Page 30 - ARUBA TODAY

A30 PEOPLE & ARTS
Monday 19 august 2019
In ‘Blinded by the Light,’

growing up with the Boss

By JAKE COYLE about the Boss’ life or how
Associated Press he recorded his hits. It’s
After starring roles for Fred- about hearing him — and
die Mercury (“Bohemian not in Asbury Park but far
Rhapsody”), Elton John away in the British industrial
(“Rocketman”) and the town of Luton, where the
Beatles (“Yesterday”), it’s British-Pakistani 16-year-old
Bruce Springsteen’s turn Javed (newcomer Viveik
to join the mixtape that Kalra) finds in Springsteen’s
the movies have lately be- working-class anthems the
come. sound of his soul. When Ja-
But Gurinder Chadha’s ved, beleaguered by his
“Blinded by the Light” isn’t overbearing father (Kulvin-

This image provided by Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. shows Viveik Kalra in a scene from
“Blinded by the Light,” a Warner Bros.
Associated Press
der Ghir) and feeling hope- But more common are hard to resist. It has a hun-
less in Margaret Thatcher’s cringe-worthy scenes like gry heart.
1987 Britain, presses play Natalie Portman playing Based on Sarfraz Manzoor’s
on his Walkman one lonely the Shins for Zach Braff memoir about growing up
night, he’s almost instantly and telling him they will a Springsteen die-hard,
transformed by “Dancing “change your life” in “Gar- “Blinded by the Light” has
in the Dark.” den State.” the frame of what would
The thrill of being turned “Blinded by the Light” normally be a song-and-
on to music has long been doesn’t so much circum- dance musical or a broad-
dangerous territory for film- vent those risks; it barrels er comedy. It has elements
makers. It’s precariously right through them. Instead of both, but it’s primarily a
easy to sound cheesy of trying for coolness, “Blind- coming-of-age tale and a
when it comes to rhapso- ed by the Light” is guileless- heartfelt family drama. Ja-
dizing about music. There ly geeky, virtually exploding ved is a sensitive kid who
was great joy in Philip Sey- in earnestness. Chadha, writes poetry and keeps a
mour Hoffman as Lester who helmed “Bend it Like diary but has little hope of
Bangs in “Almost Famous” Beckham,” gives “Blinded realizing his dreams — kiss-
craving for the raw power by the Light” a similarly un- ing a girl, getting out of Lu-
of the Velvet Underground: abashedly feel-good uplift ton — while his father plans
“Gimme some ‘White Light/ that, even if you don’t bow his career and, perhaps, his
White Heat!’” down before Springsteen, is wife, too.q

Duane Allman’s old guitar ‘Layla’

sells for $1.25 million

Associated Press
MACON, Ga. (AP) — Fans
of Duane Allman in Macon,
Georgia, say they didn’t
expect the late musician’s
old guitar to sell for $1.25
million at a recent auction.
The gold-topped guitar is
the one Allman played in
the hit song “Layla,” where
he performed with Eric
Clapton, The Telegraph re-
ported . In this undated file photo, members of the Allman Brothers Band,
Until recently, the guitar af- from left, Dickey Betts, Duane Allman, Berry Oakley, Butch
fectionately called “Layla” Trucks, Gregg Allman and Jai Johanny “Jaimoe” Johanson, eat
had been on display at the at the H&H Restaurant in downtown Macon, Ga.
Allman Brothers Band mu- Associated Press
seum at The Big House in bought the guitar at the coming back to the muse-
Macon. auction is an out-of-town um in late November, Brent
“I don’t think anybody ex- collector who wishes to re- said.
pected that,” Museum Di- main anonymous. “It will be coming back to
rector Richard Brent said of The buyer has agreed to The Big House in late No-
the amount. “The history of share the instrument with vember,” Brent said. “We
it is what sold it.” the museum during certain couldn’t ask for more than
Brent said the man who times. That means it will be that.” q