Roadie (2012)

Roadie Poster

After 20 years on the road with Blue Oyster Cult, Jimmy Testagros returns to his hometown to life with his ailing mother. Complications arise when he falls for an old friend, who is now married to his longtime nemesis.

Movie Overview
"Roadie" is a 2012 American drama movie directed by Michael Cuesta, starring Ron Eldard, Bobby Cannavale, Jill Hennessy and Lois Smith. The screenplay checks out the life of a passionate music lover whose life takes a sudden turn after he returns to his hometown after being sacked from his task as a roadie for a rock band after two decades.

Plot Summary
The story begins with the lead character, Jimmy Testagross, a 40-something roadie who gets laid off from his job with the Blue Oyster Cult, a rock band he served devotedly for 26 years. Stranded and having nowhere else to go, he decides to return to his hometown, Queens, New York. He finds haven in his widowed mom's home, where he spent his youth dreaming about dealing with rock stars.

He is dealt with indifferently by his mother, who knows little of his adult life on the road. Instead, she is more concerned about him discovering a task, even recommending delivering a paper as an option.

Confronted with the reality of living without his rock 'n' roll way of life, Jimmy heads to a local bar where he coincidentally fulfills his high school crush, Nikki. Nikki is now married to Randy, Jimmy's old school competitor, and the encounter provides an agonizing reminder of his unsuccessful rocker dreams and aspirations.

Secret Themes
"Roadie" is essentially a story about pertaining to terms with unfulfilled goals and the unavoidable passage of time. It skillfully brings out the pathos of Jimmy's circumstance as he struggles to grapple with his brand-new truth. His experiences and encounters throughout the film expose a male whose identity is intricately connected to his past, who struggles to fix up the space between his present circumstances and the life he as soon as visualized. The theme of rock 'n' roll and its long time roadie represents the metaphor of life taking a trip with huge dreams but eventually returning to the originating humble beginnings.

Important Reception
"Roadie" is praised for its exceptional efficiencies from the stars, especially Ron Eldard, who depicts the character of Jimmy. His heartfelt efficiency in depicting the ups and downs of his life, filled with company commitment to his dream, is wonderfully carried out. Critics appreciated his function that makes the audience have compassion with the character, making him relatable. The film's earnestness in analyzing this character's life is one of its essential strengths. Its presentation of the rock 'n' roll world as a background is more than merely illustrative. The music functions as a 'character' in itself, reflecting Jimmy's battles and hopes.

Conclusion
Overall, "Roadie" is a character-driven film that paints a painfully genuine image of a guy who imagined the stars but arrived at hard ground. It showcases the reality of life after the glitz and glamour fade away, revealing deep introspection into the human struggle for identity, hope, and approval. The journey of Jimmy shows that dreams and truth can be poles apart, and sometimes, returning home can be the hardest part.

Top Cast

  • Ron Eldard (small)
    Ron Eldard
    Jimmy Testagross
  • Lois Smith (small)
    Lois Smith
    Mom
  • David Margulies (small)
    David Margulies
    Don Miller
  • Bobby Cannavale (small)
    Bobby Cannavale
    Randy Stevens
  • Jarlath Conroy (small)
    Jarlath Conroy
    Wes
  • Suzette Gunn (small)
    Suzette Gunn
    Lizette Santiago
  • Jill Hennessy (small)
    Jill Hennessy
    Nikki Stevens
  • Lourdes Martin
    Cop
  • Arian Moayed (small)
    Arian Moayed
    Irfan
  • Lucy Spain
    Motel Hooker
  • Katherine Hughes (small)
    Katherine Hughes
    Young Nikki