A Mighty Wind
Starring: Eugene Levy, Catherine O'Hara, Bob Balaban, Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, Harry Shearer
Director: Christopher Guest
The film: If you've seen Best In Show (2000) and Waiting For Guffman (1996) - or have been lucky enough to catch re-runs of Toronto-based SCTV (Second City Television) - you'll know straight off the bat what these people are all about. Under the guidance of director-screenwriter-actor Christopher Guest, the artists gathered here are some of the finest improv comedians in North America. And the 'mocumentary' style of film is their stock-in-trade. After parodying the world of dog fanciers and amateur theatre, they have turned their attention to the world of folk music. And once again it's a scream; at turns savage satire and warm nostalgia.
The idea behind their work is that Guest and his cohorts - among them the fabulous Eugene Levy, Catherine O'Hara, Bob Balaban and Guest's fellow Spinal Tap alumni Michael McKean and Harry Shearer - are given a basic outline of who their characters are and what their motivation might be. Then they are wound up and let go.
A Mighty Wind follows the planning and execution of a tribute concert held to honour the memory of one Irving Steinbloom, the man behind the scenes of America's great love affair with folk music through the 1950s and 60s. His son (Balaban) brings folk's three biggest acts - The Folksmen, Mitch & Mickey and The New Main Street Singers - back to New York City's Town Hall for one last hootenanny. Old ties are rekindled, old jealousies resurface and everyone involved gets to tell their sorry - and sometimes sordid - tales straight to the camera. Best of a very good bunch is Levy as folk's fallen idol Mitch Cohen. His portrayal of a man whose mind went away for a little trip but never quite made it all the way back home is brilliant. Cameos from the likes of Fred Willard and Ed Begley Jnr round make this a rollicking watch.