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Subject: A Mighty Wind From: Peg Date: 04 Apr 03 - 10:18 AM I saw this at a press screeningon Wednesday and it is absolutely hilarious. A must-see! This "mockumentary" directed by Christopher Guest and co-written by Guest and Eugene Levy follows the organization of a reunion concert held in honor of a music producer whose protegees almost made it big: The Folksmen (Guest, Harry Shearer and Michael McKean); the "New" Main Street Singers, a "neuftet" of perky, moralistic, color-coordinated singers who all play guitar or bango or autoharp and create a sound with nine members which would be easily produced by three people; and Mitch and Mickey, a folk duo whose real-life love affair was far more notorious than their music; when the film opens, Mitch has suffered a mental breakdown and must be cajoled to join the festivities. Bob Balaban is the son of Irving Steinbloom, who decides to organize the concert at New York City's Town Hall. Ed Begley, Jr. plays a music inductry executive who hails from Sweeden but peppers his speech with quaint Yiddish expressions. The acting is first rate and I laughed more than I have in years. Also, somehow this film garners it strength not just from the parody, satire and belly laughs, but also from the often poignant and touching threads of realism that seep through: perhaps because folk music really is about everyone... Do go see it! It opens April 16th. |
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Subject: RE: A Mighty Wind From: Steve Latimer Date: 04 Apr 03 - 12:30 PM Peg, I've seen the Trailer. I can't wait to see the Movie!! |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: Cool Beans Date: 04 Apr 03 - 04:00 PM To see the trailer on your home computer, assuming it has that capability, go to the Internet Movie Database www.imdb.com and type in "A Mighty Wind'' in the Search Box on the upper left of the screen. Info about the movie will show up, along with directions to view the trailer. Because I watched it at work I had to turn the sound off, but it sure had the look of one of those folkie retrospectives on PBS. I read an article about Chris Guest which said he was once an aspiring folk musician, went to school with Arlo Guthrie and they remain friends. The movie sounds hilarious and loving at the same time. |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: Jeri Date: 04 Apr 03 - 10:25 PM Having heard about the movie for so long and seen the trailer on both computer and TV, I can't wait until this opens. So how many people are honked off 'cause Peg got to see it so early? (Just kidding.) Thanks Peg. |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: catspaw49 Date: 04 Apr 03 - 10:45 PM Thanks Peg and I can't wait!!!! I might be Guest's biggest fan. The way he and Levy "script" a movie with all of the latitude his little troup of regulars is given simply makes for some very real characters with real responses and I always find people I know in every one of them. To me, "Best In Show" was going to be hard to top and yet I always believe the happy little band of improv actors will do so with this one. Looking forward to it!!!!!!!!! Spaw |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: catspaw49 Date: 04 Apr 03 - 10:57 PM Sorry...also should have noted that once again almost the entire troup from "Guffman" and "Show" are in this one too....Parker Posey, Linda Kash, Catherine O'Hara, John Michael Higgins, Michael Hitchcock, Jim Piddock, Fred Willard plus the ones Peg mentioned. I think this bunch would drop everything to do a movie with Guest and Levy.....great stuff. For those of you who have seen "Spinal Tap," good as it was years ago, it pales in comparison to "Best In Show" or even "Waiting for Guffman"....no comparison at all. Spaw |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: Peg Date: 05 Apr 03 - 01:42 PM well if ya wanna be even more jealous, I probably am going to get to interview either Christopher Guest or Eugene Levy on the phone this coming week...unfortunately they cancelled their Boston press tour or I would have been talking with them in person... |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: Jeri Date: 05 Apr 03 - 01:59 PM Peg, you are a mean person! Seriously, what a great opportunity! Will the interview be available to the masses? |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: Peg Date: 05 Apr 03 - 02:29 PM Jeri; sorry luv! :) My review and possible sidebar interview (the editors have to decide how much coverage we are giving this film) will be in The Boston Phoenix; there is an online version, so once it's published I will post a link... peg |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: catspaw49 Date: 05 Apr 03 - 02:31 PM Peg, you slut....... Okay....give us a web addy when they do it huh? Spaw |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: Steve Latimer Date: 05 Apr 03 - 11:32 PM I just saw Guffman for the first time tonight. These guys are incredible. I don't think I'll ever get over My Dinner With Andre Action Figures. Fred Willard's operation. I have been a huge fan of Levy since the SCTV days. This is Spinal Tap still remains my favourite. |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: Roger the Skiffler Date: 06 Apr 03 - 03:22 AM This was mentioned in the British press yesterday, I had hoped to be the first to spring it on you! Ah, nostalgia, I well remember the Folksmen's seminal album "Ramblin'" which turned many a teddy boy into an aran sweater wearer. Unfortunately the website given in the press and Google (http://www.amightywindonline.warnerbros.com/) is down at the moment so I haven't been able to share in the fun. RtS |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: catspaw49 Date: 06 Apr 03 - 05:50 AM Why Steve....How dare you to make fun of those cute action figures??? Why.....why.....why I just hate your ass-face!!! You're one of the...the....the bastard people...that's what you are!! Isn't Guest himself amazing? The difference between Corky and Harlan Pepper in "Best in Show" is about as far apart as you get. Spaw |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: Roger the Skiffler Date: 06 Apr 03 - 06:53 AM Aha, the paper gave out a surplus "WWW", it is http://amightywindonline.warnerbros.com/cmp/trailer.html Great Stuff RtS |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: Jeri Date: 06 Apr 03 - 12:02 PM I forgot about the "ass-face, bastard people." Guess I'd better watch it again. Spaw, I read "Isn't Guest himself amazing?" and scrolled up to see what GUEST had said. One wonders if "A Mighty Wind" will spark a whole new folk revival or renewed interest in The Music the way "Oh Brother..." did. |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: Steve Latimer Date: 06 Apr 03 - 03:54 PM 'Spaw, I was thinking the same thing about Guest as I was watching last night. He has such great delivery regardless of the character that he is portraying. So dry. Fred Willard has grown on me with every one of these movies. |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: Peg Date: 06 Apr 03 - 04:04 PM Fred Willard is absolutely hilarious in this new one! beyond belief...very realistic character yet also completely absurd! |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: Rick Fielding Date: 06 Apr 03 - 04:20 PM Ooh, ooh, ooh!! You people WANT to see this, But I GOTTA see it! I'm champing at the bit, I'm waiting with baited breath, I'm spewing with excitement, I'm dribbling with anticipation, I'm....... Seriously....I formed a group called the HARVESTERS in high school...probably awful, cuz I forced someone else out to get my girlfriend in! So what was YOUR HIGH SCHOOL FOLK GROUP CALLED? .....I'm drooling with envy at Peg's preview look, I'm decomposing at the thought of once again seeing Fred Willard crack me up...."I'm gettin a little scruffy myself.........Have ya ever seen a band called "Four Jacks and a Jill"...they're at the Airport Holiday in..... .....but mostly......"My Dinner with Andre," Action figures! Dribble, drool, champ, spew, Spaw. Rick |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: Mark Ross Date: 06 Apr 03 - 06:33 PM My HS group was a jug band, Prendergast Farganswaller and His Merry Marching Society for the Preservation of Insignificant Causes. There wasn't an MC in the world who could introduce us without stumbling over the name! Mark Ross |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: Steve Latimer Date: 06 Apr 03 - 11:04 PM I went to the movie theatre to see Chicago last night. I came home and put in the rented copy of Guffman. The contrast in music, choreography and acting was something else. But, had Corky got his $100,000 from the bastard people... |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: GUEST,Martin Gibson Date: 09 Apr 03 - 12:48 PM The Folksmen were on Ltterman last night. I would think they had some 60ish guys squirming. Any one see this? |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: Allan C. Date: 09 Apr 03 - 12:56 PM Humbug! (Well...maybe.) I'm not sure I can ride the bandwagon on this. It appears to me to be typical of current humor trend that is directed toward making fun of that which you don't understand. I don't mind laughing at myself and yet, like the Amish, I am not fond of being made the butt of jokes by clueless yokels. We shall see. |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: georgeward Date: 09 Apr 03 - 01:41 PM Having seen the Letterman spot, I'd say Guest is satirizing what he DOES understand very well. "Deft" is an inadequate word for that piece. This 60ish guy was too busy laughing WITH them (and, yes, at himself) to squirm. |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: Clinton Hammond Date: 09 Apr 03 - 01:48 PM "One wonders if "A Mighty Wind" will spark a whole new folk revival or renewed interest in The Music the way "Oh Brother..." did." That's what I'm afraid of... a resurgance of that "Hang Down Yer Head Tom Dooly" crap, I could really do without... I have never been a fan of early 60's 'folk'... But even if it does, it'll pass... "directed toward making fun of that which you don't understand" If you think for a second that these folks made this movie without doing some SERIOUS research into the subject matter, I'd imagine yer sprly mistaken... It won't surprise me if there are more than a few jokes in this movie that ONLY Rick gets... Some breeder/pet show friends of mine said they found the same thing with "Best In Show"... That's one reason why they loved it so... there was humour in it aimed at them! Hehehehehe |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: Peg Date: 09 Apr 03 - 03:46 PM I would have to agree I think the filmmakers/writers did a LOT of research for this! And at the very least the actors learned how to play their instruments convincingly and well... The Folksmen will also appear on MAD TV this week... In other news, my editor has decided that this film is not apparently worthy of any added interview material or even a review longer then 200 words (supposedly we don't have room for it), so the only bit I'll be doing will be a short, not terribly-detailed review, unless I can find another outlet to sell an interview to... |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: Clinton Hammond Date: 09 Apr 03 - 03:48 PM Too bad Mudcat can't buy that interview! How cool'd THAT be eh folks?!?!?!?! |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: Callie Date: 09 Apr 03 - 06:10 PM I think the highest form of comedy is when we can laugh at ourselves. Taking potshots at other people is too cheap! Pity the poor folk on the other side of the world who have to wait MONTHS before we get to see it! A bunch of us seriously considered buying airfares to the States to see the film .... Callie |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: catspaw49 Date: 09 Apr 03 - 06:26 PM While I think that Guest and Levy often start with a group they know is a little "stuck on itself," the end result is generally very different. For example in "Best in Show" they ended up staging their own show and everyone even slightly associated with the dogs took class in how to do ring conformation showing including pacing, lead contro; and positioning, stacking the dog, etc. This in itself is quite a bit to learn even for a movie if you intend to keep it real...and the reality is what makes it funny. John Michael Higgins was so proficient at this that he was asked if he wanted to actually do a real show as a conformation handler and ended up winning in his breed. Believe me when I tell you that doggie people are far more singular minded and definitely more humorless than folkies, but I don't know of one in the Weim Club or on our internet forum who didn't find BIS a riot and one of their favorite movies. Spaw Yeah, they're going to be poking some fun, but I think we'll find ourselves laughing right along! |
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Subject: Review: 'A Mighty Wind' - FolkMusic Parody! From: voyager Date: 10 Apr 03 - 04:44 AM From the makers of "This is Spinal Tap" - Blue Clicky Thing RottenTomatoes Review Read "About the Movie" Section. Release date April 16 A funny movie? - YES! voyager I moved this message here from another thread on the same topic. |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: Steve Latimer Date: 10 Apr 03 - 09:23 AM Clinton, Jokes only Rick gets!!! LOL I would love to watch Rick when he sees this movie. |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: lamarca Date: 10 Apr 03 - 09:37 AM I've been waiting for this to come out ever since our Hollywood friend, Pete the Spy, told us it was in the works two years ago! I've loved Spinal Tap and Best in Show - haven't rented Guffman yet, but definitely will on the strength of Spaw's recommendations! One of the reasons that Guest and companies satires have been so successful is that they DO know what they're talking about - Spinal Tap evolved out of the guys' own fooling around playing rock music, and ditto The Folksmen - Guest et al are remembering the silliness of their own experiences and incorporating them into the movies. Without this touch of affection and attention to detail, the movies wouldn't be half as funny. How many of us have looked at our "folkie" social milieu and laughed ruefully (or cringed...) at just how odd we must appear to mundanes? It's this kind of insider/outsider comparison that makes these movies so much fun! |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: harvey andrews Date: 10 Apr 03 - 09:39 AM Rick, you can't want to see this more than me!!!! The FACT that there was a group called "The Yachtsmen" has my ribs still aching. My college trio was called "The Ozarks" ....because that was the last mountain range no group had yet named themselves after. |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: Jeri Date: 10 Apr 03 - 09:57 AM I'm quite sure there WILL be jokes only Rick gets. (Whatsisface had his guitar in the little-known Sullivan tuning, EGADED, and it's funny because the character Whatsisface is sort of parodying once was told he couldn't sing his hit song "Constipation Blues" on the show. But he played a Guild, not a Martin. (Plus he had a .290 batting average in 1958) I would love it if Pete the Spy would find Mudcat. |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: Rick Fielding Date: 10 Apr 03 - 10:41 AM Think of how many "Flying people" got jokes from "Airplane" that the rest of us didn't. The Zucker Brothers threw in quite a few "in jokes". I've watched "Spinal Tap" at least twenty times now and each time I see something else that I missed before.....but it's the same thing with the young hip guys who design computer games. An example. I have a great "Arnold Palmer" Golf game. Many hours of useless fun (plus I've mastered FOUR courses...take THAT Tiger!) and I marvel at the tiny details.......BUT ....BUT.....being the terminally silly person I am, I wondered what would happen if I aimed directly AT Arnold (you can play against him) and blasted him in the balls with a shot from a one iron! It took me three tries to really nail him....but when I did, he let out with a huge "Whumphhhhhhhhh, oooooh!" Now SOMEONE had to program that into the game. By the way, if you do it twice in a row, Arnold just goes home...match over. That's what I LOVE about Guest. Married to Jaimie Lee....plus the mind of a mischievous 12 year old!!! ******************************************* The BIG battle in the "Harvesters", was NOT my kicking out a member to install my semi-talented girlfriend, but the direction the band would take. The co-leader loved the Kingston Trio, I wanted it to be more "Weavers like" and political. We weren't good enough to be either. The band ended when we signed up for the big school auditorium show, and the band found out that I ALSO signed up for a SOLO song!!!! They felt betrayed. They were right. I'm sorry Gordon, Janet and Michael. The debbil made me do it! Rick |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: Big Mick Date: 10 Apr 03 - 11:30 AM The Downliners Sect... band sucked as bad as the name. My buddy Al came up with it. Then there was The Greeks..............I had no idea what I was saying with that one. I love Guest's stuff, but I absolutely refuse to watch this with Rick.....I hate it when someone gets shit that I don't. Mick..........from the organizing hinterlands. |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: Peter T. Date: 10 Apr 03 - 12:23 PM I am ashamed to say that during my Brian Epstein phase (no, not that phase), I tried to get a group at my school to call themselves "The Basic Fuzz". The reason was that I had a whole group of cartoon figures (eyes with fuzz all around them, and feet) that I drew (Annie Oakfuzz with a rifle and cowgirl dress, and many more), and thought that a big fuzzball would look good on their drumkit. I even made a big circle thing with the cartoon for their kit. I had a whole campaign worked out with T shirts and everything. They didn't -- they thought I was a complete idiot (which I was) -- and their group went nowhere. I don't remember what their uninteresting name was, and they are richly deserving of their oblivion. yours, Peter T. |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: fsharpdim7 Date: 10 Apr 03 - 04:38 PM I agree that I hope this movie does not spawn some of the bad folk music of the 60's. But shouldn't promoters of good folk music use the movie to get good musicians in front of the public. I remember seeing Mississippi John on the Carson Show ih '64 - I would like to see the Berryman's on Letterman, and see some recognition (and maybe even some $$'s) for others, like Paxton, who have worked on their craft these many years. BTW, Nanci G and Tom Russell will be on with the Dave later in the month - what I have heard of Tom's new cd is really great - have you heard the duet with Nanci G doing "the valley of Teddy Roosevelt's nose?" Great stuff from Tom again. Chris in Chicago |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: catspaw49 Date: 10 Apr 03 - 04:55 PM Also see 'voyager's' link to the review on THIS THREAD which is now closed. CLICK HERE FOR THE LINK TO VOYAGER'S REVIEW SITE at Rotten Tomatoes. Spaw |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: Rick Fielding Date: 10 Apr 03 - 06:27 PM Peter T....I used to LOVE the drawings you did of small urchins clutching valuable instruments! Their HUGE sunken eyes hungrily peering out from the black velvet backround, while their bony little fingers curled around the necks of vintage D-28s...... You DID feed them didn't you? Ahhh yes, your Brian Epstein phase..........I thought about being a furniture salesman as well, but I knew I'd get board and pine for the fjords. Jeez Mick, were you into those fancy names as well? What was wrong with: The Irish Rebels The Irish Newcomers The Sons of Erin The Irish Ramblers The Irish Rovers The Irish Rovers' DAD (!!) I played at least a week with all of the above. By the way....the most INTERESTING of the bands? The Dad of three of the Rovers! he had a little Showband that had played in Ireland for years before he came to Canada. Lotsa swing stuff. Cheers Rick |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: Willie-O Date: 11 Apr 03 - 09:01 AM OK folks, I GOT DIBS here-- I actually saw the movie last night! It was a "showing" at an uptown Ottawa cinema. Warner Bros distributed a bunch of free passes to the music bizzes in town and I scored one from Rasputins. First, sorry Rick, I don't think there'll be anything here that only you get. Second, yes, it is REALLY FUCKING FUNNY!!!!!! Maybe there are in-jokes, but there are some showbiz types that are universally recognizable (overly self-impressed know-nothing "producers" trying to tell the actual stage crew, TV techs etc how to do their jobs). Third, it was SO FUNNY that I continually embarrassed my better half by making snorting and gurglling noises. I was glad I didn't get a Coke, it would have all gone out my nose. Fourth, it ain't going to do any "Oh Brother Where ARt Thou"...cause this movie has nothing to do with actual folk music, doesn't go to sources AT ALL. In short, the music sucks. It focuses exclusively on the schlocky commercialization whitebread stuff, the Kingston Trio knockoff here (the FOlksmen) make the actual Kingston Trio look like Doc Watson and Gaither Carlson in comparison. The three acts--who are hastily reassembling for a reunion concert in memory of a NY folk-record label maven "Irving Steinbloom)--have no emotional or real connection to the pseudo-folk schlock music they are performing. ("Never Did No Wandering" is an aptly titled song, pretty much sums it up.) The "Mitch and Mickey", although visually resembling Ian and Sylvia (actually only she does, dead ringer with the autoharp and all, well we only really hear one full song from them. There is no scene where they sit around and talk about their influences. Apparently they had none! There's even a Media voiceover that talks about "folk music, from its humble beginnings in the 50's..." like that was when it all started. (Yeah, yeah, I know it's satire). Nobody ever talks about Doc Watson, or Leadbelly, or Woody Guthrie, or Pete Seeger, ANYONE REAL. Ever play in some multi-act show and were backstage and heard the band before you playing your opening number? That part rang true for me! Definitely go see it. Controversy will rage in these pages. Is this good or bad? I think it will be a mixed blessing, but it will be nailing the coffin shut on the term "folk music" (which is still on my business card) by narrowing further the general (North American) public perception about what that was, or is. One thought that makes me shudder, is in the near future if you call yourself a folksinger, you are going to get requests to sing "A Mighty Wind" and "Never Did No Wandering." Kind of like for the theme of "Gilligan's Island". (Apparently the same guy co-wrote Gilligans and the Brady Bunch theme, and still gets a tidy 60 grand/year in royalties on those tunes...but I digress. Punchline giveaway: The title song ends... .... ... "There's a mighty wind that's blowing, Blowing you and me!!!!! (snort) W-O |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: Peg Date: 11 Apr 03 - 12:56 PM good review, Willie-O! But I saw it before you did, nyah nyah! *grin* I especially appreciated your comments about the source material or lack thereof; it seemed to me also that there were glaring omissions in terms of historical accuracy, but I think maybe the filmmakers wanted it that way...were worried about lawsuits? had too much respect for Woody and Doc to send them up? who knows? peg |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: Seamus Kennedy Date: 11 Apr 03 - 04:14 PM I was a member of The East Winds in high school. Played mandolin and a little rhythm guitar with Peter Kennedy (no relation) who was a great Bert Jansch-style picker and lead vocalist/tambourinist Jim Higgins. We recorded "Arkle" about the great Irish racehorse, in 1965 or '66 with the "Leaving Of Liverpool" on the flip side, for Outlet records in Belfast. We were paid 10 pounds each with a crate of Guinness thrown in. As high-schoolers, how could we possibly say NO to such a deal! Every time Arkle raced, Outlet did a big promo with the single - full-color photo on the cover (the horse, not us!) with Pat Taaffe the jockey aboard. When Arkle fell and broke the pedal-bone in his foot forcing him to retire, another big promo. When the horse finally died, yet another big promotion with his photo edged in black. Outlet sold a SHITLOAD of these singles every time the horse made the headlines. Of course, thee East Winds had broken up and left school for all of these promotions.... I remember breaking my mandolin pick at a gig one night, and because replacements were expensive in those far off days, I had to use a collar stiffener from my shirt. And I became adept at reusing broken strings if the string broke near the bridge-saddle. I remember having to read the graffitti on the walls in the toilets to see if we were playing in a Protestant bar or a Catholic one, because in some borderline areas, it was hard to tell. If there was a lot of "Fuck the Queen" calligraphy, we could do rebel songs all night long, and if there was "Fuck The Pope" style hieroglyphics, we'd do middle of the road, folky, non-Nationalist material. Aaahh, if I only knew then what I know now... I'd still be a frigging folk-singer! Seamus |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: Willie-O Date: 11 Apr 03 - 06:39 PM seamus: whaddaya mean by I'd still be a frigging folk-singer! Correct me if I'm wrong, I b'lieve you still are one. If not, i guess i need a new label (for reasons mentioned earlier, so what do you call that thing that it is we do? cheers W-O |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: Rick Fielding Date: 11 Apr 03 - 10:49 PM Ooh, ooh, Ooh! (Officer Toody style) I'm a goin' with Peter and Paul on the 16th! Saw a fascinating interview with Eugene Levy in the paper today. Know why he's so darn funny? He DOESN'T think the Guest movies are satire! He doesn't think the humour making fun of people! I honestly believe that the funniest people are the ones who don't realize they're that funny. I really don't think he does...or at least he convinced me in the interview. Cheers Rick |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: Seamus Kennedy Date: 12 Apr 03 - 02:17 AM Willie-O, like the great Kendall Morse, I prefer the soubriquet "entertainer." *BG* Nope, I think you're right - once a folk singer, always a folk singer, regardless of what you call yourself. Just like Marines and Jesuits. Seamus |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: Big Mick Date: 12 Apr 03 - 07:30 AM How come we never see any Jesuit folk singers?????????? Just folks like Seamus and meself who are all focked up by them????? Mick |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: Charley Noble Date: 12 Apr 03 - 08:22 AM Sounds like something I won't want to miss and being from Maine I'll probably only get one shot at seeing it! Charley Noble, adrift in the Big Apple but leaving too soon for the opening |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: Art Thieme Date: 13 Apr 03 - 01:04 PM This is tripe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!? ***BIG GRIN*** ART THIEME ----------(gotta see it for sure) |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: GUEST,Q Date: 13 Apr 03 - 01:57 PM David Hadju's review of the parody in the NY Times today: Mighty Wind A good send-up on the college kids and the moguls who sold and made money on the folk boom of the 1960s. |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: JJ Date: 13 Apr 03 - 06:08 PM David Hajdu's take on A MIGHTY WIND... Yet another lesson that even after forty years, the Folk Movement still has no sense of humor... |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: Art Thieme Date: 13 Apr 03 - 09:51 PM If ya don't have a sense of humor, it isn't funny. ;-) Art Thieme |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: Rick Fielding Date: 13 Apr 03 - 10:16 PM Sadly, I have to agree that so many of my folk friends over the years DON'T have (what I'd call) a good sense of humour. Deadly sincere....especially the most political folks. I'm political as well, but Jeez, there is SO MUCH IN OUR LITTLE WORLD NOT TO TAKE SERIOUSLY! (but Seriously folks), when you go to a Festival and see "Les Barker's" name on the bill, do you not smile a bit, knowing what's in store? Cheers Rick |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: Muskrat Date: 13 Apr 03 - 11:02 PM I don't want to use language that would upset any Mudcatters, but Hajdu's head is stuck so far up...somewhere it's dark as a dungeon. Not only is he a humorless twit, he clearly doesn't understand what's going on. Didn't in the Farina/Dylan book, either. Maybe he was better on Billy Strayhorn (haven't read that one), but somehow I doubt it. |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: GUEST Date: 16 Apr 03 - 10:37 PM refresh |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: Amos Date: 16 Apr 03 - 11:17 PM I seriously expect this to be a hoot and a half-enanny. As for folkies having no sense of humor, all I can say is this guy has been talking to the wrong folkies! The position is just untenable by anyone who has skimmed through the threads in our archives here. A |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: Peter T. Date: 17 Apr 03 - 08:34 AM I really wanted to like this film a lot, but came away from it thinking it was undercooked -- about half a movie. There was so much they could have done with the idea, but really didn't. Many of the Mudcatters here could have written a funnier take on the folk scare. The nicest folkie touch in the film was the brief parody of the backyard scene in the Weavers reunion film. Some of the other kooky bits were funny (Fred and Sure-Florence). (The weird song at the end of the credits, by which time I was the only person in the theatre, was pretty good too). Not remotely in the league of Spinal Tap. yours, Peter T. |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: catspaw49 Date: 17 Apr 03 - 08:39 AM Two entirely different takes between Peter and Rick!! Well alright.....good to hear the diversity! Personal opinion.......Spinal Tap isn't nearly as good as "Best in Show".......so I'm now more anxious to see this one! Spaw |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: Steve Latimer Date: 17 Apr 03 - 08:55 AM 'Spaw, I can't agree with you on BIS being better than Spinal Tap. Then again, I'm younger than you, I spent my teen years surrounded by "Jimmy Page is God" guys. Guest & crew, absolutely nailed those bands. Nigel Tufnell is one of my all time favourite characters. I just found that there were way more classic lines in Tap. "You can't really dust for vomit", "there's too much dobly", "no, you can't touch it, don't even look at it", "just kick my ass", "of course we have top billing, we're on with a f@#&ing Puppet show", "Hello Cleveland", and of course "this one goes to eleven". The visuals too, Derek getting stuck in the pod, Nigel on his knees leaning back playing his solo and getting stuck and my absolute favorite, Nigels parody of Jimmy Page's use of a violin bow. Nigel is playing his awful solo, grabs the violin and uses it as a bow on his Strat, then tunes one of the violin strings before doing it again. The first time I saw that seen I almost wet myself laughing. |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: catspaw49 Date: 17 Apr 03 - 09:08 AM Could be Steve. And also, I'm a "Doggie Person" and grew up going to shows with my Dad. (BTW, didja' know the Weimaraner in BIS is the sister of what was then the top Weim in Canada?) I think too that the characters in BIS were more diverse which would only be natural....a broader cross section. It too had it's share of lines....."We could talk or not talk for hours and still find things to not talk about." What the hell....I loved them both...and all three.....and I figure I'll love this one too. Spaw |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: Steve Latimer Date: 17 Apr 03 - 09:22 AM 'Spaw, I did not know that. I was closer to the bad metal band scene, and I have a sister who is an actress, I have gone to all of her plays since she studied Drama in University. I have met so many of the characters from Guffman. I will give BIS another shot, but you being a dog person would get a lot of stuff that I wouldn't. Funny, I was still playing junior hockey when Slapshot came out, everyone was raving about it. I remember thinking, "Yeah, so?" the first time I saw it. I had seen pretty much everything in the movie in real life. It wasn't until I saw it again many years after I had stopped playing competetive hockey that I really got that they did a great job capturing the wackiness of hockey players, both on and off the ice. |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: Little Hawk Date: 17 Apr 03 - 10:08 AM Oh! Oh! Oh! Sounds great, but it cannot possibly surpass Spinal Tap. Nigel Tufnel remains the most classically hilarious music icon of all time, and there's SOOOOO much to make fun of in heavy metal/progressive rock. Now that early, early 60's folk stuff (Kingston Trio, Weavers, and all those types of groups...guys in geeky suits, playing guitar & banjo)...well, you know I was really tired of that routine by the time 1963 rolled around, if not sooner. I was rescued by Joan Baez, Buffy Sainte-Marie, and Bob Dylan and carried breathlessly into the glorious realms of NEWLY written songs by totally original young people who actually had something to say about modern life, rather than just rhapsodizing over Uncle Charlie's bentwood rocker for the 800th time. Yeah! We were walking through the Gates of Eden into a social revolution. Thank Dylan, above all others, for that. I did like Ian & Sylvia a lot, and I remain quite respectful of the Weavers. I look forward a lot to seeing this movie. - LH |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: PoppaGator Date: 17 Apr 03 - 10:36 AM That hoky folk scene of the Kingston Trio era was pretty bad, all right, and an easy enough mark for satire. However, embarrassing though it may be, I have to admit that I got caught up in it at the time. I think the same must be true of *many* of us, at least those of a certain age, in the US if not elsewhere. It wasn't long at all before I moved on to an appreciation of more "authentic" and perhaps less immediately accessibly musical traditions. However, the showbiz hootenanny phenomenon, lame though it may have been, provided multitudes with an introduction to a wide spectrum of musical traditions, which in turn led to exposure to various unfamiliar political viewpoints and unconventional cultures. All in all, a positive development. Don't ask me why and how it suddendly burst into promience, and then just as quickly was so widely rejected in favor of the several "better," deeper, more honest musical forms to which it served as a precursor. It's a mystery, which makes a rich background for the laughs that "GUEST" [sic] et. al. are sure to provide when "Wind" finally comes too a theater near each of us. |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: open mike Date: 18 Apr 03 - 01:51 PM hope to see this soon- refreshing this thread to keep both mighty wind threads together at the top! |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: Charley Noble Date: 18 Apr 03 - 04:00 PM Sure, we'll get one day, at least, to see this film here in Maine in about a year. I can hardly wait. In the meantime there's always another action/murder/rape/whatever film to watch. Charley Noble |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: denise:^) Date: 18 Apr 03 - 11:30 PM I hear you, Charley-- I'm trying to keep my eyes open here in Michigan, too, so it doesn't come and go before I find out where it is! Denise:^) |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: GUEST Date: 19 Apr 03 - 09:40 AM My recommendation is to wait until it comes out on video/DVD. It is one of those films I wanted to see, but was disappointing, hence I felt robbed for paying $8.00 to see it, when I could have it for less than half that price when it gets released (which from the way it is bombing at the box office, will be soon) on video. I think Spinal Tap, Best in Show, and Waiting for Guffman were all about equally good. A Mighty Wind isn't on a par with those three films, IMO. |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: JJ Date: 21 Apr 03 - 08:49 AM After seeing A MIGHTY WIND I went over to Rotten Tomatoes to check out the reviews. Most of them were favorable but clueless. A lot of people thought Mitch and Mickey were Sonny and Cher. One compared the Folksmen to the Chad Mitchell Trio, "only more political," which is wrong in so many ways I won't even go into it. One mentioned that Ed Begley Jr.'s character was Swedish, with a penchant for dropping phrases in a foreign language into his conversation. Yes, that foreign language is Yiddish, and if you don't get the joke, go order a pastrami on Wonder Bread. Another thought it was howlingly funny that the venue should be named "Town Hall," a brilliant stroke of satire. Uhh, Town Hall's a real place, 123 W. 43rd St., NYC. (Although the interiors in the film were shot at the Orpheum in LA, I believe.) Most of the reviewers took it for granted that there was no more folk music of any sort being done anywhere, although one allowed that occasionally one of the old-timers would release a CD. I, on the other hand, was dumbfounded to find myself in a theatre in New York City with so many young people in the audience, even though they didn't laugh at Ramblin' Sandy Pitnick. For those who enjoyed it, visit the website: http://amightywindonline.warnerbros.com/index.php This features bios, album covers and lyrics, plus music and video clips. I was unable to appreciate the true awful genius of the lyrics without reading them. |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: Charley Noble Date: 21 Apr 03 - 08:59 AM Maybe I missed the whole point of The Songcatcher. Was it also supposed to be a satire? Well, I might as well wait for the video/DVD. That's the only way I ever got to see Cold Comfort Farm, based on a wonderful 1920's satirical book by Stella Gibbons. Charley Noble |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: Frankham Date: 21 Apr 03 - 12:05 PM We saw it yesterday. It brought back memories of The New Christy Minstrels,(early John Denver)(Barry McGuire) Back Porch Majority, Serendipity Singers, Rooftop Singers (yes there was a little sendup in there with the 12 string), Limelighters, KT, Up With People, Brothers Four and a look-alike for Peter Yarrow and Bob Gibson in the Folksmen. Ramblin Sandy Pitnick was there. I have actually heard the diatribe against "commercialism" by one of these types of groups. I disagree with the reviewer for the NY Times. There was a great political sendup in that Randy Sparks et. al. including many of the folk icons were not political in the least. They were show biz figures who found a way to the market. That was one of the points of the movie. Even "Kwinto"(quinto for Fifth Brigade)by the "historian" in the Folksmen drawn from the Spanish Civil War made that point cleanly. One hilarious moment is when the Main Street Singers do an intense pseudo-Lonesome Travler type song and end up with the major chord (a hoky arrangment device used ad nauseum in those days) had me on the floor. Mitch and Mickey were composite Roman-a-clefs which it would not be prudent for me to mention. They were very touching in their innocence. The cult-like call of the performers to the stage to see if Mitch and Mickey would kiss at the end reminds me of the nonsensical discussions people would have in Cambridge about Joan Baez's love life. The question offered in those days was "does Joan really know love?" There was a peculiar little magazine in the Fifties (a throwaway mimeod thing) called Gardy-Loo floating around the streets of Greenwich Village Washington Square that had a gossipy quality not unlike the mindless banter in the movie groups' rehearsals. I think the film makers did their research well. They might have been there. I remember Randy Sparks' Ledbetters in LA as well as Doug Westons' Troubador where I was an erstwhile musical consultant for an ill- fated group called the Men which later shrivelled into the Association. I remember a squeaky clean John Denver in the New Christy Minstrels. Irving Steinbloom might have been a sanitized version of the late Al Grossman or a sendup of Harold Leventhal (though both were and are more astute music people then Steinbloom and family. The stage set with it's significant Arch at Washington Square was a nice touch. There was the obligatory scholar who gave his bearded erudition on the folk scene as well. The movie caught the innocence of that time. The obligatory reunion concert says much for the drippy nostalgia that many "folkies" have. There was no malice in the movie though, which I respected. The lyrics for the send-up songs were quite clever. They had a kind of banality that one even hears today in the guise of "folk music". I love this mis-appropriated bad rhyme scheme of "e-qual-i-tee" in the song Mighty Wind. It seemed to me that I had met all of those people personally in my travels from LA to NY to Boston to Chicago. Love to get my friend Erik Darling's take on the movie since he was a part of that scene for a while with the Tarriers and the Rooftops. The movie could have used Al Arkin who could have put a great comic edge into it. The picture is a "hoot" in every sense of the word. I liked the audience animal calls lead by the songleading Folksmen. They weren't as funny as Lou Gottlieb, though. i remember Lou's take on the "autonomous C chord". He spoofed himself and the pop-folkie revival while he was taking part in it. All in all, it was fun. Not as satirical as it could have been had they consulted above mentioned people such as Arkin, Darling and some others. Will Holt, Jean Raskin and others could have added a touch or two. Actually, the practitioners of the commercial folkie scene could have added their own touches. Trav Edmondsen could give them some funny stuff. They could have Alan Lomax's drunken ranting and raving at Bud and Trav at the Village Gate or Alan and Al Grossman wrestling at Newport like folk sumi wrestlers over the amplification of Paul Butterfield. But these are topics for another film. Maybe they should have a sequel. I'd go. It was Positively Fourth Street. Frank Hamilton |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: Peg Date: 21 Apr 03 - 12:29 PM thanks Frank for all that wonderful "insider" information! I had thought of "Up With People" when confronted with he new main Street Singers too... I think one reason there are mixed reviews about this is that a lot of critics simply may not be familiar with this particular segment of the "folk scene." (I know I'm not, but didn't try to pretend I was in my review either). I remember the early buzz about this film and people were speculating about which artists wuld be spoofed and for the most part were thinking of people like the Guthries, the Seegers, Leadbelly, Doc watson, Dylan, Baez, Joni Mithcell, Crosby, Stills and Nash, etc. But this bland and white-bready sort of folk, as non-political as one can get, that is sent up in the film, does not have quite the familiarity of the folk-rock stuff...so I also think people who are lukewarm abotu it were expecting something rather different than what they got. I would agree the humor is not as accessible and universal as Best in Show or Spinal Tap...but to me this shows these filmmakers and actors can achieve great things even with more obscure material. Seems to me they had a soft spot for this particular era... I think they should do a film on the pagan community next! peg |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: catspaw49 Date: 21 Apr 03 - 03:54 PM Outstanding review Frank...and Peg's post following is an excellent piece as well. Both lead me to say something that I think Guest is absolutely sure of. I don't think he believes he's making films for the masses nor does he think he's in the art film business with a tiny market either. I think he views his audience as he probably see himself. People of above average intelligence who appreciate subtle humor as muc as a belly laugh. He knows it's necessary to have some knowledge of the subject being lampooned, but at the same time knows that only a limited knowledge is required. He walks a fine line in the subject matter knowing that while many may recognize something for what it is, others see it only as he presents it nd are still capable of getting the joke. Hence the non-use of folks like Doc Watson. It isn't needed to be a serious rocker to grin, chuckle, squirm, and laugh at Spinal Tap. Community theatre isn't a prerequisite for "Guffman." Many of my friends wished he's done deeper stuff with Best In Show yet to do more would have required an audience knowledge much higher than he wanted to rely on. I think he relies on the intelligence of the audience to take in the jokes and the only slighly overdrawn characters. Those characters are often people we KNOW to some degree or another and the improv/build your own character style and dialogue is what makes the stuff so damn funny! Someone mentioned Fred Willard's "usual schtick"......Although I agree it's a well used persona of his, it fit well into the bozo he played in Guffman and it was perfect for taking the piss out of Joe Garagiola in Best In Show. Many were familiar with Joe G's narrations of the Westminster Kennel Club show and Fred really did one helluva' job! I figure this will hit the HBO/Showtime circuit within a few months as did BIS. Spaw |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: voyager Date: 21 Apr 03 - 05:28 PM TOPIC = GUITAR ENSEMBLES Frankham's Remarks -- "It brought back memories of The New Christy Minstrels,(early John Denver)(Barry McGuire) Back Porch Majority, Serendipity Singers, Rooftop Singers (yes there was a little sendup in there with the 12 string), Limelighters, KT, Up With People, Brothers Four" This posting has a couple of themes.... 1. Loved "A Mighty Wind" and it made me wonder For a 'neuf-tet' like the New Main Street Singers would the instrumentalists play the same guitar model? 2. What models of guitar did anyone notice? 3. What type of arranging is required for projecting more than 3 acoustic guitarists in a full-ensemble sound? 4. Hypothetical answer to #1-3 - OVATION GUITARS? "Never Did No Wandering" <-- Not! voyager FSGW Ghetto. |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: Frankham Date: 21 Apr 03 - 06:51 PM A tenor guitar by Folksmen was used ala KT. Was it Nick Reynolds played it or Bob Shane? (Can't remember). They looked to be Martins which would be consistent. There were two types of banjos, one long neck Seeger style (definitely in the period) and a resonator type. Got to have a banjo in the Main Street Singers along with the guitars. The vocal arrangements were actually quite good, nice spread and skillfully done. The voices were good but this is true with the groups that Sparks and others put together. The music was just plain funny in that it caught the musical cliches of the period. The "oohs" and "doohs" in the background while the vocal was in progress were hilarious, I thought. Got the feeling that the soundtrack contained overdubs to suggest larger than life arrangements. Also, the typical hokey endings with a big crescendo and finish ala 1940's pop vocal groups were a nice touch. THe patter used by the groups was similar to what Gibson and Camp as well as others such as Bud and Trav used to use at the Gate of Horn. You even hear the far-out commentary in the patter used by some contemporary singer/songwriters when introducing their material. The innocent, ludicrous attempts at profundity, cliches about pseudo-humanitarianism and "serious" intimacy was caught beautifully. Every coffee house in the country must have it's own Mitch. Ovation guitars weren't in vogue then. didn't see 'em. There were apparently instrumenalist consultants to show the cast how to play the instruments but I'll bet a lot of the sound was pre-recorded or dubbed in. Frank Hamilton |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: Melani Date: 21 Apr 03 - 10:36 PM I saw Ebert & Roeper's review the other night. Roger said it wasn't as satirical as it might be because it was too close to reality. I gotta admit, some of the guys looked AWFULLY familiar. But then, Garrison Keillor once did a skit about a church youth group doing folk performances that was the story of my teenaged life. Our biggest hit show was at the state mental hospital... I played the Kingston Trio's version of "Santy Anna" for my daughter, who learned traditional chanteys at the Hyde Street Pier Chantey Sing. She rolled on the floor in hysterics. But the other night, as I was singing it, I realized that that was where I learned "The Greenland Fisheries", and I'm still using the same words. Oh well, I guess we can't escape our past. |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: JJ Date: 22 Apr 03 - 08:51 AM My Swedish friend Birgitta writes: "Hur aer laeget lilla gumman" (How's It Hangin' Grandma) is colloquial Swedish and idiomatically correct. So much so that the Guest/Levy writing team must have asked someone who grew up in Sweden to give them the wording. But Ed Begley pronounces it so badly that it took me several viewings of the trailer to get it. That's my only beef with the movie -- couldn't they have taken the trouble to get him to say it right? I mean, he's an *actor*, surely he took Dialects and Accents 101 or whatever in college... |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: Steve-o Date: 22 Apr 03 - 12:55 PM I agree- it was a "charmer", but not enough bite for me. They missed a whole bunch of characters that should have been there- for example, where was the guy who dressed up in his business suit and went down to some big office building to spend his day writing "folk songs"?? Anyway, as Frank said, Guest and Levy sure did a great job of both writing and playing the music. The insipid, knuckleheaded Main Street Singers (playing the part of the group we used to call the "Crusty Nostrils") were quite perfect. Most of the instruments were correct, as noted, with the glaring exception of the Ovation. Nick Reynolds played a 4-string Martin- I couldn't see clearly if that was the type in the movie. Fun, really well-done movie, but I wanted a lot more satire. |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: catspaw49 Date: 25 Apr 03 - 05:07 PM refresh |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: WFDU - Ron Olesko Date: 25 Apr 03 - 07:37 PM JJ - Begley's mispronunciation was probably part of the joke. Think of all those crappy songs that were sung in other languages by such folksingers. Do you think they took the time to learn the proper pronunciation? Remember the story of Wimoweh - Pete Seeger misinterpreted the field recording he heard of the original. |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: JJ Date: 26 Apr 03 - 08:26 AM Well, Ron, maybe... But Begley's character supposed to be from-Sweden Swedish! "I would love to see Crabbetown in the autumn..." |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: GUEST,John Bauman Date: 26 Apr 03 - 04:46 PM I thought "Best of Show" was a riot! Funny thing... I'm REALLY into the "dog world" -- I participate in agility and obedience and am a member of two obedience/training clubs. Interesting observation -- the "dog people" all seemed to think the movie was as funny as I...... ......but they failed to see themselves in it. hmmmmmmm. |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: Amos Date: 28 Apr 03 - 02:53 AM I gotta tell ya folks, it has been 6 hours since the movie got out and I am STILL laughing. The sound track music started playing int he theater 20 minutes before the film, the screen still dark, and I was in stitiches by the time the movie started just listening to the lyrics. It is one dry, subtle take-off, rip-off, twist and spoof after another from end to end and I was glad I was sitting alone so I wouldn't be embarassing anyone with the spontaneous chortles I kept springing. It was a pure hoot and I am very glad I went. "Gee -- when you put it like that, it's almost like poetry!" Guest is purely amazing, amazing. I love his ass. A |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: Frankham Date: 28 Apr 03 - 09:53 AM Ron, I don't think Pete misinterpreted "Wimoweh". He did change the words though so that people could sing the song easier. "Mbumuba" would be harder to sing. He even made sure that the royalties reached Johnathan Linder, the source for the song. Frank |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: denise:^) Date: 28 Apr 03 - 12:23 PM I can't wait for it to finally show up around here... I missed the folk music scene the first time around, basically because I wasn't born yet... Still, I'm thinking it must be some prescribed course of study: first Kingston Trio, then on to the next, and the next... I went the whole way through all the groups, right up to the present! (I picked them all up at used record stores when I became interested in folk music. Funny how they sounded okay at first, and then started sounding hokey, and I'd move on to the next--kinda like my own personal "folk scare!") Reading these posts reminded me of one of those old Kingston Trio albums. I can't remember what song it was, but one of the guys was introducing it, and he says, in quite a serious and scholarly tone of voice, "It was ORIGINALLY a love song, and possibly a lullaby BEFORE THAT..." Guest could have lifted that line right off the album and put it into the movie! Gotta see it... Denise:^) |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: Amos Date: 28 Apr 03 - 12:30 PM Denise: Don't let it bother you love -- I can't count the number of things I missed because I basically wasn't born yet -- everyone's got some.... :>) A |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: Nerd Date: 28 Apr 03 - 03:49 PM Re: A Mighty Wind: It's great, and the soundtrack CD equally hilarious! Re: Mbube, Pete Seeger did not intentionally change the words; he had no idea what the words were. He was brought a 78 of Solomon Linda (not Jonathan Linder) singing the original, which was essentially improvised in the studio. He couldn't make out the words, which are in Zulu and essentially mean "Hey Lion, you are a lion," and therefore sang "a wimoweh" instead. The original was not a field recording, but a very early South African pop recording (which is, of course, a minor distinction), but the song was definitley composed by Linda. Actually, the Weavers' version has very few words, and is mostly swooping wordless vocals of the "OOOHHH-AAAHHH" sort. The familiar "Lion Sleeps Tonight" words were added later. Pete instructed his publisher to send his half of the royalties to Linda, but didn't really verify that the latter had done so; he did not, therefore, "make sure" that the royalties reached Linda. Moreover, because the rights to the original had been bought by the publisher and not by Pete, Pete was only entitled to royalties from the Weavers' version; the publisher, under the assumed name "Paul Campbell" took the rest, and may have swiped most of Pete's share, too, though the legal proof of this is damnably hard to establish (Linda's South African lawyer may have feathered his nest too). The bottom line was that Linda and his children got a few thousand bucks, and they all died relatively poor--though Linda made decent prize money singing competitively until shortly before his death. Sorry to be a downer, but the story is pretty sordid. None of it, though, was Pete's fault; it was the unjust roll of the dice that most Black South Africans were given. |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: Nerd Date: 29 Apr 03 - 03:54 AM It may be true, by the way, that the movie is not sharply critical enough. But the lyrics are. Listen to "Never Did No Wanderin'"; it's all about not having had any of the iconic experiences folksingers sing about. By using such evocative imagery as "the dance of the telephone poles" and "the singing of the driving wheel," it just underscores how easy it is to put such imagery in songs and still be totally clueless about the lives you're singing about. Basically, this song points out how empty of authentic experience such "folksinging" is. Other songs, too ("Old Joe's Place," "Skeletons of Quinto," etc) make explicit mention of not having actually had the experiences they are about, so much so that it becomes a unifying theme to the soundtrack. BTW, the soundtrack album is worth it just for their cover of "Start Me Up"; listen to the end, it's a riot! |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: WFDU - Ron Olesko Date: 29 Apr 03 - 06:45 PM Nerd, my mistake for calling it a field recording. It was a 78 that Alan Lomax received and gave to Seeger to listen to. While Seeger did have trouble making out the words, I'm not sure why he didn't read the record label! |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: reggie miles Date: 29 Apr 03 - 09:25 PM I saw the song that the trio performed on Mad TV and I'm sorry, but I failed to see or hear a great deal of humor there. I wanted more than just passable folk music and sixties costuming. I recognized two of the three guys from that group from their work in other films. I've seen them in better roles. I read a review/interview posted in a local paper the next day that explained that much of the character development and humor was improvised by the individual actors and not part of any team writing effort. The actors explained in the article how much fun they had doing it that way. While I'm certain they did indeed have fun working together that way, I don't think their efforts were effective. While watching the Mad TV spot I found myself waiting for something really funny to happen and it never showed. If the spot on Mad is any example of what takes place during the rest of the film I don't think I'll be joining some of the rest of you at the movies for this one. |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: DonMeixner Date: 09 May 03 - 09:53 PM Just saw this film. Liked it a lot. My only complaint: Not enough of the stage performance. Don |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: Nerd Date: 10 May 03 - 01:11 AM Ron, He could have read the label, but even though the word Linda is singing is a declension of "Mbube," which is the Zulu word for "lion," it doesn't sound like it. It sounds more like "Wimoweh." Don, I agree. In fact, by cutting between the singers onstage and the backstage antics, but leaving the stage performances audible in the background, they not only short shrift the audience on the stage performance, they also make a disastrous continuity blunder: we hear the entirety of the concert in real time, whether we see the onstage part or the backstage part. It is impossible, with the sound of the concert playing as an unbroken flow, that there were more somgs that we just didn't hear. Which means this was a twenty-minute concert in which each act did an opener and a closer and that's it! Oops! |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: Mark Cohen Date: 10 May 03 - 08:29 PM You know, I'm surprised that no Mudcatters have commented on the fact that Guest makes all these movies and stuff and never even signs in as a member. I mean, what's he afraid of? Aloha, Mark PS, Frank, I remember watching the New Christy Minstrels on the "Hootenanny" TV show (I must have been about 8 or 9) and thinking, "Wow, that guy is playing a tambourine on a stick!" Of course, the first time I ever saw somebody playing a mandolin was when I was in medical school and saw a performance by a student/resident bluegrass band. I was familiar with 12-string guitars, so I thought that this must be an 8-string ukulele. Sort of a visual Mondegreen, I guess. |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: catspaw49 Date: 10 May 03 - 09:54 PM Geez Mark, I bet a tiple put you into the psych ward!!! Spaw |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: Stilly River Sage Date: 10 May 03 - 11:08 PM Mark, you are a hoot all by yourself! |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: Mark Cohen Date: 10 May 03 - 11:30 PM Yeah, and you should see what I'm like with help... Aloha, Mark |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: WFDU - Ron Olesko Date: 11 May 03 - 12:50 AM Nerd, I think the movie wasn't intending to show the whole concert. That would have ruined the movie in my opinion. Folk music was one element of the movie. Guest couldn't make the movie to appeal solely to folk music fans or it would have been a bomb. As it exists, there were enough subtle references. The Weaver's documentary "Wasn't That A Time" was obviously the inspiration for the Folksman "reunion" rehearsal at the picnic. I even saw elements of "The Ballad of Rambling Jack" documentary when the Folksmen were driving around lost in NYC. If you saw "Rambling Jack" you might remember the scene where he was trying to find his old home and driving around without a clue. The songs that we heard in film were PERFECT satires on the folk tunes of that era. "Blood on the Coal" is every disaster ballad rolled into one. Check out the CD - it is a hoot! I can't wait for the DVD. I am sure there will be more outakes and perhaps entire songs. If you check out A Mighty Wind's website you will find a number of outtakes. It really was a warm and funny film. Not a sidesplitter like the others, but a film that will make you laugh if you have a sense of humor and don't take things too seriously. Ron |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: Mark Cohen Date: 11 May 03 - 01:18 AM PS: No, 'Spaw, but that's only because I don't believe they exist. But I confess that I feel a little depressed whenever I see a charango. The poor little feller never had a chance... And don't get me started on a ukelin. Aloha, Mark (who should probably talk to somebody about this...) |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: Charley Noble Date: 11 May 03 - 11:22 AM This flick has finally made Portland, ME, where it will tread water for at least 24 hours before racing off to North Dakota. Gotta rush! Charley Noble |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: Steve Latimer Date: 11 May 03 - 10:17 PM I was going to wait for the video, but I heard too many favourable reviews and decided to see it today. I loved it. Levy stole the show, although I thought the Bohners were great too. I'm sure that I missed a lot of the in jokes that Rick and others here got, but still, I thought it was very very funny. Lars didn't get his Crane shot, he's in good company. |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: Melani Date: 12 May 03 - 12:57 AM My favorite part of the concert was when the organizer warned the audience not to eat the flower arrangements. |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: Amos Date: 12 May 03 - 01:48 AM Sure hope someone drags Kendall over to see it.... A |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: denise:^) Date: 12 May 03 - 12:15 PM I went last night with a group of about 8 of us from our folk group, and we were all amused! (My face was stiff for hours from laughing...) A friend of ours warned us: "Be ready to really be 'bashed' in this film...," but I honestly don't think that all folk musicians were bashed any more than all married couples are 'bashed' in a film with silly couples, or all teachers are 'bashed' in a film with silly teachers, or--well, you get the picture! It was a funny film that revolved around trying to set up a memorial folk concert... The lyrics to the 'folk' songs were a scream!) "There's a puppy in the corner, and a kettle on the stove, And a smelly old blanket that a Navajo wove..." The only thing I can think of that's funnier than the film is that there REALLY IS a soundtrack CD, and people will buy it and listen! I may require medical attention the first time someone comes to the coffehouse and requests "There's a Kiss at the end of the Rainbow" or "Never Did No Ramblin'" -- I'm sure I'll bust a gut laughing! I already know that I *have* to see this again! |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: catspaw49 Date: 12 May 03 - 01:07 PM Guest and Levy simply take reality a few steps over the line in these things. I swear to you that everyone in "Best in Show" is out there in the show dog world. If you have ever been involved in community theater or a town's anniversary celebration or even a yearly festival, then you know all those people in "Guffman." The song lyrics remind me of a true story which makes the film even more real........Dave Van Ronk wrote what is to me one of his dumbest songs alternately known as "River Come Down" and "Bamboo" as it was called when recorded by PPM. It's a kinda' dumb thing at best. Anyway, it's the late sixties and I'm at our campus coffeehouse in Berea. Once a month we had these huge nights where we had kids from UK and EKU and anywhere else there as an open mic thing. WE had moved past PPM, liked Dylan's stuff, but were discovering Jean Ritchie and Doc Watson. A lot of the UK and EKU groups and singles were still in the hootenanny phase. On this night,a trio was singing "Bamboo" which they had learned from PPM but somehow never tied the title to what they were singing and it resulted in a "Group Mondegreen" of sorts. The first verse is: You take a stick of bamboo, you take a stick of bamboo, you take a stick of bamboo, you throw it in the water, Oh, oh, Hanaah. ........and then you repeat it again. I turned to Jeff next to me and said, "Are they saying bamboo or pepper?" He agreed it was pepper as well and we both cracked up. First, the song is stupid enough; why are you throwing bamboo in the water? But second, when did pepper start coming in sticks? And even if it did, would you have chunk of it with you at the river? And more to the point, didn't these people read the title and figure out that the word was bamboo? Obviously not. We talked to them later and the one guy insisted we were wrong!!! Spaw |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: Seamus Kennedy Date: 12 May 03 - 01:29 PM Saw it with my son last night and we nearly peed our pants laughing. Some really tender moments too with Levy and Catherine O'Hara, especially the rose and the non-kiss. I don't want to give too much away, but it's well worth seeing. I think we've all encountered Bob Balaban's fussy concert organizer too. I for one, am going to start doing some of the songs from the show without telling the audience where I got them, just to see if there are any flickers of recognition..... Seamus |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: GUEST Date: 12 May 03 - 04:21 PM Charlie you may be too late. It's already in North Dakota |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: Jim the Bart Date: 12 May 03 - 04:58 PM Got to agree about the soundtrack - it's terrific in its own way. The problem is that its so close to the real thing that most casual listeners (like my dearest wife and kids) can't tell the difference between the parody (a mighty wind)and the real thing (the albums Dad listens to when he'sworking in the basement). My favorite things - and there are so many - The comment by somebody at the pre-show party at the dead promoter's palacial digs: "Who said you can't make money in folk music" (or something to that effect). . . The quaver in the high tenor of the Folksmen, so like Glenn Yarborough and the Limeliters. . . The recording quality of the Mitch & Mickey songs; they are really tender, even if totally corny. Reminiscent of Richard & Mimi Farina. . . The relentless cheerfulness of the (New) Main Street Singers, so like the Serendipity Singers, as they all acted out their assigned role in "Potatoes in the Paddy Wagon". Not to mention the shmaltz and corn that all those "demented 6th chords" or whatever added to "Never Did No Wandering". A band like that deserved a manager that never really liked folk music - and back in the day they inevitably ended up with one one. Too bad we never got to see them play behind the strippers, which was another one of those inevitable "career moves". |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: DonMeixner Date: 12 May 03 - 04:58 PM I have chuckled at all the paid reviewers who have release lots of type on this film and seemed to have missed the point. Obviously they weren't musicians or knew anything about folkmusic beyond the type of music so wonderfully skewered here. One person said some people will just never get the point of this one. Roger Ebert cetainly never did. I found myself forgetting this was a lampoon at one point. I was genuinely looking forward to this performance. While I enjoyed Best in SHow, I never cared for or became interested in those people on the screen. Not so with this one. At times it seemed as if I was watching two different films. I agree with Seamus about the songs too. My band could do a serious job of Mighty Wind and some of our friends would never connect the song and the movie and they'd love it. We are after all just Kingston Trio clones with drums. (Andy Cooney called us The Irish Beachboys at on show we shared.) Don |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: denise:^) Date: 12 May 03 - 05:11 PM I was looking forward to the concert in this movie, too! The whole thing was just a lot more fun than I've had in a long time. I may even have to sneak back to the theater *before* it comes out on video... Denise:^) ...still smiling over it all... |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: PoppaGator Date: 12 May 03 - 05:47 PM The film *just* opened in New Orleans. I haven't seen it yet, but my 20-year-old son went over the weekend. Mike has a pretty sophisticated sense of humor, and is a big-time fan of all the previous films by this looney group. He enjoyed it, but said "I know I missed some of the jokes because I'm not familiar enough with what they're poking fun at." I think this is probably a testament to the subtlety of the film's approach, and I continue to look forward to seeing it. Probably within a couple of days. Mike was reluctant to say too much, for fear of spoiling it for his mother and me, but did allow that Fred Willard was off-the-charts hilarious, continuing to outdo himself, and that Eugene Levy's character was so pathetic it almost wasn't funny -- with the emphasis on *almost*! |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: GUEST,Q Date: 12 May 03 - 06:09 PM Doug R opened a new thread (now closed) because nothing came up for him in the DT. I checked. It doesn't come up on mighty. One thread comes up on mighty wind. Usually the shortest is the bestest, but not for this one. When will it hit the rental shops? |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: Charley Noble Date: 12 May 03 - 06:25 PM I did get to see it! Now I'll have to drag several other folks in to see it as a group experience. Maybe our group could do this instead of our regular Wednesday evening rehearsal/revearsal. I disdained much of this music in the 1960's, so I loves to see it lampooned. But then I also got caught up with the group dynamics; some of it's extremely painful as well as funny if you've been through something similar. Imagine another group doing the song your group was planning to do, and you're next up at the big concert! I'm sure Mudcat will get a whole new list of lyric requests. Cheerily, Charley Noble |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: Charley Noble Date: 13 May 03 - 08:50 AM And it's even a compelling enough film to make me want to reread this entire thread! Love to see this one with Frank, Rick, Peg et al. Maybe I'll propose "A Mighty Wind Open-Mik Night" for our next monthly coffeehouse. A Parody of a parody of a... Cheerily, Charley Noble, who's still chuckling |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: George Seto - af221@chebucto.ns.ca Date: 13 May 03 - 11:26 AM Was watching Christopher Guest on Charlie Rose last night. VERY interesting. Had gone to a free showing last week of the show, and enjoyed it immensely. My friend, who IS one of those folkies from the 60s/70s, said she was going to run out of the theatre,if she saw herself in any of the characters. She did, but stayed to watch the whole thing. Laughing all the way. Mr Guest said that he doesn't really "script" most of his movies. . He sets up a scene, with characters in place, tells the characters what the scene is to accomplish, and let them go at it. Before the movie even begins, he and the other writers, (in this case Eugene Levy), would come up with the basic scenes, and a thorough back-story for each character and how they interact with each other. All of the dialogue is generated on the fly, for freshness, right on the spot. Apparently, the singing on stage was all done live, and by the actors themselves. |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: maire-aine Date: 13 May 03 - 09:45 PM I had last Friday off, so I went to see it; it was its first day in the Detroit area. I just loved it. It has some very funny scenes, but it was not at all cruel. Guest and his cohorts were very kind to the old folkies. I plan to see it again, because I know I missed a lot the first time. Maryanne |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: Steve Latimer Date: 13 May 03 - 11:33 PM marie-aine, I want to see it again too. I think I will buy it when it comes out on DVD, it is worth watching many times over. |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: harpgirl Date: 16 May 03 - 09:32 PM I saw it tonight. This thread is way better than the movie. A twenty something girl next to me laughed through the entire movie. My son laughed. I tried to get him to leave but he wanted to see thw whole movie. He said, "Mom, you don't understand folk music like I do!" with a wry laugh! I preferred the eminem movie, Eight Mile! |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: Little Hawk Date: 17 May 03 - 01:12 PM I was driving back from Toronto, and passed a gigantic movie multi-plex place near Newmarket, saw that "A Mighty Wind" was playing, and went in to see it. Well, the movieplex itself was quite an experience. What you have in there is a total sensory assault from the word "go": Raving videogame machines (including one that requires the player to dance on a mini-disco floor to earn points...this guy played it three times in a row and was drenched with sweat by the end), blaring music from god knows how many speakers, giant hanging cartoon figures rotating around under the cathedral ceiling, shining glass and metal watchacallums overwhelming the visual apparatus on all sides, about 15 fast food outlets to stuff your face at, people in uniforms all over the place, and about 20 or so movies to go to....GAAAAHHHHHH!!! It was like a nightmare. And it was as totally unlike folk music (or the old-time movie theaters of yore) as anything could be. So, I bought my ticket and went into my little private section of the madhouse. It was nice inside there. These places have superb seating, I'll give 'em that. Much better than in the old movie houses. Then I got to watch about 10 minutes of advertising for everything from designer jeans to hairspray. Oh joy. Then I got to watch trailers for either six, seven, or eight movies that I don't EVER want to see! F**king unbelievable. I was beginning to wonder how long I had been there by this point, not having actually seen the movie I paid to see yet. The trailers all had the same assh*le with the portentious voice (a half-whisper, combined with a steely delivery) who does the soundtrack on all movie trailers...he must make a fortune. Either that or they've cloned a whole bunch of him... And then...at last...A Mighty Wind. Well, it was very enjoyable. Quite funny too. And surprisingly, very touching in places. Catherine O'Hara just acted superbly...she couldn't have made it seem any realer. Eugene Levy's "Mitch" was a pathetic wreck of a man...but you could really relate to the connection between him and Mikki, and they did the songs very sweetly. The funny thing is, I've always thought of myself as a "folkie", but the kind of folk music that is portrayed in this film...it was totally passe by 1962 as far as I was concerned! It was so incredibly corny...all those trios, quartets, quintets, neuftets, whatever...in their preppy suits...singing their corny songs about "the old grey goose she ain't what she used to be". Ay, yi, yi! Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, and Buffy-Sainte Marie (and Lightfoot and Ian and Sylvia and many others) were in the process of replacing that archaic stuff with something utterly different and far more meaningful...and what they did between 1960 and now is "folk" to me. So, it seems really funny to me that the word "folk" summons up in people's minds what was portrayed in "A Mighty Wind". I think I'm gonna stop calling myself a "folksinger". (Just kidding!) Oh, and I was the ONE and ONLY person who went to see "A Mighty Wind" in Newmarket that day at that show. I had that little theatre space totally to myself. Accordingly, I booed the commercials, danced in the aisles, made gestures of praying desperately for release while the trailers were going, and applauded the projectors when they finally ended! Next door was playing "The Matrix Reloaded", and I bet the room was absolutely crammed full of viewers, crunching their popcorn. I'll go later for that one, when the crowds have lessened. :-) - LH |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: Charley Noble Date: 17 May 03 - 02:07 PM Amazingly, this movie is still showing in Portland East at five (5) different times. When I was there at 3 pm there were thirty (30) other people of all ages laughing their sides out. I'm now in the process of forming a support group for the fuller appreciation of "colors" in the world around us. Anyone want to join? We don't need any donations, yet, but you could always send a donation to Mudcat. Cheerily, Charley Noble |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: Little Hawk Date: 17 May 03 - 04:38 PM That is an inspired idea, Charley! We give far too little thought to how everything is made of colors...except in Canada and the UK, where everything is made of colours. Were are all just a magnificent amalgam of color/colour, and that is just so cosmic, that, well...it leaves me breathless! - LH |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: Charley Noble Date: 17 May 03 - 06:10 PM Or in OZ where the focus would be on "koalas." Charley Noble |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: GUEST,Johnny in OKC Date: 18 May 03 - 12:58 AM Okay, I've read the thread. So it's a send-up of the "phony" folk- music bands of the sixties? Isn't that what the Smothers Brothers were doing 30 years ago? Maybe what's funny is that we were all taken in by the Kingston Trio and others. Was it so wrong? Look at the competition of the time. Frankie and Annette, "I love you and you love me, we're as happy as two can be." Oggh! Porter Waggoner (I won't even go there), Elvis, and free jazz that was so far out even the players didn't know what they were doing. Give me Simon & Garfunkel any time. At least some of these guys could sing in tune, and many of them knew more than three chords. I guess I'll see the movie if it doesn't close before reaching Oklahoma City. On the other hand, if you guys keep going to it, they will probably make "A Might Wind - the Sequel". What I would like to see is a parody of tv's Barney Show. |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: GUEST Date: 18 May 03 - 11:00 PM there kind of is...it's called death to smoochy. |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: Little Hawk Date: 19 May 03 - 12:32 AM It's not easy to parody Barney, but I think "Death To Smoochy" might just qualify. It would not be easy to parody teletubbies either...at least I don't think so. UGH!!! - LH |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: Amos Date: 19 May 03 - 01:25 AM Johnny: That's like dismissing Best In Show as a take off on dog shows. See the movie -- it'll be much more interestng. A |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: Bill D Date: 19 May 03 - 02:33 PM well!...last night a group of 15 of us from the FSGW folk group and ghetto (including 3 or 4 who got almost ALL the references)met and sat en masse in a fairly full theater to see this reamarkable film. I will confess, I had NO idea of it's theme when I went in. (unlike most of the group)..As it slowly sank into my head what was happening, my patented *grin* spread acroos my face and, with the exception of the times when I laughed/guffawed out loud, stayed there for the duration! Sure, there were omissions,(no way to show the entire 'concert) and you can't tailor parodies to meet everyone's concept of how it was....but, wow!...they captured the essential stereotypes so well that it would have been painful, if it weren't so funny! And they stopped JUST short of hokey criticism and embarassing stupidity. Those characters in the film were having fun, and doing what THEY liked, and THEY were as happy with their 'reunion' as anyone could expect. I saw, months ago, some REAL reunion/retrospective concert on (PBS?) and found I could NOT watch it all, as the performers were all too 'real', and unaware of the spectre they were participating in....but I WOULD have loved to see outtakes of THEIR rehearsals and planning for the concert! The songs in the movie WERE well done, in that they were so perfectly mediocre that only careful listening told you how BAD they were. I was shaking my head in wonder at the cocktail party where the camera panned briefly over the one old black 'bluesman' who was enduring his 'token appearance' with a nod and a mumbled word or 2..and "Mickey", cashing in on her renewed 'fame' by playing autoharp at the trade show 6 months later was a masterpiece of poignancy. Also, a wonderful touch was the way "Mitch" raised himself from his bumbling, tormented ineptness, barely able to sing and chord, to recapturing not only his 'musicianship', but his mind, just long enough to do the show....that part was not necessary for the success of the film as a whole, but it added a needed 'theme' to focus on. There was general agreement that someone will get the DVD and we will all watch it again together sometime when we can pause it to laugh, discuss, point out details, rewind parts and run to the john without missing anything! 'Twas quite a trick to make that movie, I'd suspect....I found myself telling someone in our group, tongue-in-cheek, that it was "12 years in the filming", because they had to re-shoot so many scenes trying to get the actors to quit giggling and rolling their eyes.(Yes, I saw the Chris Guest explanation that a lot of it was done spontaneously....but...*grin*) Go see it, folks.... |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: Little Hawk Date: 20 May 03 - 11:19 AM And it will last a day or two at any movie theatre north of Toronto...there is maybe one person in 300 around small town Ontario that has any idea what the jokes in "A Mighty Wind" are about. But that didn't stop me from enjoying it. :-) Now, get a movie in with Adam Sandler, teen sex, lots of swearing and fart jokes...and you're talkin' PROFIT, baby! You're also talkin' an audience that's even more annoying than the movie itself. They go to see themselves depicted larger (but not stupider) than life as they know it. - LH |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: Jim the Bart Date: 20 May 03 - 11:26 AM I had a revelation (for me, anyway) about the movie, which I love. It's not about "folk music" at all, it's about the folk music business. It's a concert to celebrate a promoter/manager, put on by three people whose wealth came from a father who latched on to some musicians and parlayed his percentage into an inheritance; one of the kids never even liked the music, not that that seems to matter. The acts that were portrayed are the kind of acts that got into the business to cash in. The New Main Street Singers only have one original member, who (if I remember correctly) didn't even have a microphone during their performance. It's the de-evolution of the "neuftet" from the group that accomplished the sound that he had in his head, to an amusement park re-creation. It's hard to complain about Mickey cashing in, when the whole thing is about cashing in. Even the big moment, by the act with the most real artistic credibility, is not about the song (Kiss at the End of the Rainbow) as much as it is about the schtick that went along with the song. The Kingston Trio got slammed for making a lot of money out of their version of folk music, but the market came to them as much as anything. They never claimed to be folk singers; they were admittedly entertainers first. This movie is about the people who saw the market open up and jumped in. There's nothing wrong with that. I started out by doing my best imitation of those guys myself. It was only much later that I started getting hungry to find out about the real guys, who made the real music. That's the topic of another movie. Does this make sense to anyone? Or is it just me? Have great days Bart |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: GUEST,Arne Langsetmo Date: 20 May 03 - 06:17 PM Mark C: You're wrong. I see Guest posting here all the time. ;-) The funniest single moment of the movie is when Balaban finally gets to Begley (IIRC). But much of the humour isn't a guffaw-inducer, but rather a long running joke that keeps you chortling warmly. The lyrics are indeed superb ("Never Did No Wanderin'". . .). Maybe the movie will do for the Folksmen and the NMSS what "O Brother" did for old time music. . . . The most ironic thing for me was seeeing this movie the day after seeing the Dave Van ronk tribute in NYC ... in which city councilman Alan Gerson came out and presented a framed city proclamation to Dave's widow... ;-) (Don't get me wrong, Dave's tribute was a wonderful occasion, with real stories of Dave's immense contributions, and touching music...) It's all in good fun. Cheers, -- Arne Langsetmo |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: Mark Cohen Date: 21 May 03 - 01:23 AM LH, I don't think you're ever going to see a parody of Teletubbies. And do you know why? Oh, sure you do... Just think about it: haven't you noticed the colors of the Teletubbies? I mean, those COLORS!!! They've obviously reached...the 50th vibration. And, as such, are beyond parody. Aloha, Mark |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: GUEST,Kfogarty Date: 21 May 03 - 11:18 AM Having lived and been part of the 80's folk scene, I am not as up on who was supposed to be whom in the movie. But I can echo Amos' sentiments..I was chuckling from the first moments of the soundtrack and cracking up throughout the movie. My first husband lived through all this stuff and so I had some second hand experience of the time period. (But, even folkies of today have some of the attitude that the movie parodies.) My daughter is 19 and also loved it! I think if you've been involved in folk concerts from backstage and on stage, planned and been involved in festivals, done a folk radio show, etc. you just GET IT! I applaud the writers and all who pulled this off with so much warmth. Being picked on never felt so fun. |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: Charley Noble Date: 21 May 03 - 05:10 PM Bart, I think you got it! Now shall we do the Mudcat Reunion? Charley Noble |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: kendall Date: 21 May 03 - 10:51 PM At the risk of sounding like a curmudgeon, I must say, I never saw Guffman or Spinal tap, and, I wish I hadn't seen this turkey! It was mildly amusing, but, didn't measure up to the hype. Someone mentioned the instruments; I saw a two Martin guitars, a Taylor, an Ovation and a Guild. The mandolin was, of course, a Gibson. The thing is, all those groups, the Kingston trio, the Highwaymen, Limelighters etc. were all Johnnies come lately to me. I was into folk long before they showed up, with my earliest influence being Buryl Ives. |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: Frankham Date: 22 May 03 - 06:13 PM Nerd, Not sure these facts you present re: Wimoweh are accurate. I would challenge you on the point that Pete was not scrupulous in his dealing with Linda. "Paul Campbell" is a pseudonym for the Weavers and Harold Leventhal handles the publishing. Harold is not known for sordid business practices. Also, Mbube is hard to sing. Wimoweh is not. If it were Mbube, I doubt it would have been so well-known. Pete would have changed it if he thought so. Where is the source for your information? Frank Hamilton |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: kendall Date: 22 May 03 - 07:24 PM Don't dis Pete without lots of proof! You might make me angry, and, you wouldn't like me when I'm angry. Come to think of it, some people don't like me when I'm Not angry. |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: Art Thieme Date: 22 May 03 - 10:34 PM Ah, this is all about time, these polemics are. It concerns where we are on the outer circle looking in at the center. Hindsight gives you a good view of the assholes and their antics, and it's so very easy to parody what you think went down in the other guys decades. As I've said, this film will never come to Peru, Illinois where I am stuck/at these days. Just remember: Time, it is a killin' fit, Time, it is a blossom, And if you want your finger bit, Stick it at a possum. FOD !!! (a paraphrase of Frank Warner---from Art) |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: Little Hawk Date: 23 May 03 - 12:03 AM kendall...you sure you don't mean "Beryl Ives"? :-) Now THERE was a Johnny-come-lately if ever I've seen one! You ought to see Spinal Tap very soon. Rent it. It's utterly hilarious. Much, much funnier than Mighty Wind. After all, there's a lot to make fun of when it comes to hard rockers and heavy metal groups. - LH |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: kendall Date: 23 May 03 - 08:36 PM No, I meant BURYL Ives. From waht I've been told about Spinal Tap, I wouldn't be able to stand the noise. |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: kendall Date: 23 May 03 - 08:38 PM I was listening to BURYL Ives in the 40's...and you say he was a Johnnie come lately? |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: Little Hawk Date: 24 May 03 - 12:34 PM Superb review, Willie-O. I had the same general reactions as you. God help "folk music" after this movie! I think I'm going to be a singer-songwriter from here on in. - LH |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: Charley Noble Date: 25 May 03 - 07:22 PM So, after seeing this movie myself I dragged my wife off to see it last evening, at the Railway Square Cinema in Waterville, ME. We were enjoying it hugely when the lights flickered and the film sputtered to a stop. But then everything restarted again. Now this began to happen quite regularly, or irregularly, and about the third time we had most of the audience chiming in "Wot happened?" But about the time were Marty returns from his wanders with a rose, the film died for good and a sheepish young man informed us that all of Waterville was blacked out for an indeterminate period of time. After waiting another 10 minutes we left, assuaging ourselves with another splendid dinner at Slates in Hallowell, where they did have power. We found out this morning that it wasn't an alien invasion but that one of their transformer poles became a Roman candle, and they really had to shut everything down. Somehow, it all seems in the spirit! I thought you'd all like to know. Cheerily, Charley Noble |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: GUEST Date: 25 May 03 - 09:16 PM You were lucky. |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: Uncle_DaveO Date: 25 May 03 - 09:38 PM I, too, saw it last night with my wife and son, but we were able to see all of it. Good movie. It's a hoot! Great movie? Of course not, but an entertaining evening. Great music? No, of course not, but it was good enough not to get in the way of an amusing movie. Charley Noble, the guy with the glasses and the stare and the rose is Mitch, not Marty. No big deal. I think my favorite bit in the whole thing was a metamorphosis of the bass player in the trio, at the end. Don't want to say any more about that, lest I spoil the occasion for someone who has yet to see it. Dave Oesterreich |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: Charley Noble Date: 26 May 03 - 08:37 AM Mitch/Marty/Micky, never could keep them names straight. BG You know, even though I grew up with folk music that preceeded the 1960's "Mighty Wind" I'm still appreciative that there was that new generation of perpetrators and a growing audience. For me, it made enduring college much more fun. Growing up with my parents and their neighbors singing folksongs didn't mean that I ever led any songs or even learned to play an instrument; the grown-ups did that. Sure, I knew a lot of lyrics via osmosis but it wasn't till I got to college and found a small group of friends who were also interested in these songs that I learned to play a banjo and to lead songs. My family had an old recording of Frank Warner singing "Tom Duley" long before the Kingston Trio got hold of it but I probably wouldn't have learned to sing it if the Trio hadn't made the song popular. Gosh, two whole chords to try to coordinate! And at least part of that 1960's audience was what sustained our "folk clubs" and "folksingers" for another 30 years. Cheerily, Charley Noble |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: Willie-O Date: 26 May 03 - 08:57 AM Mickey "cashing in"? At the end of the movie, she was playing her autoharp and singing about her hubbie's catheters at a tradeshow to completely indifferent passersby. All I could figure was she must for some reason really love her strange husband, be desperate to play, and she still hadn't heard about agents... W-O |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: Charley Noble Date: 26 May 03 - 10:22 AM Really, let's start a petition to have Mickey booked for Old Songs. She deserves an empathetic audience. I'm not so sure about Mitchy. Bob Franke covers some of the same territory... Charley Noble |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: Amos Date: 26 May 03 - 11:32 PM Aw, Kendall, I am seriously bummed you didn't laugh your ass off at this rip-off of the ripper-offers. I thought it showed the commercial Folk shtick of the era for the tomfoolery it really was. I appreciate your feelings. Burl was an early and powerful influence in my life too. But that doesn't stop me from rolling around guffawing at this parody! Ah, well, chacun a son mauvais gout. A |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: kendall Date: 27 May 03 - 08:21 AM It wasn't a total loss, there were a few parts that I got a chuckle out of, but, I wouldn't bother to see it again. |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: kytrad (Jean Ritchie) Date: 29 May 03 - 05:18 PM Latest review (that I know)is in the June 2 issue of, U.S.News & World Report (next to last page)...you may like this one, Kendall- I certainly did, but won't say why. |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: GUEST,amergin Date: 29 May 03 - 05:29 PM could this be why, Jean? BG "But even the "roots music" artists who performed in the shadow of groups like the Kingston Trio haven't disappeared. Smithsonian Folkways (www.folkways .si.edu) sends out a steady stream of CDs from singers like Jean Ritchie. She has recorded songs from rural Kentucky since 1952, introducing countless listeners to the spare, sweet sound of the dulcimer, and still performs at age 80. "My voice isn't what it was, but nobody seems to care," she says, chuckling." or this? ""Groups like the New Christy Minstrels led a lot of people to folk music," says Ritchie. "We were very grateful to them." So what if they weren't "real"?" BG |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: Burke Date: 29 May 03 - 06:24 PM Here it is |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: MAG Date: 30 May 03 - 12:34 AM That onstage kiss was the sharpest bit of symbolic satire in the film. Both of them say in the post-interviews that they were caught up in "The theatricality of the moment." They actually said that. That kiss looked pretty real. (drool, drool.) The fact that they did it becasue it was expected showed just how exhibitionistic they both are, or were at that moment onstage. The pivotal moment, and a brilliant microcosm of what the film was saying. There was lots of other stuff I liked, but it's late and I'm tired and I want to get back to my Atwood book. MA, who finally saw it on Monday |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: JudyR Date: 30 May 03 - 03:06 AM Oh,dear, after all the expectations, I was slightly disappointed. I [i]would[/i] see it again, because there are subtleties (instrumentation, notes, lyrics), I missed, and the costumes were delicious. Darn it, my favorites far and above all, were the Folksmen, and I wanted to see them more, and more songwise (no, it wasn't a concert film, but why not let them finish a song?) Loved Harry Shearer's bass-voiced droleness, Guest's deadpan sublety. The Main Street Singers were cute for a little while -- and I recognized a lot of wierd California types in the two religous freaks. But (ohmigod, am I the only one that thinks this?) Mitch bored me to tears. Everytime he gave one of his spaced-out speeches, I tuned out. I read that he was given free reign as to what to do with the character -- I don't agree with his choice. I was looking for more direct parody of recognizable folk acts, and I certainly didn't see Ian in that. I think Roger Ebert had a point -- that the musicianship was just too close to the real thing, and not *quite* bent enough. I waited through the entire performance of the title song to get to the funny last line (I did entirely enjoy Shearer assigning each section of the audience to a different animal sound. Now *that* rang true from that time!) Things I liked: Bob Balaban (used to hate him, love him now). Even liked the Town Hall manager (turns out, he's a patient at my dentist's!) Liked Ed Begley's little Yiddish bit to kow-two to the Jewish aspect of the biz a lot. Loved the opening "Weavers-film" style segment. Wanted more like that. And LOVED all the album covers! (particularly great was the ersatz Ian and Sylvia cover, with the exact pose and sheepskin jackets -- would that they would have carried the Ian and Sylvia "joke" just a little further). A friend, who did like the film better than I -- noted that parts of the "Weaver" segment were too over-the top -- how stupid, he said, can they be to put out albums without a hole? He compared it to Spinal Tap, with the "11" on the needle (not sure if I am quoting him accurately, but he meant the ST nailed the players better). I did not mind that this satirized that pallid early-60's folk, and not the "authentic" stuff. After all, how funny could you get parodying Dylan (although, maybe folk madonnas like Baez/Collin). But, perhaps Guest *is* too close to the stuff. Could any of us parody Baez and not feel like we were trampling on sacred ground? The audience with me, came in wanting to laugh, it was obvious. We all laughed mightily at the beginning, and it tapered off. Again, I would like to see it again, though. Speaking of over-the-top, Fred Willard was just awfully unfunny. Maybe he's one that *should* have been scripted. |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: Gareth Date: 30 Nov 03 - 08:55 AM Well - A Mighty Wind comes to the UK Here is the 'Observer's' review Click 'Ere I suspect the film will be confined to the "Art House" circuit, but yer never know. The 'Observer' says it will open on 16th January - but where, they say not. Gareth BTW - proof that I do occasionally read the 'Kultural' pages ! |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: GUEST,Kim C no cookie Date: 01 Dec 03 - 11:30 AM I finally saw this movie. Mister bought it used on DVD, so now it's in the library. I think it's a HOOT! I thought it was very well done, and impressed that the actors really were singing and playing. Eugene Levy has a pretty good singing voice! I think I like Best in Show a little better, but Christopher Guest and his crew make some pretty darn good movies. |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: Cluin Date: 01 Dec 03 - 11:50 AM Haven't made my mind up on this one yet. I was a bit disappointed because I had pretty high expectations I guess. Lots of funny parts, but maybe, as has been said, musically it was just a bit too close to the truth. I found Best In Show and Spinal Tap funnier. But I want to see it again, this time in DVD so I can see all the deleted scenes. |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: wanderhope Date: 02 Jan 04 - 11:30 AM Just back from a hiatus from reading this stuff, and I forgot how much I missed it. I got the "Mighty Wind" DVD for Christmas, and enjoyed the movie. My high school group was "The Tradewinds", named after a local cafeteria. Bill Wharton (The Sauce Boss) and I were two of the three of us. Bill stayed with it. I went into counseling (getting and and giving it). |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: Sttaw Legend Date: 02 Jan 04 - 05:51 PM Wind is always a problem after Christmas and New Year |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: katlaughing Date: 03 Jan 04 - 01:19 AM Well, we finally got to see this, too. It WAS a hoot; thoroughly enjoyed it. Loved Spinal Tap, best...probably because it was the first. These guys are spot on every time, though! kat |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: Mr Red Date: 16 Jan 04 - 06:07 PM Well I am getting a lot of good vibes on this one BUT.......... Mighty Wind - is it art? (with a capital F) ......... |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: greg stephens Date: 16 Jan 04 - 06:25 PM Well it says it's on genral release in England today, but alas not in Stoke. As far as I can see the nearest cinema it's on in is Birmingham, and it'll take more than a movie to get me to go down there. |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: John Hardly Date: 16 Jan 04 - 07:03 PM I confess.....it depressed me. I've never been able to tell how serious to take my music. Lotsa folks here on the 'cat make me feel the same insecurity -- like there's some kinda inside scoop on what is hip (tell me tell me). Same thing with taking my writing with any degree of seriousness -- I guess I'm too insecure. I wish I could be the snide PeterT type who's so in the know that I could spread belittlement with just the slightest slighting, just the right smirk. It was funny though. |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: Marc Bernier Date: 01 Dec 08 - 10:35 AM I just finished watching A Mighty Wind again. This movie may never develope the cult status of Spinal Tap, but it is a good movie. You do need to be able to laugh at yourself a bit though. |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: GUEST Date: 01 Dec 08 - 11:05 AM Agreed. Great Stuff! |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: GUEST Date: 01 Dec 08 - 11:23 AM Is Fred Willard the illegitimate American brother of John Cleese? They both nail the mock-serious and the absurd like few others. |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: GUEST Date: 01 Dec 08 - 08:02 PM Teah, some body way back there pointed out the "Never did no Wanderin'" song. I thought it was great, purely for the celebration and portrayal of an ideal that they never actually followed! John |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: GUEST,TJ in San Diego Date: 02 Dec 08 - 05:12 PM By the way, the KT member who played the four-string Martin was recently departed Nick Reynolds of our area. Some of the characters in the film reminded me of the types that showed up for on-campus outdoor shows in our college amphitheater in the late 1950's and early 1960's, often with more hair and attitude than talent, but that was half the fun. I was one-third of a trio back then. The best performance we ever gave, according to a local reviewer, was the day we had a 1:00 PM performance - same day as I endured a double wisdom tooth removal in the morning. I think the Darvon helped immensely. |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: Alice Date: 13 Jan 09 - 09:18 PM A Mighty Wind is re-run on The Comedy Channel tonight. |
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Subject: RE: Review: A Mighty Wind From: Ref Date: 13 Jan 09 - 10:02 PM Get the DVD for the extra scenes and musical bits.
For 10 years this thread has done nothing but collect spam. If you wish to reopen the topic contact a moderator to reopen it. ---mudelf |
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