Tommy is a 1975 British satirical surrealist operetta fantasy drama film written and directed by Ken Russell and based on the Who's 1969 rock opera album Tommy about a "psychosomatically deaf, mute, and blind" boy who becomes a pinball champion and religious leader.
The film featured a star-studded ensemble cast, including the band members themselves (most notably, lead singer Roger Daltrey, who plays the title role), Ann-Margret, Oliver Reed, Eric Clapton, Tina Turner, Elton John, and Jack Nicholson.
Went over to a friend's house in '79 or '80. I ended up watching Tommy there. I was 9-10 years old. For years after I thought it was just some weird dream I had experienced.
Best film ever. I don’t know how it would stand up to a (sober) rewatch though.
"Best film ever" I don't know if I'd concur. It's still a bunch of stupid fun, sober or properly "altered" — it's Ken Russell, for Pete's sake!
Film critic Mark Kermode, speaking in 2006, and attempting to sum up the director's achievement, called Russell "somebody who proved that British cinema didn't have to be about kitchen-sink realism—it could be every bit as flamboyant as Fellini."
Maybe I didn't infer strongly enough the implied "at the time it seemed to be". I thought the fact I had said I was stoned at the time of watching and had randomly came across it coupled with my statement that I don't know how it would hold up to a sober rewatch was enough.