Year of Release: 2003
Director: Christopher Guest
Starring: Eugene Levy, Catherine O'Hara, Parker Posey, Jane Lynch, Jennifer Coolidge, Michael McKean, Christopher Guest, Fred Willard, John Michael Higgins, Harry Shearer, Michael Hitchcock, Bob Balaban, Scott Williamson, Don Lake, Larry Miller, Ed Begley Jr., Christopher Moynihan, Jim Piddock, Mina Kolb, Michael Mantell, Diane Baker, Paul Benedict, Paul Dooley, Rachael Harris, Mary Gross
Genre: Comedy
Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 8
Synopsis and Review:
Christopher Guest followed his successful "Best in Show" with another one of his mockumentary films, one of his best thus far. "A Mighty Wind" follows the events that unfurl, after the passing of folk music icon Irving Steinbloom. In his heyday, he was responsible for discovering and grooming a series of very successful folk acts. His son, decides to celebrate his life, by gathering some of these acts together for a celebratory performance. These acts include Mitch and Mikey, a duo once in love who went their separate ways, with Mitch now in a mental institution and Mikey married and with a suburban domestic life. Also included in the menagerie are The Folksmen, who from their challenging start, became a successful act, and who still very much get along, and finally The New Main Street Singers, whose outfits are as colorful as are their eclectic backgrounds in life, with an interesting story of how they got together themselves. All these groups and personalities agree to come back and be a part of the show, with all the challenges that come with handling such a diverse group of personalities.
Christopher Guest's insightful look this time around focuses on music, and specifically on folk music. The film perfectly captures the popularity of these acts in the late 60s, early 70s, a time well known for Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, and an additional series of charismatic performers and artists. What's so remarkable about the film, is how it successfully and comically shows the seriousness and silliness that walk hand in hand even in the most candid and genuine music act. Mitch and Mikey, played to perfection by Eugene Levy and Catherine O'Hara, were former paramours and now their lives are so diametrically opposed, with Mitch completely out of sync with reality and Mikey living her domestic blissful life. Their interactions are hilarious, mostly because Mitch seems completely out of sync with everything and everyone. The other motley groups that Christopher Guest depicts (and plays in one of them of course), are just as equally fantastic, with Jane Lynch, Parker Posey and John Michael Higgins equally composing characters that are riotous, in both their candor and lack of self awareness. It's a film where everything just gels perfectly, from the depiction of the music of the 70s, to the current state of the performers lives (when they're on their downward slope, but still hanging on to the glimmer of stardom they once had), to the phenomenal cast once again reunited (and this time around singing an array of original songs). It's a hilarious and very entertaining feature from a consistently insightful/observational director.
Christopher Guest's insightful look this time around focuses on music, and specifically on folk music. The film perfectly captures the popularity of these acts in the late 60s, early 70s, a time well known for Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, and an additional series of charismatic performers and artists. What's so remarkable about the film, is how it successfully and comically shows the seriousness and silliness that walk hand in hand even in the most candid and genuine music act. Mitch and Mikey, played to perfection by Eugene Levy and Catherine O'Hara, were former paramours and now their lives are so diametrically opposed, with Mitch completely out of sync with reality and Mikey living her domestic blissful life. Their interactions are hilarious, mostly because Mitch seems completely out of sync with everything and everyone. The other motley groups that Christopher Guest depicts (and plays in one of them of course), are just as equally fantastic, with Jane Lynch, Parker Posey and John Michael Higgins equally composing characters that are riotous, in both their candor and lack of self awareness. It's a film where everything just gels perfectly, from the depiction of the music of the 70s, to the current state of the performers lives (when they're on their downward slope, but still hanging on to the glimmer of stardom they once had), to the phenomenal cast once again reunited (and this time around singing an array of original songs). It's a hilarious and very entertaining feature from a consistently insightful/observational director.
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