If nothing else, get the soundtrack for this movie. Hilly Kristal (Alan Rickman) hasn't let failure stop him before and he's not going to let it now, on his third attempt to create a thriving bar in the Bowery. Originally envisioned as a Country, Bluegrass, and Blues bar, Hilly soon gives in to a local punk band, Television, looking for exposure. A musical revolution is born. But bad accountancy, a loose regard for health and welfare, and a changing New York landscape sees CBGB on the cusp of ruin.
There are a ton of biopics about musicians. Dozens of documentaries about musical trends. But this is primarily the story of a musical patron, that rare creature that just...lets artists do what they want. CBGB gave fledgling bands a place to experiment, to be themselves, and to find their voices. Blondie, Talking Heads, Velvet Underground, Patti Smyth, and countless others got their start on the disgusting, not up-to-code stage.
This is a fun movie, regardless of how you feel about punk music, and it's always nice to see Alan Rickman. There are a ton of cameos by people you'll recognize and the end credits are cute too. It's currently streaming on Tubi, Vudu, and the Roku Channel.
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