENDSHIP, LOYALTY, BETRAYAL AND SWING!
Summary: 4 Stars
like its original soundtrack, "swing kids" is a fine example of a movie replete with swing music, swing moves and swing kids...
it tells the story of four friends caught in the middle of world war II. only in their teens, these friends were forced to choose between loyalty to their government and frindship. they are forced to face situations unbreable for their age. luckily, there was the american swing music they could count on. but alas, even that was banned by hitler and mused nationality among the young germans. forced to go underground, these rebels called themselves swing kids in protest to what is happening around them.
the story revolved around four friends who had to make a difficult choice - enjoy swing music or be one of hitler's followers. what ensued was the most dramatic scenes strongly molded on friendship - a sensitive subject.
the situations presented were so real, the acting was excellent (christian bale and robert sean leonard) that you could actually feel what they are talking about. even the supporting cast, barbara hershey and kenneth branagh in uncredited role were superb.
the music by james horner (pre-titanic) is also good. but one of the real stars of the show was the swing music draped all over the movie.
i bought a lot of swing cd's that time because of this movie before i got the original soundtrack. whew, i felt good watching the movie and listening to the music...
buy it if you are interested in swing music or a movie on friendship and bits and pieces of world war II atrocities.
this is one great movie...
Movie Review: Interesting historical subject
Summary: 4 Stars
This movie gives a new angle on Pre - WW2 German society. The title's 'Swing Kids' are German youngsters who were interested in British and American slag & fashions. Since Germany's official policy towards America & Britain wasn't very sympathetic at the time (to say the least), Swing hangouts were routinely searched for by HJ's ("Hitler Junged" - Hilter's Youths), Swing Kids were targeted by them, and Swing music was hard to find.The movie's three main characters are caught in the struggle between Swing music and the pressureto join the HJ's. Arvid, who is partially paralized, and is therefore 'unacceptable' by the Nazis, is a rabid Swing fan (which a large part of is a rebellion against the people who won't accept him). Peter is struggling with his father's 'disappearance' (he was taken by the Nazis a few years before the events of the movie). Thomas is just looking for acceptance, which he doesn't seem to get from his family or friends, so he willingly turns into a HJ - just to satisfy his need. The friends split up, turn against each other, and each goes towards his tragic end.
The story in itself is predictable, but since the performances of the actors are quite good, and the period and subject matter of the films are not your obvious WW2 movies, it is a very enjoyable one (even just for knowldge's sake).