A Mighty Wind

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=80 BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF" bgproperties="fixed" background="04000500dvldtc.png"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" ><B>Reel Movie Critic.com</B></FONT><B>     |     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Reel Movie Critic.com"><U><B>home</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id1921.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Open Range"><U>Open Range</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id1920.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Guys"><U>The Guys</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id1918.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Confidence"><U>Confidence</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id1914.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Japon"><U>Japon</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id1912.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="West Side Story"><U>West Side Story</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id1911.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="House of 1000 Corpses"><U>House of 1000 Corpses</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id1897.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Peoples Voice Movie Preview May 2003"><U>People's Voice Movie Preview May 2003</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id1910.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Brenda Sexton Announced as Managing Dire"><U>Brenda Sexton Announced as Managing Director of the Illinois Film Office</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id1915.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Malibus Most Wanted"><U>Malibu's Most Wanted</U></A>   |   <B>A Mighty Wind</B>   |   <A HREF="id1922.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Fellini: Im a Born Liar"><U>Fellini: I'm a Born Liar</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id1923.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Simone"><U>Simone</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id1924.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Creating Victor Vargas: A Conversation "><U>Creating Victor Vargas:  A Conversation with Peter Sollett, Victor Rasuk and Judy Marte</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id1926.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Divine Intervention"><U>Divine Intervention</U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF" background="041d2c00dvldtc.png"> <div> <B>Home Page for</B></div> <div> <B>      </B><A HREF="http://newbookdiscounts.com/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://newbookdiscounts.com/"><U><B>Books</B></U></A></div> <div> <B>           </B><A HREF="http://www.reelmoviecritic.com/travelforless/id364.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.reelmoviecritic.com/travelfor"><U><B>Travel</B></U></A></div> <div> <B>                </B><A HREF="http://www.reelmoviecritic.com/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.reelmoviecritic.com/"><U><B>Movies</B></U></A></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>                   </B><A HREF="http://www.reelmoviecritic.com/travelforless/id361.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.reelmoviecritic.com/travelfor"><U><B>Great Web Sites</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <B>Similar Genres</B></div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.reelmoviecritic.com/id1636.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.reelmoviecritic.com/id1636.ht"><U><B>Drama</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.reelmoviecritic.com/id1190.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.reelmoviecritic.com/id1190.ht"><U><B>Comedy</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.reelmoviecritic.com/id1660.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.reelmoviecritic.com/id1660.ht"><U><B>Musical</B></U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=400 BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <div> A Mighty Wind</div> <div> <IMG SRC="3122cc70.jpg" border=0 width="300" height="199" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="592" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="588"><div> <B>A Mighty Wind          </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Wingdings 2" ><B>êêê</B></FONT><B>         (PG-13)</B></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="588"><div> Reviewed by Joseph M. Davis</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="577" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 649 WIDTH="573"><div> The folks associated with "A Mighty Wind" have a cult following that stretches back to the classic mocumentary "This Is Spinal Tap", a movie so funny that I know I am in good company when I admit that I have watched it well over 30 times.  That fact makes it difficult to review their subsequent work in a way.  It's a bit like the release of "The Phantom Menace".  At first no one wanted to come right out and admit the fact that it was a weak, disappointing film experience.  I think it took me a month before I finally came out and said it.  Fortunately however the subsequent work by Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, Harry Shearer and crew has been solid and creative and that does includes their latest film, "A Mighty Wind".  </div> <bR> <div> Though it is in no way as great as "Tap" this farce on the 1960's American Folk music scene is charming and there are some solid performances by the "Tap" veterans and by more recent additions to the club like the comedic genius Eugene Levy who was also hysterical in their film "Best In Show" and "Waiting For Guffman" and his fellow <A HREF="http://www.reelmoviecritic.com/2000/id619.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.reelmoviecritic.com/2000/id61"><U><B>"Best In Show"</B></U></A><B>/"</B>Waiting For Guffman"/SCTV alumni Catherine O'Hara.</div> <bR> <div> "A Mighty Wind" centers around a televised PBS- style genre reunion concert similar to the ones they've done on Doo Wop groups from the 1950's.  This time though it's an aging assortment of 60's era folk stars that are coming together.  Many of them are out of touch with reality due to a combination of drugs, age and general weirdness.  We are treated to a motley crew of hippies, beatniks and Kingston Trio types, many of whom still believe that American folk music is the center of the world.  It is fun to see the three former Spinal Tap members back together again as a Peter, Paul and Mary style trio.  Harry Shearer (Derek from "Spinal Tap") happens to be the bass player once again albeit this time on acoustic bass and without the hair or the cucumber in his pants.  The trio is obviously really playing their instruments in the movie ranging from the four string guitar to the mandolin.  The last time we got to see Christopher Guest on mandolin was the memorable "Stonehendge" performance in "Tap".  Most of the humor comes from watching these characters trying to get their act together for the big show.  I recommend this film to anyone but if you are familiar with the folk movement of the 1950's and 60's in the United States you will appreciate it's perceptiveness in a much greater way. </div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="573"><div> Rated PG-13 for sex related humor</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="592" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="588"><div> Joseph Mark Davis <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Symbol" >Ó</FONT> 2003</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="588"><div> <A HREF="Josephmarkdavis@aol.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Josephmarkdavis@aol.com"><U><U>Josephmarkdavis@aol.com</U></U></A></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>