PERFORMANCE, 1970
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PERFORMANCE, 1970
Classic Movie Review
Directed by Donald Cammell, Nicolas Roeg
Starring James Foxx, Mick Jagger
Review by Megan Powers
SYNOPSIS:
Chas is a “performer,” a violent gangster for a crime lord. When Chas gets on the wrong side of his boss, he hides out at the house of Turner (Mick Jagger). Turner is a reclusive rock star who’s lost his creative demon. Sex and drugs start to influence Chas as Turner searches for a new demon.
REVIEW:
There are many aspects of our existence that make no sense whatsoever. Confusion often takes the place of reason, which can lead to unfortunate ends. Today’s media depicts society’s dual personality, reveling in its malevolent half while tending to ignore its sibling, benevolence.
In most families, the child who is naughty and disrespectful is usually dealt with first, if at all, while the gentle child is often overlooked because its needs are not on the surface or easy to fulfill. In our world, the cruel and the gentle exist side by side. Directors Donald Cammell and Nicolas Roeg explore this theme in the film Performance (1970), starring James Fox and Mick Jagger. The film was made in 1968, but Warner Brother had no idea what to do with it when they screened it.
This film has always been a curio because of the presence of Jagger portraying a reclusive rock star. But the film has more merit than mere novelty. Roeg, director of Don’t Look Now (1973) and The Man Who Fell to Earth (1976), also acted as cinematographer, which is one of this film’s strengths.
Fox plays Chas Delvin, a gangster who enjoys his work including the violence and intimidation. When he ends up on the run from
And oh yes, there’s quite a bit of sexual activity involving Turner and the two women he lives with, one of whom is played by Anita Pallenberg, Keith Richards’ girlfriend at the time. Pallenberg deserves much credit for igniting the many erotic moments throughout the film.
James Fox is fascinating as the psychotic Chas, who is in control in the outside world, but loses his moorings in the world that Turner has created. Chas’ questions his identity as he hides out. Fox dropped out of acting for ten years after completing this film due to a nervous breakdown. Jagger is also very good especially during the Memo From Turner sequence. This is by far one of the best films Jagger has been in. The other is Gimme Shelter which came out the same year, but it’s a documentary.
Ambiguous sexual encounters abound as the characters embark on a journey of self-discovery through sex and drugs. “Do you know who you are?” Turner asks Chas. An important theme permeating through the plot is the fact that everyone must be able to uncover and activate latent aspects of their personalities, thereby discovering their true selves. According to the film, everyone is both violent and gentle; both male and female; both normal and perverted. These aspects must merge together, rather than allowing one to take over the other.
Performance was not well-received at the time of the film’s release because of its violence, nudity and in the opinion of some critics, the fact that ultimately it made no sense. Metaphysical concepts are investigated but are at times muddled - but then how many films can you name that attempt that at all? Be warned: There are two extremely brutal scenes of violence. I don’t mean that cartoon-action-adventure violence you see all the time. The violence depicted in this film is cruel and disturbing, which is how all violence should be shown. Too often, violence is displayed as sport. In reality, most of us wouldn’t be leaping up after being beaten or shot.
Performance is highly stylized with trick shots, wild crosscutting, quick transitions, an excellent soundtrack and an ambiguous ending. Do not watch this film if you are not willing to pay attention. You may have to watch it several times, and even then you may not understand it. For this reason alone, I recommend it. This is a unique, often bizarre film which allows you to draw your own conclusions.
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