George Hencken’s cheeky, splendidly edited “Soul Boys of the Western World” draws on ample archive footage and contemporary reminiscence to capture the 1980s post-punk New Romantic pop era that produced bands like Duran Duran, Ultravox and Spandau Ballet with their synthesizer-infused hits “True” and “Gold.” It’s many steps above a “Behind The Music” episode, with far more positive history to relate than tales of broken hearts and emptied wallets. “Amazing the power of cheap music” remains as true as the day Noel Coward muttered it. With Tony Hadley, John Keeble, Gary Kemp, Martin Kemp, Steve Norman. 110m. (Ray Pride)
“Soul Boys Of The Western World” plays May 15-16, 18 and 20 at Siskel.
Ray Pride is Newcity’s film critic and a contributing editor to Filmmaker magazine.
His multimedia history of Chicago “Ghost Signs” will be published soon. Previews of the project are on Twitter and on Instagram as Ghost Signs Chicago. More photography on Instagram.
