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Review: A Mighty Wind

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Peg 04 Apr 03 - 10:18 AM
Steve Latimer 04 Apr 03 - 12:30 PM
Cool Beans 04 Apr 03 - 04:00 PM
Jeri 04 Apr 03 - 10:25 PM
catspaw49 04 Apr 03 - 10:45 PM
catspaw49 04 Apr 03 - 10:57 PM
Peg 05 Apr 03 - 01:42 PM
Jeri 05 Apr 03 - 01:59 PM
Peg 05 Apr 03 - 02:29 PM
catspaw49 05 Apr 03 - 02:31 PM
Steve Latimer 05 Apr 03 - 11:32 PM
Roger the Skiffler 06 Apr 03 - 03:22 AM
catspaw49 06 Apr 03 - 05:50 AM
Roger the Skiffler 06 Apr 03 - 06:53 AM
Jeri 06 Apr 03 - 12:02 PM
Steve Latimer 06 Apr 03 - 03:54 PM
Peg 06 Apr 03 - 04:04 PM
Rick Fielding 06 Apr 03 - 04:20 PM
Mark Ross 06 Apr 03 - 06:33 PM
Steve Latimer 06 Apr 03 - 11:04 PM
GUEST,Martin Gibson 09 Apr 03 - 12:48 PM
Allan C. 09 Apr 03 - 12:56 PM
georgeward 09 Apr 03 - 01:41 PM
Clinton Hammond 09 Apr 03 - 01:48 PM
Peg 09 Apr 03 - 03:46 PM
Clinton Hammond 09 Apr 03 - 03:48 PM
Callie 09 Apr 03 - 06:10 PM
catspaw49 09 Apr 03 - 06:26 PM
voyager 10 Apr 03 - 04:44 AM
Steve Latimer 10 Apr 03 - 09:23 AM
lamarca 10 Apr 03 - 09:37 AM
harvey andrews 10 Apr 03 - 09:39 AM
Jeri 10 Apr 03 - 09:57 AM
Rick Fielding 10 Apr 03 - 10:41 AM
Big Mick 10 Apr 03 - 11:30 AM
Peter T. 10 Apr 03 - 12:23 PM
fsharpdim7 10 Apr 03 - 04:38 PM
catspaw49 10 Apr 03 - 04:55 PM
Rick Fielding 10 Apr 03 - 06:27 PM
Willie-O 11 Apr 03 - 09:01 AM
Peg 11 Apr 03 - 12:56 PM
Seamus Kennedy 11 Apr 03 - 04:14 PM
Willie-O 11 Apr 03 - 06:39 PM
Rick Fielding 11 Apr 03 - 10:49 PM
Seamus Kennedy 12 Apr 03 - 02:17 AM
Big Mick 12 Apr 03 - 07:30 AM
Charley Noble 12 Apr 03 - 08:22 AM
Art Thieme 13 Apr 03 - 01:04 PM
GUEST,Q 13 Apr 03 - 01:57 PM
JJ 13 Apr 03 - 06:08 PM
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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.
-Joe Offer-


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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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