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'Slank Nggak Ada Matinya': The muffled scream of a loud legend
Young Slank members during one of their tours in Slank Nggak Ada Matinya
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Young Slank members during one of their tours in Slank Nggak Ada Matinya. (Courtesy of Starvision)" border="0" height="213" width="500">Young Slank members during one of their tours in Slank Nggak Ada Matinya. (Courtesy of Starvision)As an attempt to tell the story of one of â if not â the most important moments of living rock legend Slankâs career, Slank Nggak Ada Matinya (Slank Never Dies) was a respectable effort, although not an inspiring one.
The film was released to coincide with the celebration of the three-decade career of the politically-conscious band. Slankâs three-decade celebration concert at the Bung Karno Stadium last month invited prominent names from both the entertainment industry and political arena.
Slank Enggak Ada Matinya is the bandâs second movie after Generasi Biru (Blue Generation), which was a musical directed by Garin Nugroho and was released in 2009.
The movie begins as the band is preparing to reform for a 14th time, and features drummer Bimo âBimbimâ Setiawan Almachzumi, lead vocalist Akhadi âKakaâ Wira Satriaji, bassist Ivan âIvankaâ Kurnia Arifin and guitarists Abdee Negara and Mohammad âRidhoâ Ridwan Hafiedz circa 1996.
The band, which was formed in 1983, is fresh from releasing their sixth album Lagi Sedih (In Sorrow).
During the making of the album, band leader Bimbim had to release members, guitarist Parlin âPayâ Burman, bassist Bongky Marcel Ismail and keyboardist Indra âIndra Qâ Chandra Setiadi due to unexplained conflicts. Slank had become one of Indonesiaâs biggest rock bands when the split happened.
Bimbim (Adipati Dolken) is concerned about the future of Slank and is ready to dissolve the band. Support and threats from Slankers â the bandâs fans â however, convince him to go on.
Young Slank members during one of their tours in Slank Nggak Ada Matinya. (Courtesy of Starvision)<)
Young Slank members during one of their tours in Slank Nggak Ada Matinya. (Courtesy of Starvision)
As an attempt to tell the story of one of ' if not ' the most important moments of living rock legend Slank's career, Slank Nggak Ada Matinya (Slank Never Dies) was a respectable effort, although not an inspiring one.
The film was released to coincide with the celebration of the three-decade career of the politically-conscious band. Slank's three-decade celebration concert at the Bung Karno Stadium last month invited prominent names from both the entertainment industry and political arena.
Slank Enggak Ada Matinya is the band's second movie after Generasi Biru (Blue Generation), which was a musical directed by Garin Nugroho and was released in 2009.
The movie begins as the band is preparing to reform for a 14th time, and features drummer Bimo 'Bimbim' Setiawan Almachzumi, lead vocalist Akhadi 'Kaka' Wira Satriaji, bassist Ivan 'Ivanka' Kurnia Arifin and guitarists Abdee Negara and Mohammad 'Ridho' Ridwan Hafiedz circa 1996.
The band, which was formed in 1983, is fresh from releasing their sixth album Lagi Sedih (In Sorrow).
During the making of the album, band leader Bimbim had to release members, guitarist Parlin 'Pay' Burman, bassist Bongky Marcel Ismail and keyboardist Indra 'Indra Q' Chandra Setiadi due to unexplained conflicts. Slank had become one of Indonesia's biggest rock bands when the split happened.
Bimbim (Adipati Dolken) is concerned about the future of Slank and is ready to dissolve the band. Support and threats from Slankers ' the band's fans ' however, convince him to go on.
The band is scheduled to tour dozens of cities across the archipelago after releasing the album. After an audition jamming session Bimbim, Kaka (Ricky Harun) and Ivanka (Aaron Ashab) agree to include Abdee (Deva Mahenra) and Ridho (Ajun Perwira) on the tour.
The two additional musicians have to cope with Bimbim, Kaka and Ivanka's crippling addictions to low-grade heroin known locally as putaw. Their addictions cause the band's many problems and internal rifts.
Despite the drug problems, the band successfully completes their tour. Abdee and Ridho are then inducted as members of the band and join the Slank family, based at Bimbim's parents' house in Gang Potlot
With a new lineup, Slank release a new album titled Tujuh (Seven). But the increasing drug abuse by Bimbim, Kaka and Ivanka forces Abdee and Ridho to try and intervene. Bimbim's mother Bunda Iffet (Meriam Bellina) also grows more concerned about her son and the band.
Bimbim, Kaka and Ivanka promise to stop using drugs and ask Bunda to become their manager during the album's promotional tours. The three personnel, however, fail to fulfill their promise because they feel they cannot function without drugs.
Bimbim realizes that the addiction is destroying the band, but he does not have the will to stop taking drugs. Abdee and Ridho threaten to leave the band if the addiction continues, only to anger Bimbim.
Prior to recording their ninth album 999+09, Bimbim meets Reny (Alisia Rininta), a young Slanker, and fell in love with her. The band records extensively for the album.
Bimbim, Kaka and Ivanka drug abuse deteriorates after saying that the album is their last one on drugs.
Bunda, Abdee, Ridho and Reny fear the album will be Slank's last album before Bimbim, Kaka and Ivanka die of overdose.
After the album is released, Bimbim, Kaka and Ivanka agree to go into rehab, but all are pessimistic they will be able to clean up.
Slank Enggak Ada Matinya initially felt like a parody movie of the band, due to the good looking and smooth skinned cast playing the lower-class heroes. Adipati's and Ricky's wig are acceptable wardrobe demand, but Deva's wig to impersonate Abdee looked silly. The cameos by Slank members only added to the comical feel.
Admittedly, Adipati gave an excellent performance delivering Bimbim's demeanor and persona, despite lacking his charisma.
The rest of the cast, however, gave forgettable performances, with the exception of Ricky and his comedic scenes as Kaka, which seemed to be no different than sinetron (TV drama) performances.
Slank's story is a well-known and an important fragment of Indonesian pop culture and music. Unfortunately, the film is not quite worthy of the band's history. Slank Enggak Ada Matinya lacks narration dynamics and character development.
The most interesting part of the film ends up being the real footage of Slank that is shown as the credits roll, giving a glimpse of a full Slank documentary that Slankers are really yearning for.
Slank Nggak Ada Matinya
(96 minutes, Starvision)
Director: Fajar Bustomi
Screenwriter: Cassandra Massardi
Cast: Adipati Dolken, Ricky Harun, Ajun Perwira, Aaron Ashab, Deva Mahenra, Meriam Bellina, Olivia Lubis Jensen, Alisia Rininta, Kirana Larasati, Tora Sudiro, Chika Jessica, Epy Kusnandar
Producers: Chand Parwez Servia, Fiaz Servia
