The 60's: Film Analysis

Arguably the richest decade of music contribution, the 1960’s, was a vibrant era flourishing with the new sounds of rock and pop. A truly fascinating era, filled with legacies like the Beatles, The Beach Boys, Jimi Hendrix, and their everlasting impact on history that only the generation who experienced it will fully appreciate. These events are embodied in many films such as That Thing You Do! and Pirate Radio to carry historical and cultural significance, and when done so, atmosphere is important to retain its beautiful history as an immersive element. Although both films follow quite different plots, That Thing You Do! is superior because of its incredibly accurate set design and character attire to the 60’s era, its particular camera work and cinematography in general, and its well-balanced

Hank’s That Thing You Do! followed a one-hit-wonder pop band, while Curtis’s Pirate Radio dramatically captured pirate broadcasting. This distinguishing factor is thinner, as Pirate Radio rivals with dynamic characters. Curtis’s film was filled with intense emotional character attachment due to their rich development; “stuffed with playful character actors and carpeted with wall-to-wall tunes.” (Manohla Dargis). Nevertheless, That Thing You Do! engages the audience in a very realistic “rags-to-riches-to-oblivion story” (Rodger Ebert). This style of story is appealing to a wide audience, as it makes fame seemingly feasible because of similar situational opportunities, simply a hit song away. The growing reputation the Wonders received was fascinating, seeing it from a different perspective. The rapid fame was a phenomenon of the era, exemplary by The Beatles, and embodiment of such a spradic occurrence was done elegantly yet humorous in Hank’s film. That Thing You Do! is superior in plot, as it portrays a beautiful and reasonable transition from a garage band to something as impactful as The