Tommy is an masterpiece way ahead of its time. The movie tells the story of Tommy, a boy that gets a trauma when his father gets killed by his stepfather and mother, followed by them telling Tommy:"You didn't see it, you didn't hear it, no word of it for anyone in life" multiple times. That made him act like he is deaf, blind and dumb for his whole life, suffering and suffering throughout the whole movie. It's a movie that you need to have your mind open to enjoy. Also keep your mind ready to understand the hundreds of messages and symbols in the movie, or else you won't find it that genius. The movie does psychological analysis on the character of tommy, quotes the story of Jesus, with great charismatic characters that are represented by great actors, followed by the sublime The who discography. Without dialog, only music. If you're the kind of person that likes to think, and also likes rock, this may be your favorite movie, although, that's not a movie for everyone, if you're used to movies that are easier to digest that don't require too much reflection to justify what you've just seen, you may find this movie just creepy and bizarre, as most of the scenes in the movie require some thought to make sense, like the scene where Tommy is tossed to the mirror. I simply loved it, each second of it and every thing in it has an utility for the story, be it to symbolize something(Like the recurring metallic sphere in the movie) or to just make something clear for the audience. The movie almost never gives answers to you right away, if you question what you've seen, search through your own mind to find the answer. The only thing i know that gives me the same feeling of watching Tommy, also providing psychological analysis of the character and symbolism is Neon Genesis Evangelion, although Tommy doesn't give you ANYTHING mainstream, it's all different and strange in the movie. For rock and thinking lovers, this movie is a must watch, if you are new to both subjects, you should watch it too, the best rock opera of all time.

From director Ken Russell (Women in Love), I knew that this film was some kind of musical film, I didn't know it based on the album of the same name by The Who, the big name stars in it, or anything about the story, but I was up for it, as it has gained a reputation over time as a cult rock opera. Basically during the Second World War the plane of Captain Walker (Robert Powell) is shot down, he is presumed missing and killed in action, his wife Nora (Golden Globe winning, and Oscar nominated Ann-Margret) gives birth to their son Tommy. A few years pass and Nora meets and quickly gets married to shifty camp counsellor Frank Hobbs (Oliver Reed) while adolescent Tommy is attending "Bernies Holiday Camp", but Captain Walker comes home, only to be murdered and witnessed by his son, his mother and step-father tell him he never saw or heard it, and never to speak of it, Tommy takes this to extreme and becomes blind, deaf and dumb. Grown up Tommy (Golden Globe nominated Roger Daltrey, lead singer of The Who) goes through many therapies and experiences to try and cure him, including attending a cult church that worship Marilyn Monroe, and crazy prostitute and LSD dealer Gypsie the Acid Queen (Tina Turner), but the parents eventually give up and want to leave Tommy with relatives. Cousin Kevin (Paul Nicholas) is sadistic beating and torturing the young man, and Uncle Ernie (The Who's Keith Moon) is a filthy alcoholic who molests children and rapes the young man, so the parents leave him alone for a bit, and goes to a junkyard where he finds a pinball machine, the device that will change his life, he plays on it all night until being found by the police and his parents. Playing the machine by instinct without hearing and seeing any distractions Tommy plays game after game, the family become rich because of his talent as the "pinball wizard", and he is put in a televised pinball championship where he amazes and beats the Local Lad (Sir Elton John) with his high scoring, but inside Nora is still unhappy that her son is still disabled. Frank tells her he has found a doctor who deals with many kinds of disabled people, The Specialist (Jack Nicholson) confirms that Tommy's problems are psychosomatic and not physical, based on the emotional trauma of his father and step-father, Nora at home eventually shatters him into an awakening, and all his senses return. He realises many people are enlightened by his pinball playing, and being cured he has feels like a messiah, and creating a symbol with a "T" and a pinball he starts holding lectures and rallies, teaching them his unique perspective on life, ultimately he becomes the leader of his own religious cult. This however turns out to be both the family's rise and downfall, as Tommy preaches things the crowds do not feel enlightened by, including wearing headgear to make them blind, deaf and dumb like he used to be, the people eventually upset riot, destroying pinball machines and starting fires, Frank and Nora are killed in the attack, Tommy is only mildly injured and retreats to the place his parents spent a romantic time together, he greets the sun as it rises, and a new dawn. Also starring Eric Clapton as The Preacher, Barry Winch as Young Tommy, Victoria Russell as Sally Simpson, Ben Aris as Reverend Simpson, "Fire" singer Arthur Brown as The Priest, The Who's Pete Townshend and The Who's John Entwistle. Daltrey as the leading star based on his band's own album is terrific, Ann-Margret is good as the emotional mother, and Reed does good as the father-in-law going along with whatever, I agree the celebrity stars slightly overshadow the actors, John in his huge shoes, Nicholson as a cool doctor and Turner going wild, but this film is much more memorable for the often over the top imagery, absurd storytelling, and rhythmical rock singing throughout, for it's reputation it's certainly a worthwhile musical. It was nominated the Oscar for Best Music for Pete Townshend, it was nominated the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture - Musical/Comedy. Good!

If I had known better, I would have stayed away. I am absolutely shocked by this film's glorification of Xenophobia to the mentally challenged (Mostly in the film's case, retarded people) I am not sure if I understand what Ken Russell is trying to say about The film version of one of The Who's greatest works. Now I am thinking. Thinking of things I have never thought about. Have I missed something? The movie is one of the most unpleasant experiences of my movie watching career. Tommy features many scenes of nauseating visual effects, disgusting images, and Xenophobia. Tommy seems to be the most Xenophobic person on the planet after he gets his senses back because he wants everyone to be like him. Hitler Much? Also, The people are Xenophobic to Tommy and kill his parents and he plans revenge or plans to get healed again? I don't know it never explains at the end. Maybe some text could help me? But no, they just say, HEY HIS PARENTS ARE DEAD! HE LOOKS INTO THE SUN! THE END! I never want to see a film like this ever again. I felt sick, filthy, and absolutely awful. I was disturbed immensely by this film so much, that I might need therapy every weekend. AND I LIKED PINK FLOYD THE WALL! 48/100 C-

I came to this movie for the first time as a Who fan, never having seen a Ken Russell feature, although I was aware of his infant-terrible reputation and even while I consider the group's later "Quadrophenia" double-album to be superior, there's no denying the filmic possibilities that "Tommy" offers. The allegorical story of course is so fantastical that perhaps its original creator Townshend felt that only a director with the imaginative flair of Russell could translate it to the big screen. Told entirely in sing-speak, faithful to operatic tradition, it probably helps if the viewer is familiar with the source material as the plot takes some imaginative (and then some!) leaps as it progresses.Even if you can't follow the narrative flow, there's invariably something going on on-screen to keep the viewer interested, from the cameo appearances of contemporary rock stars, some memorable, Elton John, Tina Turner, some not, Eric Clapton. But these sightings are a mere bagatelle compared to some of the visual imagery dreamed up by director Russell, none more so than Ann Margret's freak-out scene which sees her awash with chocolate and champagne, but there are plenty more, the screen invariably filled with people, myriad objects of varying significance and unusual locations.As for the rest of the acting, it's hard to judge given the operatic context of proceedings, but, as indicated above, Ann Margret certainly throws herself into her part as Tommy's loving but feckless mother while Who lead singer Roger Daltrey gives a capable and very athletic performance in the lead role. Oliver Reed on the other hand, no singer for a start, as her second husband and who brings with him dubious other male relatives, seems out of his depth, but keeps going, I think is the best you can say. The music is fine, including a few new Townshend songs recorded with the film in mind, although I could have done without the synthesiser constantly filling up the background. I also somehow didn't get the release from the rich uplifting songs near the end like "Listening To You" and "See Me Feel Me" as I did on the original album.An unusual film, then, fulfilling both the rock and the opera criteria of its genre, the latter particularly in the eschewing of normal dialogue. It's never dull but occasionally opaque, you'd probably need to be a fan of either the Who's music or Russell's idiosyncratic direction to really appreciate it. Good luck to you if you can do both.