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Chronicling the history of a band devoted to chaos and anarchy creates a messy topic, which may explain why “The Pistols”—a six-part limited series about the rise of the Sex Pistols—is such a monotonous exercise. Director Danny Boyle carefully repeats the periodBut despite a lot of sex, drugs, rock and rage, this Hulu rendition feels more like a coffee-table book than a full-blown drama.
Adapted from guitarist Steve Jones’ memoir “Lonely Boy: Tales from a Sex Pistol”, the narrative draws largely from his point of view, as played by Toby Wallace. Inspired by the likes of David Bowie, the Pistols (originally calling themselves the Swankers) channeled their energy and anger into the music, their working-class roots and rootlessness, as well as their commitment to authority in all its myriad forms. Enemy embodied.
“Actually, we’re not into music,” Jones tells a reporter, once the band begins to take off. “We are in chaos.”
Gradually, the group finds lead singer John Lydon, aka Johnny Rotten (Anson Boone), while Jones maintains a secret relationship with Chrissy Hynde (Sydney Chandler), herself as lead singer of The Pretenders. Destined for fame. (As a footnote, Lydon unsuccessful trial To keep the group’s music from getting used, add a bit of off-screen seasoning to the stew.)
Other cast members include Louis Partridge and Emma Appleton, respectively, as Sid Vicious and his girlfriend Nancy, whose tragic story was first documented in the 1986 film; and the “Game of Thrones” alum Maisie Williams As punk icon Jordan, though given the role’s modest size, his contribution stems more from its promotional value than from the actual story.
To that end, Boyle (whose German credits include “Trainspotting” and its sequels) and writer/producer Craig Pearce (“Moulin Rouge!”) through quasi-psychedelic renditions of those violent, screaming, wild performances care, and how London’s punk rock iteration of Youth Rebellion destabilized the existing social order,
Simply put, nihilism can be provocative, but it can also be kind of, well, dull. Nor do the real-life premise deter the project from displaying some common “A Star is Born”-esque show-business cliché.
As would be expected from a project about the Sex Pistols, there will be more than blood, sex and a little spit. What’s not there, once you get past the sordid memories of it all, dramatically speaking, leaves a significant impression.
“Pistols” will premiere on Hulu on May 31.