STOREFRONT HITCHCOCK |
| CREDITS: Director: Jonathan Demme. Cast: Robyn Hitchcock, Deni Bonet & Tim Keegan.
USA 1997. INTRODUCTION: Demme the man who rejuvenated the concert film in the 80's with the Talking Heads film "Stop Making Sense" returns with a film of a very special concert from former Soft Boys and The Egyptians front man Robyn Hitchcock. Successful showing at both the Birmingham and London film festivals have resulted in a general release, albeit a limited one for this entertaining film. SYNOPSIS: Taking over an empty store in downtown Manhattan Hitchcock plays 4 sets over 2 days to a select audience while a variety of bemused New-Yorkers pass by outside. REVIEW: Demme takes a minimalistic approach to the film shooting what happens on stage pretty much as it happens, no back stage footage, no intimate profiling, just Hitchcock, two intermittent backing musicians, two traffic cones, a pair of candles and a mirrorball. But none of this matters, you are after all purely watching to see Hitchcock, and if you're not you soon will be. Without anything to distract ageing 70's British rocker Hitchcock soon takes centre stage entertaining one and all with his unique blend of Folk Rock and surreal banter. With his day-glo shirts and shaggy hairdo he is a man out of time, and all the better for it. It is hard to imagine any of the current plethora of airhead pop-stars being able to engage an audience with their witty and profound observations. A cult figure in the US, i.e. one with only a small following, one can only hope that this film helps to broaden his audience, as he is a truly larger than life character and an unparalleled musical talent. Demme, like most 70's directors, apprenticed under Roger Corman, making such cult movies as "Caged Heat" and "Bloody Mama" before turning to his true love, making films and videos for everyone from Neil Young to New Order, making the genre very much his own with the acclaimed "Stop Making Sense", oh and he also found time to knock out such movies as "Something Wild", "Philadelphia" and "The Silence of the Lambs" for which he won the best director Oscar. The minimalistic style gets a tad distracting as one is constantly waiting for something, anything to happen, but it does give a more authentic experience than any other concert film I can recall. The next best thing to not being there. Mutt's Rating: **** |