"I Was Bono's Doppelgänger", music, pain and U2

I Was Bono's Doppelgänger- Neil McCormick

After the amusing and very original "Killing Bono" it was a matter of time I would put my hands over the book on which the film is based, "I Was Bono's Doppelgänger". And as the topic says: the book is more satisfying than the film. Or better said, is even more rewarding.

The thing that has surprised me is the amount of differences with the screen adaptation and the book. Director Nick Hamm took some less relevant/secondary or anecdotal facts and built several scenes on their own, allowing the film to flow as a surreal comedy with a few dark twists and a crazy plot, in which U2 are the recurring element of frustration, as their worlds are more and more extreme: U2 achieving stardom, while his school pal only a series of let-downs in their attempt to music success.

But the book is very different. Essentially, this is Neil McCormick's biography, covering an incredibly intense period of his life, in which he will struggle, again and again, to achieve his desire/obsession of being a rock star. Its a personal ride towards Dublin and London, in a cruel clash trying to make it in the music industry, in which the writer cannot help but add an increasingly excruciating note of comparison with his friend Paul Hewson, commonly known around the world as Bono, leader of U2.

I loved McCormick's writing skills. He's clear, direct, funny and extraordinarily frank in his narration, even when that honesty doesn't show the best portrait of himself. He makes the reader feels very close to his frustrations and stubborn behaviour, even despite his, sometimes pretty huge, ego. The failures of his bands, in particular Shook Up! are revealed with rage and pain in this pages, and offers a quite depressing look of the music business. From someone who has made his living on this industry nevertheless, not as musician, but as well-known pop-rock journalist and writer, its refreshing to read such open comments.

But don't get me wrong, this is not a rant against music industry. McCormick balances his tone with hilarious situations and anecdotes, and a witty, self-deprecating humour, so when the climax almost approaches and he lets his envy on U2's worldwide success explode in front of his friend Bono, it is clear this is written from the perspective of a mature person, who has grown and learnt from that experience.

"I Was Bono's Doppelgänger" also offers a much more insightful look to U2's evolution, that will please fans of the Irish band (as myself), as the band has a more active role in the book. In particular Bono becomes a very important character. The connection with the author is very intense, providing the reader with several amusing (some late parties too!) and intimate moments of friendship between the two, as well as pretty interesting conversations on music, religion and fame, revealing the good spirit of the Irish singer and political activist.

I assume I was particularly engaged with the book for personal reasons. As a person who dreams having McCormick's job, but has always been incapable of playing any instrument due to a sort of reverential fear to kill the magic of music, but also as someone with a brother pretty gifted that is striving against the difficulties of having a music career on his own but refusing to give up, I felt close to the story. I guess that by now you'll imagine I would highly recommend this reading. Without a doubt.

SCORE: 7,5/10

"Killing Bono", a music tragicomedy obsessed with U2

Killing Bono

A very original premise for a loser's tale. A real story with elements of dark comedy, tragedy, traumas, obsessions... and U2. What's not to be intrigued for?

"Killing Bono" is the screen adaptation of Neil McCormick's book "Killing Bono: I Was Bono's Doppelgänger". A very peculiar autobiography of a period in his life (he's a very well known music journalist, usually linked with U2 of course) as he tried to climb the long and tough stairway to music success while his school friend Paul Hewson tried to do the same with some other pals that were named The Hype, Feedback... and then U2.

The amazing thing is that the story, mostly, is true. The McCormick brothers, Neil (played by Ben Barnes) and Ivan (Robert Sheehan) attempted to make it into the music industry with several incarnations (including the al-most famous, Shook Up!) and styles while their secondary school friends, which Ivan was close to join at a very early stage, became massive as U2. The clash between their frustrations and the growing success of Bono's band poises the two, especially Neil, and makes the film engaging, and surprising.

Despite its clear it is focused on the McCormick's story, there are many things going on at the same time on "Killing Bono" to keep you amused and attentive. Obviously, it will appeal U2 fans, as we can have a very different perspective of the origins of our beloved band, and because the actor that plays Bono, Martin McCann, is strangely similar to the Irish singer. But also for the ones that just love films about music, cause this is a quite funny insight of the little (and not so little) dramas of wanting to have a group and, of course, be heard. Music industry and many miseries and turbulences appear, but the passion for music never ends. There's also another quite attractive side, more sombre (despite the film doesn't want to be dramatic), on envy and egos, arriving to the point of becoming a seriously unhealthy obsession for Neil, who is on the verge of self-destruction. And finally, but perhaps the less interesting and where Nick Hamm and writers Ian La Fresnais and Dick Clement (who were the responsible of the script of the lovely, unforgettable, "The Commitments") get more conventional, predictable, is the adventuresque part, that I guess that tries to help humorous part of the film.

Sheehan and Barnes acting is good, particularly likeable when they confront each other and tensions arise. There's also the remarkable, and sadly, last appearance of Pete Postlethwaite (he will always be remembered for the role of Giuseppe Conlon in "In the Name of the Father") on a film, and some other secondary roles help you to keep the pace. But if a complaint has to be made is not on rhythm, but on the overall tone of "Killing Bono". The second half of the film is, quite clearly, a more dramatic one. When the truth long-time hidden is revealed and Neil's devils explode, the movie is on the verge of becoming a very dark take on human nature. But director Hamm goes for a more friendly, comic approach, so the film ends in a lightweight manner that doesn't really fit with Neil's complex character and his tribulations. Besides, is quite hard to justify the lack of U2 music in a film where the group is such a pivotal element.

Despite its uneven tone, "Killing Bono" is a very interesting and original film. Plus, if you are a U2 fan, you probably won't find what you're looking for, but you'll be inevitably attracted by the film.

SCORE: 6,5/10