Spinning Gold will have audiences dancing in their seats, and leaving the theater with a smile on their face and tears in their eyes.
Even if you haven’t heard of Casablanca Records, you have certainly heard of the artists and songs from the label. Likely the most successful Indie label in the 1970s and early 1980s, it housed talent to the likes of Donna Summer, Kiss, The Isley Brothers, Gladys Knight, and Parliament — just to name a few. Spinning Gold tells the story of the man that helped form Casablanca, Neil Bogart. It is written and directed by his son, Timothy Scott Bogart, and produced by Evan and Brad Bogart — making it a family affair.
The involvement of the family is likely to blame for the problems with the movie, but also who should be praised for its achievements. While the film isn’t perfect, it is perfectly enjoyable. There are a lot of great aspects. Biopics are hard in general, but it gets even tougher when they are the personal story of those creating the film. Luckily the Bogart brothers knew exactly what to include to tell a cohesive story about their father’s tenaciousness.
Jeffrey Jordan brings a likability to Neil Bogart, taking Spinning Gold to the next level. Without the right lead for this film, it just doesn’t work. The movie centers around him completely, and thanks to Jeffrey’s brilliant performance, it is easy to root for Neil, even if you already know where the story is going.
This man had a passion for music. He wasn’t just trying to earn a buck, which shows through the story and Jeffrey’s portrayal of him.
Probably the biggest issue with Spinning Gold is that it touches on the flaws of Neil Bogart while at the same time glossing over them. When you think about the fact that it was important to stick to a reasonable runtime, this makes sense. There is a lot of story to tell here, and of course, since this is written, directed, and produced by Neil’s sons, they prefer to stick mostly to the good stuff.
I am thankful that the failures, such as drug abuse, were not completely ignored; however,, spending more time with them would have been more impactful. That said, the runtime of 2 hours and 17 minutes is already pushing the limits and does cause a few watch glances. Timothy Scott Bogart was sure to include commentary early on that states some of the story is embellished and up for debate, which is also appreciated. This is a movie about his late father, and it doesn’t get much more personal than that.
The musical performances in Spinning Gold are some of the best scenes in the film. These are songs that most of the audience knows, so it is impossible not to smile and sing along when they start up. They are always done so perfectly that viewers will feel as if they are watching an actual performance by those artists — and that in itself is a testament to the casting choices and the actors’ commitment.
Compared to other recent musical biopics like Rocketman and Bohemian Rhapsody, it seems like something is off. Perhaps it is a script that is lacking a bit or trying to squeeze too much into the runtime while simultaneously not spending enough time with some of the aspects of his life. Still, overall the film is enjoyable, fun, and meaningful.
Overall Thoughts
Spinning Gold isn’t just the story of Neil Bogart and Casablanca Records; it is so much more than that. It will inspire dreamers like Neil to keep pushing and persevering through everything that is thrown their way. Without his failures, he would not have had his successes.
This film delivers on many fronts. Viewers will be dancing in their seats while singing along to their favorite songs. Most will be walking away with a smile on their face and tears in their eyes. This powerful two hours, even with its faults, is inspiring and absolutely delightful.
Spinning Gold honors Neil Bogart not just for those who know who he is but for those who don’t as well.
Rating: 3 out of 5
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About Spinning Gold
What do Donna Summer, Parliament, Gladys Knight, The Isley Brothers, The Village People, and Bill Withers all have in common with the rock band KISS? They all rose to their musical heights under the watchful ear of the music industry’s most colorful and brilliant music producer, Neil Bogart, founder of Casablanca Records, the most successful independent record company of all timeā¦ Along with a rag tag team of young music lovers, Casablanca Records would rewrite history and change the music industry forever.
Their mix of creative insanity, a total belief in each other and the music they were creating, shaped our culture and ultimately defined a generation. In a story so unbelievable that it can only be true, comes the motion picture event of the musical journey of Neil Bogart and how his Casablanca Records created the greatest soundtrack of our lives.
Spinning Gold is playing in theaters now.
Tessa Smith is a Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer-approved Film and TV Critic. She is also a Freelance Writer. Tessa has been in the Entertainment writing business for ten years and is a member of several Critics Associations including the Critics Choice Association and the Greater Western New York Film Critics Association.