Enjoyable biopic about the colourful life of 60s music producer Joe Meek.

The movie Telstar takes its name from the first ever single by a British band, the Tornados, to hit number 1 in the US charts.

Central to the move is the period where Meeks (Con O’Neil) worked with artists at 304 Holloway Road in Islington. The goings on at Meek’s home studio, above a leather goods store, provide plenty of laughs with elements of slapstick and farce from old British comedies like Carry On.

As the movie progresses the tone changes significantly to accommodate Meeks sad and unseemly descent into losing the plot completely.

The film neatly captures the craziness of the 60s in London. Director Nick Moran, better known for his part in Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels ensures the material and production is nicely put together with some stylistic flourishes.

Kevin Spacey is hugely watchable as Meeks partner and financial backer ‘Major’ Wilfred Alonzo Banks as are Con O’Neil (Meeks), Pam Ferris (Mrs Shenton) and JJ Field (Heinz Burt).

Generally there was lots to like about this movie. The film does certainly not hold back in its depiction of Meeks who is portrayed with very few redeeming qualities and essentially a shambolic figure of fun.

Release date 28 September 2009