Wilburys

 

 (wikipedia)

THE TRUE STORY OF THE TRAVELING WILBURYS-2007-Great overview documentary about the last real super group (George Harrison,Bob Dylan,Roy Orbison,Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne with drummer Jim Keltner) and why it came about and how they wrote, played and recorded the album in the spring of 1988 at Dave Stewart's house. It's ultimately a little sad of course since Roy Orbison died so suddenly (and Harrison & Petty are both gone now...). Probably could have been longer but nevertheless a nice little documentary.

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Well, It's Shorter Than Renaldo and Clara...

MASKED AND ANONYMOUS-2003-In a war torn fictitious country ruled by a dying dictator, a crooked music promoter Uncle Sweetheart (John Goodman) plans a big musical benefit to aid the impoverished country but actually wants to keep all the proceeds for himself and pay off his debts. Unfortunately the only performer he can get is a once famous but now forgotten rock star Jack Fate (Bob Dylan) who's in prison. He's let out and goes by bus to perform. It turns out Jack was born and raised there and was childhood friends with the low life who plans to take over when the dictator dies (Mickey Rourke). Another musician Bobby Cupid (Luke Wilson) who joins Jack and his band "Simple Twist of Fate" (Dylan's real band) says he has a guitar that belonged to Blind Lemon Jefferson.

Meanwhile Sweetheart's wife?/girlfriend?/sister? Nina (Jessica Lange) insults him, complains, smokes a lot and cries. A government agent (Bruce Dern) sends a reporter (Jeff Bridges) to spy on the activities. He's accompanied by his religiously bent wife (Penelope Cruz). Other characters include an animal handler (Val Kilmer), a performer friend of Fate's father (Ed Harris in black face), a government whore (Angela Bassett), Christian Slater as a roadie, Fred Ward as a drunk and Cheech Marin in one scene with Dylan whose character mainly listens to others spouting their philosophy and has very little actual dialogue (he narrates much of it though). I didn't expect the violent ending. 

The film was written by Dylan and Larry Charles, both using pseudonyms. Charles was a former writer/producer for SEINFELD who later worked on a lot of TV shows (CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM, THE TICK, DILBERT, ENTOURAGE) and directed nonsense like BORAT and BRUNO.  

Subterranean Bad Movie Blues

HEARTS OF FIRE-Warner Bros.-1987-Apparently someone thought ‘80’s singer Fiona was going to be more than just a one hit wonder and decided she should star in a movie. Joe Eszterhas co-wrote it (years before his 3 million dollar paycheck for BASIC INSTINCT) and Raymond Marquand (THE RETURN OF THE JEDI) directed it! But the wildest thing of all is that Bob Dylan co-stars in it!

Fiona plays Molly Maguire, a toll taker by day, struggling singer/guitarist in a cover bar band at night. She meets reclusive fallen rock star Billy Parker (Dylan) now living on his late father’s farm. They sing one of his “hits” (a song called “The Usual” written by someone else) and then he invites her to join him in England for an “oldies” concert. Richie Havens, Ron Wood and Ian Dury have small roles around this time. They also meet an unhappy new wave type teen idol James Colt (Rupert Everett) who sings Soft Cell’s “Tainted Love” several times. Young fans mob him when he’s out with his young daughter and he and Molly become lovers. Julian Glover plays his manservant. Parker trashes a hotel room and goes back home and Molly goes on a world tour with Colt. A blind woman tries to kill him and Molly returns home to be crooned by Billy in a barn.

It’s not the really bad movie it could have been. It’s just not very good. Dylan did this 9 years after his self-made colossal disaster RENALDO &  CLARA and except for cameos didn’t act again until MASKED AND ANONYMOUS in 2003. Fiona was a typical ‘80’s female “screamer” with little talent.

It went directly to video and was the last feature for Marquand who died suddenly of a heart attack the same year. He also directed THE BIRTH OF THE BEATLES, EYE OF THE NEEDLE and JAGGED EDGE (also written by Eszterhas). The Hungarian born Eszterhas was a former “Rolling Stone” writer who later wrote the pathetic SHOWGIRLS.

Rupert Everett went on to star in many unusual features like CEMETERY MAN and INSIDE MONKEY ZETTERLAND.

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