Good Vibrations [DVD] [2012]

Anyone who recalls or likes the music of the late 70’s, in particular British/ Irish music, will absolutely love this movie. Based on the true story of a man who opens a record store, during the times of the Troubles, and has a rough time of things. But the silver lining is who he discovers, and how he helps that band become stars. Heart-warming and life-affirming stuff.

Great story of Terri Hooley the Good Vibrations shop/label boss. This captures all the excitement of the emerging punk scene in N.Ireland as the old guard are swept away back in 77 by the best thing to ever happen to music - punk rock! A gritty tale of both failure and success and the general stress of running a record shop and label . I think a decade or two has been lost near the end , and i sound more like John Peel than the bloke playing him , but this is otherwise brilliant . From his partial blinding by redneck kids when he was young, to setting up the shop, losing punters and changing tack on his stock after a young lad comes in asking for Buzzcocks and Electric Chairs 7"s to discovering Rudi, and the Outcasts , run ins with nazis, and the surprising hard graft and scepticism concerning getting The Undertones out there, right through to his near bankruptcy and tribute gig . Despite leaving out a good few years (no mention of the shop burning down) it's a great inspiring tale and makes you even more angry that so much music today is made by soulless chancers

He alerted me to this gem in his alternative Oscars list, otherwise I might have missed it. This film is just brilliant at capturing the emergence of punk in Belfast, perhaps inevitably as a reaction to the Troubles and the grim economic climate of Northern Ireland in the 70s and 80s. Of course there are points where the film goes for dramatic effect but it definitely, gloriously captured key moments, like first hearing and experiencing punk and the story of "Teenage Kicks". There was always something unique about punk in Northern Ireland but I never knew what or why - this film goes a long way to explaining that. The finale concert with the anarchic rendition of Sonny Bono's "Laugh At Me" is wonderful - I'd never thought of that pseudo hippy song as a punk number but it works wonderfully. I can't recommend this film enough.

This a real snippit from the underground punk movement in Belfast during the Seventies. I feel that the "Punk" movement was the changing of tides in the music industry and feel that its due for another one!This beautifully presented black comedy takes a really good look back at this time and portrays it well. The main Character is played extremely well and anyone who loves music and shopped in independent music shops in Belfast in the past thirty years will know who Terry is.Great sound track, and a great strap line."New York has the hair style, London has the jeans but Belfast has the reason"... something along those lines.

Terry is a legend in the music scene in Belfast and he spins a great set as a DJ too. Richard Dormer has him down pat in this movie, it is a true story. Proper Punk and Roll

Excellent filmTook me back down memory lane

In almost every sense the film captures what it was like to live and grow up in Belfast at the time ... I can speak with some authority as I did. I was playing in bands at the time in the same line up as some of those featured and had encouragement from the man himself! Perhaps some of the film stretches belief (opposing sectarian factions meeting together in a pub - if that really happened I'm speechless) and if you weren't from Belfast some of the references would mean nothing to you.However, on balance I would recommend it to anyone - good job by 'Toff' Eaton and Glenn Paterson is a great writer.

A trip to Belfast in the 1970's might not be everyone's idea of a brilliant time out but this film tells the inspiring story of Terry Hooley and the Good Vibrations shop and record label. The story of how music and punk rock in particular spanned the divide in a city and a society that was falling apart is testament to idealism, passion and a degree of inspired madness. To cry once in a film is unfortunate, to cry twice,... I am only human.