| A Mighty Wind | | Cast : | Christopher Guest, Harry Shearer, Michael McKean, Eugene Levy | | Director : | Christopher Guest | | Studio : | Warner Home Video | | Format : | Color, Closed-captioned, Widescreen, Dolby | | Released Date : | May 09, 2003 | | DVD Released Date : | September 23, 2003 | | Language : | English (Dubbed), French (Dubbed), French (Subtitled), English (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), English (Original Language), French (Original Language) | | Audience Rating : | PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested) | | | BUY THIS DVD FROM AMAZON |
Customer Reviews
| Rating |  | | Date | May 17, 2005 | | Summary | Light Viewing! | Content
 | Yet another presentation by the old gang of Eugene Levy, Katharine O'Hara, Christopher Guest and the rest. It has a dry humor that somehow is infectious and mildly hysterical. A mock documentary that I can watch it over and over again and can still get a laugh out of it. I would certainly recommend it when you are in a funk and want a bit of a lift, something to give you a smile and a chuckle. |
| Rating | | | Date | May 15, 2005 | | Summary | Monty Python meets America's Heartland | Content
| Christopher Guest's mockumentaries are no end of enjoyment. This has to be his best, though it's hard to discern the type of humor that Guest had such a handle on; "Best in Show" was great because the whole idea of those stuck-up kennel shows was exposed. "Waiting for Guffman" was special because I was involved in Community theatre in the past, and people REALLY are like that! I grew up with Peter, Paul & Mary, the Christy Minstrels, and everyone else that is parodied. It's a trip to the past, with tons of humor and appreciation. Mr. Guest's usual band of artists (Parker Posey, Eugene Levy, Catherie O'Hara, Fred Willard, Paul Benedict, Bob Balaban, etc.) are all wonderful, given their appropriately assigned characters. I can't wait until Mr. Guest's next parody. He hits all the right nerves, especially for those of us who have been there and know how silly the whole thing can be. |
| Rating | | | Date | May 12, 2005 | | Summary | Lightly mocking mockumentary | Content
| Perhaps the ultimate "Mockumentary", "Wind" tells the story of the battered tragicomic lives of several (fictitious) 1960's-era Folk-music acts. Mitch and Mickey ("Second City" alums Eugene Levy and Catherine O'Hara) never consummated the love they found together with their music, and tore each other to pieces over it; "The Folksmen" (Shearer, Guest and McKean - playing characters a world apart from those of "Spinal Tap") are simply oblivious to how time has passed them by, and communicate in a stream of near Zen koans while they debate minutiae endlessly; "The New Main Street Players" assault you inane cheerfulness, which may clue you into the fact that they're a cult. All three acts are brought together to play a PBS tribute to famed (also fictitious) Folk promoter Irving Steinbloom - a one-night, live affair arranged by his three now-grown folk-hating children. The flick cuts between the back-room arrangements and the group itself. Much of the movie plays like "Spinal Tap" - having the various acts perfect their craft while saying and acting like total idiots. Mirroring the difference between heavy-metal and folk, the flick doesn't cut into its subjects like those in "Tap", though some bits are outrageous - and most of those deal with an obnoxious former child-star turned comedian who now manages the "Main Street Players" and is of course the latest in a long line of loudmouth louts played by Fred Willard.
"Mighty" excels because of its light touch, managing to extract both humor and emotion from its unsympathetic subjects. The emotional center is Levy's Mitch Cohen - a musical and poetic genius burnt out by his unrequited love for O'Hara's Mickey Crabbe. Mickey's happily married, but has been a musical widow of sorts for years. By the end of the story, they will have to come to terms with the fact that their musical romance will remain as unrealized as their real one. The magic of "Mighty" is how it manages to be both funny and touching at the same time, culminating in the aftermath of the Steinbloom tribute, which is both funny and sad. |
| Rating | | | Date | March 22, 2005 | | Summary | A folksinger parody with everything but Bob Dylan. | Content
| This movie brings a powerful cast of modern-day comedians together to parody the pre-Vietnam war generation of folksingers. The music, surprisingly, is very good, if you like folk music, and a delight, especially for those of us who enjoy Woody Guthrie, Peter Paul and Mary, Tom Paxton, et al. The deadpan humor of the actors is dead-on, but is probably lost on a younger generation brought up on Britney and Christina, or hip-hop, or even Nsync. In today's CGI-infected shoot-em-up Arnold/Sylvestor action figure movies, this movie is a very refreshing intermission. Favorite line: "This is public television. I don't think the viewers have remotes."
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| Rating | | | Date | February 27, 2005 | | Summary | A Comedic Masterpiece. | Content
| I just saw this for a second time and have to say that I think it's even stronger than "Best in Show." That says quite a bit in itself as the sardonic humor in "Best in Show" is tough to surpass. The premise for this movie is excellent as there is so much about the folk music scene that one can find humor in. Guest and Levy's script is subtle in its brilliance and I found more to enjoy during the second viewing than the first. The cameo appearances are also magnificent. Ed Begley Jr. as Lars Olfen, the yiddish speaking Swede, is wonderful as is Fred Willard who just about steals the movie as a degenerate, cheeseball producer. Some of Willard's lines are so goofy it's just about impossible not to laugh. This is an upbeat, enjoyable film that provides one with a nice escape from real life. |
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