Well made, well-acted, sporadically engrossing snapshot of a moment in time and some players in it that doesn't follow through (or even finish). It feels like a pilot for a TV series that didn't get picked up, with tons of loose ends dangling, but by the time we get there we don't much care anymore. Setup is solid, characters are decently developed, dialog is mostly believable (I just don't think people dropped the F-bomb back in the early 60s the way they do here). But the story makes huge leaps in time, feels choppy and over-edited, and by the cheap cop-out ending--a character basically wanders onto the middle of the screen, breaks the fourth wall and starts addressing the audience to tell us what the movie's about--I was ready to throw up my hands.Writer/Director David Chase is a genius, and you can see traces of it here, but this film feels unfinished. I didn't hate it, it's well made and the cast is appealing, but it's the epitome of a "meh" movie in the end.

Overall I really enjoyed this movie and I will most likely watch it again in the next few years since I did think enough to purchase a copy of it. The reason I will watch it again is the director did a great job in re-creating that 60's era feel that I grew up in as a teenager. I thought the band members clothes were spot on for the times and especially that one red paisley shirt that the character Wells (Will Brill) wore I actually owned two of them. The family environment that the lead character Douglas (John Magaro) grew up in was also typical for the times. Teenagers who think they know more about the world issues based on what their fleeting friends and acquaintances tell them, rather than hearing what it was like living in the past few decades from what their parents could really tell them, is a reality many families live with and this underlying theme was brought out so well by the film. Watch for the line that Brad Garrett playing the part of a rock band agent extols on the boy band that was first stated by Douglas's dad that success consists of 10 percent inspiration and 90 percent perspiration. The members of the band had their own singular reason(s) for wanting a record contract and emulating their 60's rock heroes, the Rolling Stones and The Beatles. I think the boy bands individual reasons for aspirations of success were more than just the whole Beatlemania craze and the desire of beautiful women throwing themselves at them if they became rock stars. Douglas for example was spoiled in my opinion at home by both his mom who continued to iron his clothes and his dad who secretly handed Douglas wads of cash. Douglas was a star in his own mind, which many teenagers are then, and still are today.As Bob Dylan has sung the 'Times They Are A Changing', well Not Fade Away gives all of us including those born after George Bush became president a glimpse in to the family and teenage life of the 1960's with over seas wars, the influence of England on rock music and the blues. It is a bit ironic that Douglas's dad, Pat, (played by James Gandolfini) who was diagnosed with cancer in the movie, would actually pass away from an unrelated heart attack in real life on June 19, 2013, a month before this movie was released in the U.S.. Yes, the times have changed, and this movie reminds us quite subtly of where we once were within the confines of a family, a rock band, and their friends. This movie is well worth a watch if you enjoy reminiscing and seeing the hip fashions of the 1960's.

Boy what huge disappointment this movie was, especially since the recent news of James Gandolfini passing. What a shame that this miserable movie is his swan song. Don't get wrong, James Gandolfini is excellent in this movie, he is definitely one of the bright spots in what I view as a very dim movie.David Chase wrote, directed, and produced this waste of time. David Chase is the creator and writer of the HBO hit series "The Sopranos". I'm not sure what David Chase was thinking or smoking when he came up with this fine piece of rubbish, but whatever creditability he had built up should hopefully now be completely behind him, as he has proved to be a one trick pony in my book.There are many many problems with this movie, but the main mistakes are there is absolutely no story here. Could there have been a story? Yes, but trust me when I say in this instance there is none. Second, there is no character development. You won't give a darn about anyone in this movie, so combined with no story and no viewer connection to the characters this is a disaster.The good news is the musical soundtrack is excellent, especially if you like the great 60's rock hits. The acting by everyone concerned is decent, once again James Gandolfini is excellent but at the same time a clone of his role on the Sopranos, which tends to make me think David Chase has him type cast.So here's the take-away....no story, no character development, no connection for the viewers, no good!!

Everyone has heard about the '60's but only a few of us actually grew up during that decade. David Chase evidently did grow up during that time. Music was very important then. Before there were CDs there were vinyl records & every time The Beatles or The Stones or Dylan came out with a new record it was a major event. David Chase captures that time perfectly. He favors The Stones. Jagger and crew are still performing today and part of the secret of their longevity is the fact that they are blues based. Chase knows that & even tho he occasionally throws a bone to that other art form - film - he concentrates almost exclusively on the role of the blues in the formation of rock and roll. The cast of young unknowns are refreshing - especially the 2 leads & the soundtrack as has been noted is killer. I particularly enjoyed hearing Tracy Nelson's "Down So Low" which was used almost in it's entirety.