A Mighty Wind (2003)

Director:

Christopher Guest

Writers (WGA):

Christopher Guest (written by) &
Eugene Levy (written by)

Release Date:

9 May 2003 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Music

Tagline:

Back together for the first time, again.

Plot:

Mockumentary captures the reunion of 1960s folk trio the Folksmen as they prepare for a show at The Town Hall to memorialize a recently deceased concert promoter.

Plot Keywords:

The Folksmen | Concert | 1960s | Reunion | Amusement Park

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 11 wins & 12 nominations

Cast

Jim Moret	...	Newscaster
Stuart Luce	...	Irving Steinbloom
Mary Gross	...	Ma Klapper
Marty Belafsky	...	Ramblin' Sandy Pitnik
Michael Baser	...	Pa Klapper
Jared Nelson Smith	...	Young Chuck Wiseman
Ryan Raddatz	...	Bill Weyburn
Todd Lieberman	...	Fred Knox
Matthew Joy	...	Boy Klapper
Laura Harris	...	Girl Klapper
Brian Riley	...	Young George Menschell
Harry Shearer	...	Mark Shubb
Michael McKean	...	Jerry Palter
Christopher Guest	...	Alan Barrows
Eugene Levy	...	Mitch Cohen

Also Known As:

Untitled Christopher Guest Project (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for sex-related humor.

Runtime:

91 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Iceland:L | Finland:K-3 | Netherlands:AL | Argentina:13 | Australia:PG | New Zealand:PG | Singapore:PG | UK:12A | USA:PG-13 (certificate #39820) | Canada:PG

Filming Locations:

Greystone Park & Mansion - 905 Loma Vista Drive, Beverly Hills, California, USA

Company:

Castle Rock Entertainment

Trivia:

The cover of Mitch and Mickey's record "Meet Mitch and Mickey" is a reference to the cover of "Meet the Beatles".

Goofs:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: After Mitch and Mickey are introduced during the concert, there is an overhead distant shot of the stage. Mitch can be seen nodding to the guitarist to his left, and the two begin strumming - but no music is heard. Mickey also begins playing and her lips don't move, but she is heard thanking the audience. It then cuts to a two-shot, and nobody is playing while Mickey continues talking to the audience.

Quotes:

[Looking at some item of clothing in a shop]
Terry Bohner: Honey, can you run your hand over this? What are you getting?
Laurie Bohner: I'm getting a bounce, but there's a lightness within it.

Movie Connections:

References "Saturday Night Live: Michael McKean/Chaka Khan/The Folksmen (#10.4)" (1984)

Soundtrack:

Skeletons of Quinto

Doesn't have to be mean to be funny

Some felt that this was too close to reality to be considered a parody, but I thought it was beautifully done - made fun of the cloying smugness of some "folkies", but mixed it with genuine pathos. I have a feeling Eugene Levy may have lost a couple of friends to bad acid trips - his portrayal was hilarious, but not cruel. Christopher Guest continues to amaze me with his light touch; most comedies put people in bad situations and make them squirm their way through; instead Guest takes apparently mediocre characters and puts them in situations that stretch their personalities.

Contains the single funniest comment I've ever heard about model trains.

Suggested double feature: This is Spinal Tap, Waiting for Guffman, or Bob Roberts