Dysfunctional Rock Bands
There are few similarities between these films except they share a poorly coalescing, rapidly disintegrating or patently inept rock band.
Half Japanese For the first half of this rockumentary , we figured it was a spoof. Especially since they have Penn Gillette vouch for the artistic talents of this garage band entitled Half Japanese. By the second half, it became apparent that there really is a band called Half Japanese and we just have been out of the loop for the past 15 years. Apparently, Jad Fair and his brother, David, decided they could make music in their bedroom and get themselves heard. The fact that they were incapable of playing musical instruments was no deterrent to these guys and they gathered a sizable cult of fans over the years. Jad has continued the band ( David became an accountant or something) and he even learned to play the guitar after a while. Lack of financial and popular success have never mattered and tenacity matched with sheer artistry drowned out their lack of musical skills. You can find some of their stuff floating around on MP3 sites and it might be worth your while to check them out. You can skip this movie, however, unless of course you already are a "Half Japanese" fan.
Bandits This all women's German rock band is made up of ex convicts using music as their route to rehabilitation. They get into trouble and then they try and get out of it. Nicht ausgezeichnet .Rated R 110 Minutes German w/subtitles 1997
StillCrazy An aged English rock band reunites against their better judgment. Essentially a Spinal Tap copy, with music by Mick Jones of Foreigner and Chris Difford of Squeeze. Very funny performances by Stephen Rea, Billy Conolly and Juliet Aubrey. Directed by Brian Gibson 1999 Rated R 95 minutes
The Commitments This is the saga of and Irish soul band that is cobbled together from a group of tough Dublin residents. With only one professional member, they rise quickly, as no one is more qualified than a Dubliner to sing sweet soul music. In the end, success cheats them, but they weren't ready to handle it anyway. The soundtrack is superb. The best part is that many of the players were taken from an open casting call amongst Ireland's finest. The story is from the Roddy Doyle Trilogy which includes "The Snapper" and "The Van" which are also on film.
This is Spinal Tap Rob Reiner directed this mock rockumentary about the declining luck of a British rock band. THIS IS THE GRAND DADDY OF THIS GENRE. Christopher Guest is in this and it certainly left it's mark on his film style. It makes you wonder how the Stones hung together all these years. Look for Fran Drescher as a bit player 1984 85 minutes Rated R.
Leningrad Cowboys Go America This may be one of the best Finnish movies you'll ever see. You might say this film is the Russian equivalent of Spinal Tap. A very unusual Russian rock band tries their luck on the American club circuit with mixed results. Winner of the best hairdo award at the Cannes festival you can even show this one to small children, but they will probably leave the room. Directed by Aki Kaurismaki, if you like this on, try and find the second best Finnish film of all time Ariel
Dill Scallion The jacket to this this film calls it a country western version of Spinal Tap. Granted, it is a music industry pseudo-documentary, but that's were the similarity ends. Dill (Billy Burke) is a shit kicker school bus driver in central Texas who gets a shot doing radio ads in Nashville. He rockets to the top with Henry Winkler ( I swear I'm not making this up) as his manager. He sings great tunes like "Tube Top Boogie". According to the credits Cheryl Crowe wrote the music. Some of the lyrics are hysterical. Written and directed by Jordan Brady and released on the First Rites label. 1999 Rated PG 91 minutes