Parents' Guide to

Not Fade Away

By S. Jhoanna Robledo, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 17+

'60s-set coming-of-age tale has some edgy content.

Movie R 2012 117 minutes
Not Fade Away Poster Image

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What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

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What's the Story?

It's the 1960s, and Douglas (John Magaro), a high school senior on the verge of graduating, instead decides to join a cover band as its drummer -- a "why not?" decision that turns into an avocation. He catches the eye of Grace (Bella Heathcote), a gorgeous, Vassar-bound classmate with a penchant for making out with everyone else but him and sharing her keen observations about the band -- including that he Douglas is much better at singing than the charismatic lead, Eugene (Jack Huston). Set against an emergent music scene, NOT FADE AWAY traces Douglas' circuitous journey, charting the detours he takes when he thinks he's on the way to rock-star-hood.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

First things first: The Not Fade Away soundtrack is as good as it gets, with the Rolling Stones, Leadbelly, and James Brown (and plenty others) permeating through the movie. In fact, it's the best thing about the movie.

David Chase (of The Sopranos fame) clearly made this film with love, perfectly evoking a very specific slice of history -- and the ennui and hope and idealism of young adulthood. Nonetheless, it ambles at a maddeningly slow pace, never quite finding the urgency to pull an audience through its hefty run time. The music's fun to listen to, but we need more.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how Not Fade Away depicts teen life in the 1960s. Is it relatable? Do the characters face similar issues to what teens deal with today?

  • Why does Douglas seem hostile to his parents (and vice versa)? Does this generational chasm still exist today, or was it played up for cinematic effect?

  • How does Not Fade Away compare to other coming-of-age films? How does it depict drinking and smoking? Does it glamorize them?

  • What does music mean to Douglas, and how does the changing musical landscape reflect the times?

Movie Details

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