Still Crazy (1998)

Director:

Brian Gibson

Writers:

Dick Clement (written by) &
Ian La Frenais (written by)

Release Date:

22 January 1999 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance | Music

Tagline:

They were "Strange Fruit". Some called them the greatest rock band of the '70s. They haven't played together for 20 years. No wonder they're worried about their performance.

Plot:

"Strange Fruit" had everything that makes a legendary rockband: Money, Fame, Success, Groupies, a Singer who died of drugs and even a divine ending...

Plot Keywords:

Reunion | Tour | Concert Film | Reference To Jimi Hendrix | Fictional Band

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Golden Globes. Another 2 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Stephen Rea	...	Tony Costello
Billy Connolly	...	Hughie
Jimmy Nail	...	Les Wickes
Timothy Spall	...	David 'Beano' Baggot
Bill Nighy	...	Ray Simms
Juliet Aubrey	...	Karen Knowles
Helena Bergström	...	Astrid Simms
Bruce Robinson	...	Brian Lovell
Hans Matheson	...	Luke Shand
Rachael Stirling	...	Clare Knowles
Phil Daniels	...	Neil Gaydon
Philip Davis	...	Limo Driver (as Phil Davis)
Frances Barber	...	Lady in Black
Zoë Ball	...	Zoë
Virginia Clay	...	Young Karen

MPAA:

Rated R for language, sexuality and drug content.

Runtime:

95 min | Argentina:100 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Canada:PG (Ontario) | Iceland:L | Australia:M | Belgium:KT | Canada:PG | France:U | Germany:12 | Netherlands:12 | Portugal:M/12 (video premiere) | Spain:13 | Sweden:7 | UK:15 | USA:R | Argentina:13 | Philippines:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Albert R. Broccoli 007 Stage, Pinewood Studios, Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

First cinema film of Mackenzie Crook.

Goofs:

Errors in geography: On their way from Groningen to Antwerp the band is passing by some windmills in some typical 'polder' landscape. That sort of landscape with that sort of windmills can not be encountered anywhere along that route, while the possibility of the band having terribly strayed off, gets contradicted by the fact that the two hitchhikers are also heading for Antwerp.

Quotes:

Hughie: [Holding a joint] Would you like a hit?
Karen Knowles: I haven't done that in years
[the Band screws up]
Hughie: Now would be a very good time to start.

Movie Connections:

References Night of the Living Dead (1968)

Soundtrack:

BLACK MOON

More Fruit please

Hello, I was alanrickmaniac. I'm a Still Crazy-holic. It was just another movie I watched partly on TV. Then I had to get the video tape to finally find out how it ends. Then I wanted the DVD, because the tape showed first signs of decay after a few weeks. After the DVD I had to lay my hands on the soundtrack. Then on several film posters and the film script. Right now it has become that worse that I try to push other people into addiction with my website and Still Crazy parties.

How could that happen? What drove me into addiction?

OK, it's one of those funny but somehow sad and melancholic intelligent comedies like only the British can produce.

Alright, the movie is worlds apart from stuff like ''This Is Spinal Tap'', because of the characters, that aren't childish or ultra cool, but real. This is a story about men getting older, too. A story about men getting along with each other. Or don't. It contains some of the best actors possible. Tim Spall. Stephen Rea. Bruce Robinson. Jimmy Nail. And Bill Nighy. Bill Nighy who puts on one of the best performances I've ever seen in a film.

Good, the soundtrack is unbelievable. Foreigner's Mick Jones has written the songs for the imaginary band Strange Fruit. Jimmy Nail who plays bass-man Les Wickes and Bill Nighy portraying the egocentric but awkward singer Ray Simms are really singing. We know that about Jimmy Nail, but if you've only heard Bill Nighy's singing in "Love Actually", you have no idea how great and powerful his voice is.

Well, you'll fever for every scene to come for the x-th time, especially those concert scenes. You'd die to be able to really stand in the dancing crowd when Strange Fruit is doing "All Over The World", singing on the top of your lungs. You long to cry and celebrate with thousands of people the rebirth of the real Strange Fruit at Wisbech's festival stage.

It's hard but... I'm addicted to this film. I'm addicted to Strange Fruit. If there's a world where this band really exists I'd like to move there.

Got Still Crazy... anyone?