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pageeight AROUNDTOWN This is Spinal Tap taps into rock humor Eighth in a series feet, he places two quotation marks after the Smalls plays a double-neck guitar during ww Hillary Lindwall height. Hilarity ensues at the next concert as the one of their shows. However, rather than Managing Editor tiny structure—smaller than the druid dwarves the traditional bass and guitar double-neck, dancing onstage—is lowered. both fretboards are of the four-string bass In the early 1980s, the music scene was at the Much of the humor of the film comes from variety. Guest turns another rock cliché on advent of the heavy metal “hair bands” era, and the fact that the film pokes fun at actual rock its ear when during as solo, Tufnel plays MTV was in its infancy and still playing music bands or occurrences that have happened in electric guitar not with a violin bow but with videos 24/7. music history. the actual violin. When the band’s Boston Director Rob Reiner and co-writers For example, when St. Hubbins’ girlfriend gig is cancelled for lack of ticket sales, Faith Christopher Guest, Michael McKean and Harry (played by Vicki Blue, who bears a striking consoles the band by pointing out “at least it Shearer (the brain trust that would later produce resemblance to the late Linda McCartney) joins is not a college town.” the folk music send-up A Mighty Wind) took the band on their tour, Tufnel leaves Spinal Even the documentary style is a parody. note of the hype and channeled into a hilarious, Tap. This is supposed to represent the split of Reiner represents famous director Martin parodic “mockumentary” called This is Spinal the Beatles when Linda and Yoko Ono came Scorsese, whose documentary of The Band, Tap. between Paul McCarney and John Lennon. titled The Last Waltz, was the inspiration for The film involves documentarian Marty Another Beatles homage is the alternate the film, even down to the USS Coral Sea cap DeBergi’s chronicle of the Return of Spinal cover of the band’s album Smell the Glove, the that Reiner and Scorsese wear throughout Tap, a British rock band that has been off the original deemed too racy for department stores. each film American radar for several years. They expect The cover, which is all black (as the dimwitted Multiple cameo appearances amuse as their latest tour to bring them more success than Tufnel says, “How much more black could well, with Dana Carvey and Billy Crystal ever, but this is not the case, resulting in several this cover be. None. None more black.”), an appearing as mimes, Fran Drescher stealing Tap funny. Although most scenes would make hilarious turns of events. obvious a parody of the Beatles’ White Album. the show as Tap’s record label representative, anyone laugh, many of today’s teens would not The members of Spinalcult Tap include classicsDavid St. Still another page from history is lampooned and Late Show with David Letterman second understand many of the allusions in the film. Hubbins (McKean), Nigel Tufnel (Guest) and by the mysterious deaths of all of Spinal banana Paul Schafer as Artie Fufkin, the One would have to be knowledgeable in the Derek Smalls (Shearer), along with a variety Tap’s drummers, including one who died, like incompetent promoter. field of rock history (or have a parent sitting of sidemen, including a series of unfortunate legendary guitarist Jimi Hendrix, by choking Reiner did a masterful job directing the nearby to explain) to get all the inside jokes. drummers. As the documentary progresses, on vomit. The kicker is that it was someone’s film to look like a true documentary, helped in This reservation aside, This is Spinal Tap is the audience really gets a feel for the dynamic else’s regurgitation. part by the fact that actors adlibbed almost all a funny movie that could be enjoyed by anyone among band members and how they relate to Some of the funniest scenes in the film the lines, a techniques Guest continues to use who likes music and is familiar with the history each other while on tour. Although there is much involve scenarios that one imagines actually in his own films (Waiting for Guffman, Best in of musical styles. After all, as the tagline says, drama during the film, it is all quite comical. occur backstage, such as becoming lost on Show, For Your Consideration as well as the This is Spinal Tap “does for rock-and-roll what For example, while deciding on a bold, new the way to the stage, complaining about a aforementioned collaboration). All of the scenes The Sound of Music did for hills.” direction for a show, Tufnel draws a picture deli platter and Tufnet’s showing DeBergi his seemed unscripted and the actors did a good job of Stonehenge on a napkin at a diner and tells extensive collection of guitars, some of which of assuming the role of rock star. This is Spinal Tap the band manager, Ian Faith (Tony Hendra), to never have been played. While this reviewer found the film to be have someone make a set from his drawing. Other aspects of the film are more subtle. very enjoyable, it would be difficult to say that However, rather than marking the drawing 18 In typical 1980s rock-and-roll style, Shearer’s all teenagers of today would find This is Spinal Rob Reiner AROUNDTOWN pagenine WestWord Jones produces unique holiday comedy dancer daughter Rosie (Drew Barrymore) lives. To avoid a spoiler alert, let us just say Niro’s previous performances. De Niro truly Morgan Quilici Again, after a short visit Frank decides to go ww that a traumatic event occurs, followed by the embodies the character of Frank and gives a Copy Editor back home, this time by plane. divulging of information to the father that was performance that is definitely one to see. At the Throughout the film the children all converse previously held from him. This ends up bringing end of the movie there is a very emotional scene the family closer together, and by the end of between De Niro and his children. De Niro made the film, Frank finally has the gathering that he this reviewer believe he was Frank through his At first glance, Everybody’s Fine (Miramax), always wanted. complete commitment to the character. the new film directed by Kirk Jones, seems Two of the most impressive aspects of the film The actors who play Frank’s children also like just another stereotypical holiday comedy. were Andrew Mondshein’s editing and Henry give good performances. They all portray the However, to this reviewer’s pleasant surprise Branham’s cinematography. This reviewer was secretive aspect of their characters well. Even the movie fell more along the lines of a heartfelt shocked that a holiday movie could embody so from their facial expressions the audience can family drama due to the unique and surprising many different techniques. In the beginning of see that something is not adding up. However, storyline. the film, when Frank is mowing the lawn, the none of the other actors lose themselves in the Frank Goode (Robert De Niro), a retired director’s use of high and low angles, along roles as does DeNiro, particularly the female widower, attempts to reunite his family after with different framing shots, gives the movie principals whom this reviewer never forgot they have grown apart while leading very a very original and impressive opening. The were Barrymore and Beckinsale playing Rosie different lives. As Frank is making his final director often used framing, including through and Amy. Rockwell’s performance as Robert preparations for the gathering, the children all windows. This added additional uniqueness to was more believable because he was honest and call and give him mysterious, cryptic reasons as the opening. genuine with his acting. to why they cannot attend. Additionally, the director adds one-of-a-kind Overall, Everybody’s Fine is a film that could Frank decides to take matters into his own techniques to the film that make it exceptional. bring any family closer together. The film hands and travel around the country to visit Frank’s job is to put the polyvinyl-chloride combines a great storyline with stellar editing, with each of his children. This does not turn out coating on telephone wire. Throughout the direction, cinematography and acting together so well. film, the director includes telephone wires as a to produce one great film. First, he buys a train ticket and heads to metaphor in certain scenes. For example, while Chicago to surprise his daughter Amy (Kate Frank’s children are conversing on the phone, Beckinsale). When Amy, who is in advertising, Everybody’s Fine dialogue is only heard, and scenic images of hints at the fact that she is too busy to entertain telephone wires appear. her father, Frank leaves and heads to Denver to De Niro’s performance is truly unique. It see his son. is hear-felt and moving and unlike any of De Kirk Jones After a quick visit with his father, Frank’s on the phone about topics that are unknown to son Robert (Sam Rockwell), a musician, who both the audience and their father, including happens to be going out of town himself says secrets about Frank’s other son David. This goodbye to his father. mystery is part of the reason why Everybody’s Arctic Monkeys rock stage Frank then heads to Las Vegas where his Fine is so intriguing. guitar and Nick O’Malley and Andy Nicholson wwKathryn Booker on bass, the band’s style is comparable to that of Savory Indonesian cuisine offers variety Staff Writer their musical influences The Beatles and U2.

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