Falco

Writer-director Thomas Roth's melodramatic biopic tells the story of Austrian pop singer Falco, who approached superstar status in Europe but whose reputation in the U.S. rests largely on one song—“Rock Me Amadeus.” The gifted piano-playing son of an unhappily married couple (raised by his mother and grandmother after his father disappeared), Johann Hölzel (Manuel Rubey) starts out as a musician in assorted rock bands, but eventually—after renaming himself Falco in a nod to a famous skier—strikes out on his own. Falco's career trajectory is familiar, except that his decision to sing in German represents a break with the times; it pays off, however, when “Der Kommissar” tops the charts. After achieving his goal of stardom, Falco predictably immerses himself in a world of sex and drugs before re-emerging to do more recording, but doesn't regain his footing until 1985's “Rock Me Amadeus.” Falco also falls in love, but the relationship doesn't last, and he lives out his remaining years in the Caribbean. While chronicling Falco's life in the '80s and beyond, the film repeatedly flashes forward to 1998, the year he dies in a car crash (these scenes also feature Grace Jones as a witness to his death). Roth ably re-creates Falco's stylish music videos and live performances, and Rubey is effective in the title role, but it's an old tune: ambitious youth becomes a star, veers off tracks. Optional, at best. (K. Fennessy)