"Not Fade Away" (2012)

The Rolling Stones song "Time is on My Side" plays a crucial role during an early moment in Not Fade Away (titled after another Stones' song describing how "real love" never "fades away" -- a minor theme of the film). Douglas Daminao (John Magaro) is the drummer in a local band trying to get anyone to notice them. When the band covers the Stones' song, they suddenly gain a modicum of popularity, and Douglas draws the eye of the girl he has long pined for since high school. But the song seem purposely ironic, underscoring how, well, time is not on these characters' sides -- even as they feel like it is. The coming of age story is set in the 1960's and uses the period as backdrop for a bittersweet tale about life's disappointments, whether it be for a no name band trying to get famous or a young man trying to find his place in the world. In a similar way to Something in the Air, inevitably adulthood and responsibility make it clear to the characters that life is rarely as fair or neat and tidy as they'd like to believe. There was more opportunity for self-exploration and discovery starting in the 1960's and Douglas takes advantage of this before realizing he doesn't quite have all the answers. This is beautifully articulated in the film's subplot where Douglas fights with his father (James Gandolfini) who he slowly learns is not a stick in the mud but just somebody with more life experience and his best interests at heart.

Grade: ★★★