FILM REVIEW: A Mighty Wind

[diebitter]

It sounds like some dumb Segal/Van Damme movie, but it isn't! This offering is from much of the same crew that brought you Spinal Tap, Best In Show, and Waiting For Guffman.

It's a mockumentary/comedy about a reunion concert of various folk bands as a tribute to their previous manager/promoter, and is the usual funny-but-subdued style of the films mentioned. Much of the comedy arises from the characters' sense of reality not really fitting the real world, or each other. It's low-key, and you need to be in a relaxed and quiet frame of mind, but it is quite rewarding if you are willing to put in a small bit of effort.

There are 3 main groups in the concert, representing different faces of folk, I guess (I'm no expert). There's a big, clap-happy troupe (Mamas and Papas sort of thing I guess), a straight folk band that got famous once by releasing a novelty record, and a girl-boy duo that are more folk-pop that folk.

For the most part the songs are played straight and are not comedic (with one or two exceptions), and this works well in the film's favour and the most touching is probably the pair Mitch and Mickey, who sort of had something that's gone, but still have some sort of regret and feelings left. Their song 'Kiss at the End of the Rainbow', is genuinely poigniant, and when they perform it, it's the film's emotional highpoint.

I'm finding it hard to properly express the type and level of comedy here, so I'm just going to quote some of the lines to give you a feel on what's in this film:

Jonathan Steinbloom: [referring to his mother] You could say she was overly protective - I just like to think she cared about me, which she did, a lot. And I was a member of the chess team and whenever we would have chess tournaments I had to wear a protective helmet, I had to wear a football helmet. Now who knows what she was thinking? Maybe she thought that we might have fallen maybe and impaled our heads on a pointy bishop or something, I don't know.

Terry Bohner [talking about her personal beliefs]: This is not an occult science. This is not one of those crazy systems of divination and astrology. That stuff's hooey, and you've got to have a screw loose to go in for that sort of thing. Our beliefs are fairly commonplace and simple to understand. Humankind is simply materialized color operating on the 49th vibration. You would make that conclusion walking down the street or going to the store.


If you think these are lame - don't bother with this film. If it think it might appeal, watch the film! Simple as that!

OVERALL: 2.5/5
REWATCHABILITY: Would stand yearly, if you like it.

RATINGS (out of 5):
0 - This is a complete waste of time, and you will regret wasting it (** new addition **)
1 - don't bother unless no other options at all
2 - okay for a single watch, if you've got time
3 - Definite watch if you get a chance
4 - See it very soon, at least once before you die
5 - See it immediately, no excuses


Opinions/comments/arguments please, especially if you think I missed anything worth of discussion/expansion, or violently agree or disagree.