Christopher Guest and Fred Willard have done it again with a new
mockumentary called, “A Mighty Wind”. A film about the reunion concert of three 60’s era folk bands. Of course the whole thing is improvised and all the music was written and played by the cast.
For those who saw Waiting for Guffman and Best in Show, most of the regulars are back again.
Eugene Levy, Eugene Levy, Bob Balaban, Ed Begley Jr., Katherine O’Hara and Parker Posey to name a few.
This should be another classic. It doesn’t open in my area for a couple of weeks yet.
Considering my “Tap Crew” and I have seen Spinal Tap around 100 times, and in view of the fact I own “Tap”, “Guffman” and “Best in Show” on DVD, you would think I would have been first on line to see this one. Had plans to attend opening night in NYC, but life’s little turbulences have got in the way so far.
“Mighty Wind” got considerable coverage for a Chris Guest movie: The New York Times, Rolling Stone, interviews on NPR, TV coverage… Consensus is that while it is just as good as the other three, this one is a little less “condescending” towards the targeted subject (this may be because of Guest’s, McKean’s and Shearer’s own interest in music to begin with)… Some people had objections that “Guffman” was offensive to homosexuals and small town folks and that “Best in Show” looked down on dog owners (I happen to disagree with both).
Still on the agenda, as soon as I catch a break. Let you know after I see it.
I was right in the middle of the folk thing, and ended up laughing so hard I fell off the chair! It seems surreal now, especially the spoof on the groups like “Serendipity Singers!” We didn’t know Joan Baez was MPD…honest!
The last issue of Entertainment Weekly (no it wasn’t mine) has an article about the movie and a picture.
In the picture Christopher Guest is holding a whistle. It looks like a Walton D to me. Has anyone else seen it?
I liked Guffman and Best in Show the best so far.
What’s on the cover of the issue? The neurologist I see has Entertainment Weekly in the waiting room and I want to know which one to look for. If I can find it I’ll take it (they throw them away every month anyway) and scan it.
Just came back from seeing it… Hang on Dale, it’s worth the wait!..
A pity most people only know Eugene Levy as “the Dad in American Pie”… He and Catherine O’Hara just steal this movie, although everyone else is very good also.
No appearance of Chris Guest’s whistle in the movie, though…
I realized just now, from your first post, that you HAVEN’T seen it yet. I thought this was a national release, but more than a few people have said it hasn’t opened in their area yet… so I guess it isn’t.
Sort of surprising ot should get so much pre-release coverage, but then open only in select areas…
Judging from how well it is doing around here, let’s hope they’ll be quick to add theaters and you guys out there don’t have to wait too long!
I am already planning on going again (half-price matinee!..) and I ALREADY can’t wait to see the DVD!..
This was my least favorite of Guest’s films, but it was still worth the matinee price when we saw it last weekend. There are lots of funny moments and set pieces, and talented performances; I just didn’t think it held together as a cohesive story as his previous efforts.
I loved Guest’s sheep-like singing, and the publicist’s comment on toy trains at the pre-concert party, and Eugene Levy was spot-on in his role. Some wonderfully funny moments.
I think this one, as the others, will take several viewings to appreciate fully. After “Spinal Tap”, I was underwhelmed with “Guffman” at first but I grew very fond of it after seeing it several times.
This one may be the most “realistic” take of all, and therefore more subtle.
