Liz Smith: Will Prince and 'Purple' Reign Again?



"WITHOUT MUSIC life would be a mistake!" Thus spoke Nietzsche.

***

TWENTY-SIX years ago, rock-star Prince set the world on fire with his epic semi-autobiographical movie musical "Purple Rain." The film (and the album) spawned giant hits such as "Baby, I’m a Star," "Let’s Go Crazy," "When Doves Cry" and, of course, "Purple Rain."

The high-heeled genius never looked back and never had to, through all his incarnations – remember when he was The Artist Formerly Known as Prince? He has set the standard for funk, pop, soul and new-wave sounds.

On the stage he’s a diminutive glam version of Bruce Springsteen, playing hot guitar – and other instruments – performing for hours on end, until his audience is reduced to screaming pulp.

Now, at age 51, we are told that Prince is definitely planning to film a sequel to "Purple Rain." (We are assured this "definite" is more definite than past definites.)

Once again, the movie will touch on his own experiences. The ambitious character he played in the original, "The Kid," is now a famous 50-year-old, with no record contract and forced to compete with younger artists in an unrecognizable music industry.

If this is gonna happen, it better start filming … yesterday. Prince wants an Oscar for his score, and already he is talking about how he’ll knock ‘em out performing on next year’s Academy Awards. (Apparently, he was offered a slot on this year’s show, but declined. Interesting. I can’t imagine the people behind the Oscarcast were planning on having him do the Neil Patrick Harris number?!)

However, Prince would have really livened up Oscar. I’ll never forget him at the MTV Video Music Awards way back in the day. He wore skintight pants that were revealing enough from the front. He was a guy, for sure. Then he turned around and only a sheer layer of fishnet stood between Prince and total exposure.

Lady GaGa ain’t got nothing on The Purple One.

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http://www.wowowow.com/en...ion-454395

I'll be amazed if it's half as coherent as Graffiti Bridge

He wants an Oscar for the score? what?! this is a little hard to swallow

never gonna happen...

April Fool?

....

Is this an early April Fool's joke? It sounds ridiculous. Any good reporter would research and know that Graffiti Bridge is the "sequel" to that.

ernestsewell said:

she's less a reporter than someone who writes about gossip. She's not about facts, except for the fact that she [may have actually] heard this gossip from somewhere.

I don't think I'm gonna hold my breath,

AnaB said:

Holding your breath would be a better alternative than watching Prince's "acting" in Graffiti Bridge.

i blame the person who started that thread about him making a trilogy.

Maybe in this one he can give his entire fanbase a backhand instead of Appolonia

NDRU said:

art imitating life?

in so much that prince's inability to direct a film can be called art anyway.

I guess i was the only one hoping it was true

The Kid has found Yahweh and has stopped counting his age so has stayed forever youthful, thanks to hairplugs and hip replacements. Lisa is in an iron lung and Morris is still performing the Bird, his arms are very tired.

dance4me3121 said:

don't be fooled, everyone hopes it's true!

NDRU said:

"not i" said the borgie.

I like the term "high heeled genius". I think it sums up the most important things. Apart from that - is that film in the movies already?

cborgman said:

You say that here, but in another window you're pre-ordering the DVD from Amazon!

well this is believable

NouveauDance said:

NDRU said:

i bought cherry moon and graffiti on dvd. i also have 3 editions of plan 9 from outer space, 2 of showgirls, and the room is probably my favorite dvd for the last several months, which i went out of my way to find because it is the citizen kane of shitty movies. i can quote entire sections of those 3 because i have watched them so many times.

so, yes... i would buy this, because i like laughing at shitty movies when i am high, not because prince is even a mediocre writer and/or director, or because i am a rabid fam.

as a fan, i think it is a terrible idea. as a fan of shitacular movies, you go on, prince... work your cinematic magic.
[Edited 3/17/10 17:53pm]

cborgman said:

that's what I think most of us think. We know it will be horrible, but we all sort of want to see the train wreck if it happens.

fuck

this could actually work

jonylawson said:

if he let a professional write & direct it

NDRU said:

that's why purple rain works and the others don't.

god love prince, he can not write dialogue (not surprising considering the man speaks in riddles and nonsense) or direct his way out of a wet paper bag.

Stop playing.

love2thenines2003 said:

Now, that's a good looking man!
Eyes gone to bed..lips gone straight to my head

Why not? It's always a delight to see
Mr. Nelson on film any time of the day

If it's true, then maybe it's that "3121" movie speculated about 5 years ago. Who knows? Rumors, rumors and more rumors....
[Edited 3/17/10 18:24pm]

--db
[Edited 3/17/10 18:23pm]