VERSUS THE SCARECROW EPISODE TEN: Double Digits, Double Duty. I decided to challenge myself and really open the doors of my film knowledge and take on “The Scarecrow Video Movie Guide”. It’s 808 pages of movies and movie reviews from some of the most knowledgeable movie people you don’t know. It’s a book put together by a staff that praises, and destroys, some of our favorites and not so favorites. You can read the rest of my series here.
Just a quick refresher: each episode, I’m going to tackle three films from three different categories. Two films will be films I’ve never seen before and one will be one I’ve seen before or own. For the new films, well, new to me, I’m going to review them like a typical FTS review using the TOAST Rating system. But, for the films I’ve seen, I’m going give a quick paragraph or two about why I like or don’t like the film. We’ll try to include the poster and trailer for each film. “….and here. We. Go!”
Can you believe it? Ten episodes already? Where does the time go? Well I can tell you that the time goes towards watching old movies, and some new, reviewing them or happily reflecting back on them… and making snacks to eat while watching and reviewing… and drinking Coke Zero… the point I’m trying to make is thanks for reading!! As a reward, this series will now be a bi-weekly segment! This means more episodes, more movies, and more importantly, more snacks!! As a side note, I am playing with a new writing format and it may or may not change through the coming episodes. Enjoy!!
Now onto this week’s episode: I’ll be taking a look at Christopher Guest’s mockumentary Waiting for Guffman (1996), Woody Allen’s futuristic sci-fi comedy Sleeper (1973), and I reflect back on a film that will soon become the first in a trilogy, Kevin Smith’s Clerks (1994)
Waiting For Guffman (1996) Directed by Christopher Guest. Starring: Christopher Guest, Fred Willard and Catherine O’Hara. IMDB says: “An aspiring director and the marginally-talented amateur cast of a hokey small-town Missouri musical production go overboard when they learn that someone from Broadway will be in attendance.”
Waiting For Guffman is a “documentary” about the town of Blaine, Missouri and the celebration of their 150th anniversary. To mark the occasion, way off-off-off Broadway director, Corky St. Clair (Christopher Guest) is putting on a musical about the town’s history. The film follows the process from beginning to end as St. Clair writes, casts, directs, and ultimately, stars in the production. But the stakes are raised when Cory invites Broadway theatre critic Mr. Guffman to see the show. Can they pull it off? Are they good enough for Broadway?
Regardless of the answers, the film is outrights hilarious. Any film featuring the comedy chops of Christopher Guest, Fred Willard, Catherine O’Hara, David Cross, Eugene Levy, Parker Posey, Larry Miller, Bob Balaban, etc is bound to leave you gasping for breath or in tears as you clutch your stomach from laughing so hard. The film, aside from the musical numbers, was completely improvised and it goes to show you that when the right people work with a unique enough premise, you’re guaranteed gold.
If you enjoy films like This Is Spinal Tap, Best In Show, For Your Consideration, and A Mighty Wind, then you’ll love this film. And if you don’t… well… maybe you should start with this one.
Check back tomorrow for my review of Woody Allen’s Sleeper and then again on Wednesday for the conclusion of episode ten with my reflection on Clerks. And if you’re interested in more, you can find the rest of the Versus The Scarecrow series here.