folk music

February 25, 2003 10:45 AM

A Mighty Wind - courtesy of Christopher Guest, folk music finally gets the spinal tap treatment.
posted by lilboo (30 comments total)

Christopher Guest is a stud.
posted by oissubke at 10:48 AM on February 25, 2003

As long as it is not the Almost Heroes treatment, I am there.
posted by boost ventilator at 10:58 AM on February 25, 2003

Christopher Guest is a great example of someone who is making a career on his terms in Hollywood. He has an incredibly talented ensemble that he uses in all of his films--similar to a theatre company. I would love to be involved in just one of his films.
posted by witchstone at 10:58 AM on February 25, 2003

"you knew that the new folksman album would be a one word title - hitchin, wishin, ramblin, singin..."
One word here lilboo: ...laughin
posted by madamjujujive at 10:59 AM on February 25, 2003

Speaking of mockumentaries, go see Fubar.
posted by freakystyley at 11:08 AM on February 25, 2003

Even Garrison Keillor got on the mock-the-folkies train the other day: he told the musician on this week's Prarie Home Companion that he was glad he'd resisted the temptation to become a singer/songwriter.

OK, it's not quite the same thing as mocking the folkies. But close.

Cristopher Guest rocks.
posted by namespan at 11:15 AM on February 25, 2003

can't wait!
posted by condour75 at 11:22 AM on February 25, 2003

How's it hangin', Grandma?
posted by milnak at 11:34 AM on February 25, 2003

I have to say I thought Best in Show was a pretty fair step down from Waiting for Guffman, and this might be another step down from Best in Show. But I also have to say that would still make it among the funniest movies of the past few decades.

As far as I'm concerned, this whole company can make a movie every year until they're all in dotage and I'll go see every one.
posted by argybarg at 11:53 AM on February 25, 2003

With the presence of both Shearer and McKeon, it will surely be better than Best in Show. It's amazing because McKeon is like fire, and Guest is like ice, and then Shearer is great in the middle as sort of luke-warm water.
posted by cell divide at 11:57 AM on February 25, 2003

I actually liked Best in Show more than Waiting for Guffman. No accounting for taste, I suppose. Regardless, Guest & Co. are easily the best group of comedic actors in film today, and the announcement of a new effort from them is always a Major Event as far as I'm concerned.
posted by Acetylene at 12:00 PM on February 25, 2003

Glad to see Harry Shearer getting back into the act!
posted by Robot Johnny at 1:06 PM on February 25, 2003

If its even half as funny as Best in show (and the extra 20 minutes of scenes on the DVD) then its still way ahead of pack and well worth seeing.
posted by Fupped Duck at 1:11 PM on February 25, 2003

I'm pretty sure there's never been a cooler baron than Christopher Guest. Baron Munchausen is a distant second.
posted by Devils Slide at 1:12 PM on February 25, 2003

this absolutely makes my day, and it's been a pretty good day so far

what'd be beautiful: a folkie song sung to the tune of Big Bottom:

Back bacon
Back bacon
Gotta love the cornbread
My girl's makin

Back bacon
Back bacon
Talkin bout mudhens
My girl's got em

or some other Tap-derived banjo-twangin self-parody ditty
posted by billder at 1:27 PM on February 25, 2003

aargh! but not opening in Portland.

road trip!
posted by billder at 1:28 PM on February 25, 2003

'Best in show' was note-perfect about the obsessive, strange world of pure-bred dog shows, except for the final shot, which is a horrible, unfounded slur on pugs, the most noble and perfect breed of dog, peace be upon them.
posted by lupus_yonderboy at 1:29 PM on February 25, 2003

Speaking of rock and satire, Metallica added Ozzy's bass player as the Jason Newstead replacement.
posted by billsaysthis at 2:46 PM on February 25, 2003

a folkie song sung to the tune of Big Bottom
even better than that billder; folksmen cover of "Start Me Up"...with the "make a dead man cum" line. They opened for Tap in L.A. Pure, unadulterated genius.
posted by raygun21 at 3:39 PM on February 25, 2003

Guest has been involved in every mockumentary of which I am aware, save 'Fear of a Black Hat.' Are there other mockumentaries that are worth seeing? (Other than "Fubar," which I became aware of 45 seconds ago)
posted by Joey Michaels at 3:47 PM on February 25, 2003

Fubar's definitely worth it, but you have to be prepared for the 10 cent budget. I loved CB4 as well, but I think I'm in the minority there...
posted by sauril at 3:51 PM on February 25, 2003

"...And God Spoke" is a classic, too. It's good to see The Hulk getting some work.
posted by ColdChef at 5:58 PM on February 25, 2003

Oh, man! Christopher Guest is lampooning folk music. He's so reckless and brave! It's just like Abbie Hoffman said: "Sacred cows make the tastiest hamburger." I wouldn't want to be the Kingston Trio right now! Isn't Mr. Guest worried for his reputation and his safety?

Has anyone done any accounting of the matter, because I'm positive that "mockumentaries" now outnumber documentaries. It's a pretty tired format ("The Office" series not withstanding).
posted by Mayor Curley at 7:35 PM on February 25, 2003

My favorite Guest sketch on SNL is Synchronized Swimmers. Martin Short and Harry Shearer are training for the Olympics and Guest is their coach. The transcript doesn't do it justice, but you get the idea.
posted by Frank Grimes at 7:47 PM on February 25, 2003

I talked to someone in the North American Folk Alliance about this movie the other day - they're like the national folk music umbrella group - and they think MIGHTY WIND is a scream and they're trying to organize benefit showings.

I think the 'humorless folkie' thing is mostly in people's minds as a stereotype. Just like 'raving MeFi-er' :)
posted by anser at 8:32 PM on February 25, 2003

Oh, man! Christopher Guest is lampooning folk music. He's so reckless and brave!

Yes. Having 'dipped a toe' in the folk scene recently, I have to say, even though I love it, the scope for mockery is so large it almost mocks itself.
posted by Summer at 3:33 AM on February 26, 2003

Guest has been doing this sort of thing for 30 years or so. I have an ooooold National Lampoon Album on which he does a dead-on John Denver parody, and the classic Deteriorata.
posted by MrMoonPie at 9:26 AM on February 26, 2003

I'll be the token voice of dissent. I mean really. It's always the same damn cast of characters played by the same actos telling the same damn jokes.

I'm done with Guest.
posted by kavasa at 10:10 AM on February 26, 2003

In the same genre, you really need to seek out a delightful film called Dill Scallion. It's a great sendup of the country music world, a la Spinal Tap. In the US, try Hollywood Video.
posted by filifera at 11:27 AM on February 26, 2003

Clearly, there are people out there with very different ideas of what constitutes folk than me.
posted by IshmaelGraves at 1:08 PM on February 26, 2003