event Tommy

Ken Russell’s head-trip adaptation of The Who’s Tommy stars Roger Daltrey as the traumatized titular character, who suffers a loss of his senses after witnessing the murder of his father by his stepfather. Russell’s adaptation brings his signature visual splatter to the project, and the movie is often played as a broad joke—understandable, considering it both concerns a “pinball wizard” who becomes the new messiah and features Jack Nicholson as a smarmy, singing doctor. Occasionally, the translation to film makes for some uncomfortable moments—the Oedipal subtext between Daltrey and the still-sultry Ann-Margret is an unexpected by-product—but overall the film triumphs through its eye-popping visuals (which should look even better in this 35th anniversary restoration), awesome casting (Tina Turner is The Acid Queen!) and, of course, the strength of Pete Townshend’s songwriting.

Ken Russell’s head-trip adaptation of The Who’s Tommy stars Roger Daltrey as the traumatized titular character, who suffers a loss of his senses after witnessing the murder of his father by his stepfather. Russell’s adaptation brings his signature visual splatter to the project, and the movie is often played as a broad joke—understandable, considering it both concerns a “pinball wizard” who becomes the new messiah and features Jack Nicholson as a smarmy, singing doctor. Occasionally, the translation to film makes for some uncomfortable moments—the Oedipal subtext between Daltrey and the still-sultry Ann-Margret is an unexpected by-product—but overall the film triumphs through its eye-popping visuals (which should look even better in this 35th anniversary restoration), awesome casting (Tina Turner is The Acid Queen!) and, of course, the strength of Pete Townshend’s songwriting.

Ken Russell’s head-trip adaptation of The Who’s Tommy stars Roger Daltrey as the traumatized titular character, who suffers a loss of his senses after witnessing the murder of his father by his stepfather. Russell’s adaptation brings his signature visual splatter to the project, and the movie is often played as a broad joke—understandable, considering it both concerns a “pinball wizard” who becomes the new messiah and features Jack Nicholson as a smarmy, singing doctor. Occasionally, the translation to film makes for some uncomfortable moments—the Oedipal subtext between Daltrey and the still-sultry Ann-Margret is an unexpected by-product—but overall the film triumphs through its eye-popping visuals (which should look even better in this 35th anniversary restoration), awesome casting (Tina Turner is The Acid Queen!) and, of course, the strength of Pete Townshend’s songwriting.