A Mighty Wind (2003)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

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

US TV Schedule:

Mon. Nov. 9	4:30 PM	COMEDY
Tue. Nov. 10	10:00 AM	COMEDY

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
Catherine O'Hara	...	Mickey Crabbe
Bob Balaban	...	Jonathan Steinbloom
Rachael Harris	...	Steinbloom's Assistant
Tyler Forsberg	...	Young Jonathan Steinbloom
Paul Dooley	...	George Menschell
Jim Ortlieb	...	David Kantor
Andrew Dickler	...	1971 Dell Wiseman
Thomas Lowry	...	1971 Howard Wiseman (as Thom Lowry)
Keva Rosenfeld	...	1971 Chuck Wiseman
Brian Allen	...	1960s Mitch & Mickey Bass
Danny Merritt	...	1960s Mitch & Mickey Guitar
Paul Benedict	...	Martin Berg
Floyd Van Buskirk	...	Steve Lang (as Floyd Vanbuskirk)
Jane Lynch	...	Laurie Bohner
John Michael Higgins	...	Terry Bohner
Parker Posey	...	Sissy Knox
Christopher Moynihan	...	Sean Halloran
David Blasucci	...	Tony Pollono
Patrick Sauber	...	Jerald Smithers
Steve Pandis	...	Johnny Athenakis
Mark Nonisa	...	Mike Maryama
Cameron Sprague	...	Young Terry Bohner
LeShay N. Tomlinson	...	Steinbloom's Secretary (as Leshay Tomlinson)
Mina Kolb	...	Dr. Mildred Wickes
Jim Piddock	...	Leonard Crabbe
Don Lake	...	Elliott Steinbloom
Deborah Theaker	...	Naomi Steinbloom
Fred Willard	...	Mike LaFontaine
Ed Begley Jr.	...	Lars Olfen
Wendel Meldrum	...	Witch #1
Diane Delano	...	Witch #2
Jim Jennewein	...	Witch #3 (as James Jennewein)
Richard Hicks	...	Witch #4
Michael Hitchcock	...	Lawrence E. Turpin
Larry Miller	...	Wally Fenton
Jennifer Coolidge	...	Amber Cole
Michael Mantell	...	Deputy Mayor
Bill Cobbs	...	Blues Musician
Freda Foh Shen	...	Melinda Barrows
Darlene Kardon	...	Shirley Steinbloom
Scott Williamson	...	PBN TV Director
Joe Godfrey	...	Mitch & Mickey Bass
Bruce Gaitsch	...	Mitch & Mickey Guitar
Diane Baker	...	Supreme Folk Defense Lawyer

Directed by
Christopher Guest

Writing credits (WGA)
Christopher Guest		(written by) &
Eugene Levy		(written by)

Produced by
Donna E. Bloom	....	line producer
Karen Murphy	....	producer

Cinematography by
Arlene Nelson		(as Arlene Donnelly Nelson)

Film Editing by
Robert Leighton

Casting by
Richard Hicks

Production Design by
Joseph T. Garrity

Art Direction by
Pat Tagliaferro

Set Decoration by
Dena Roth

Costume Design by
Durinda Wood

Makeup Department
Judi Cooper-Sealy	....	hair designer
Ann Masterson	....	key makeup artist
Kate Shorter	....	key makeup artist
Terri Ewton	....	hair stylist (uncredited)
Terri Ewton	....	makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Donna E. Bloom	....	unit production manager
Pamela Louise Griner	....	post-production supervisor
Montez A. Monroe	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Joan G. Bostwick	....	second assistant director: New York
Cary Jones	....	second second assistant director
Scott Andrew Robertson	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Scott Buckwald	....	property master
Dan Dorfer	....	camera scenic artist
L. David Gordon	....	drapery foreman
Jeanne Kukor	....	property assistant
Debi Shirk Tagliaferro	....	art department coordinator
Franco Esile	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Kon Iliov	....	propmaker (uncredited)
Dean B. Katz	....	leadman (uncredited)
Kathy Orlando	....	buyer (uncredited)

Sound Department
Lawrence L. Commans	....	boom operator
Alison Fisher	....	adr editor
Alison Fisher	....	dialogue editor
Todd Harris	....	assistant sound editor
Matthew Iadarola	....	supervising re-recording mixer
Michael Magill	....	sound editor
Andy Peach	....	post-production sound recordist
Kira Smith	....	utility sound technician
Hamilton Sterling	....	supervising sound editor
Mark Weingarten	....	production sound mixer
Gary Gegan	....	sound re-recording mixer (uncredited)
Robin Harlan	....	foley artist (uncredited)
Sarah Monat	....	foley artist (uncredited)
Chris Navarro	....	adr recordist (uncredited)
Randy Singer	....	foley mixer (uncredited)
Susumu Tokunow	....	sound mixer: reshoots (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
David M. Dunlap	....	director of photography: second unit, New York
Doug Foote	....	first assistant camera: second unit
Jordan Lapsansky	....	lighting technician
William M. Weberg	....	best boy grip: New York
David Barker	....	video assist operator (uncredited)
Brian Bartolini	....	electrician: re-shoots (uncredited)
Barry Berona	....	first assistant camera (uncredited)
Matt Blades	....	key rigging grip: New York (uncredited)
Rick Davis	....	key grip (uncredited)
Russell Griffith	....	electrician: re-shoots (uncredited)
Tim Hubbard	....	camera operator (uncredited)
David Lee	....	gaffer (uncredited)
Mike Shaheen	....	video playback operator (uncredited)
Ian Strang	....	electrician (uncredited)
Suzanne Tenner	....	still photographer (uncredited)

Casting Department
Leigh French	....	voice casting
Jimmy Jue	....	extras casting
Matthew Skrobalak	....	casting associate
Jill Warner	....	casting intern
Summer Wesson	....	extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Gloria Fonseca	....	costumer (uncredited)
Jaimie Froemming	....	costumer intern (uncredited)
Jennifer Starzyk	....	costumer (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Andrew Dickler	....	additional editor
Chris Wagley	....	color timer
Mark Yoshikawa	....	first assistant editor

Music Department
Fernand Bos	....	supervising music editor
Jeffrey C.J. Vanston	....	music producer
Adrian Van Velsen	....	music editor

Transportation Department
Keith D. Fisher	....	transportation captain
Don Poole	....	driver
Aaron Skalka	....	transportation coordinator
Ken Farnell	....	driver (uncredited)
Michael Forte	....	transportation coordinator: re-shoots (uncredited)

Other crew
Michael Wesley Aycock	....	assistant location manager
Ian Calip	....	production assistant
Robby Fisher	....	assistant: Mr. Murphy
Michael M. Franklin	....	production assistant
Robbie Goldstein	....	location manager
Pamela Louise Griner	....	assistant: Mr. Guest (as Pamela Griner)
Gregory D. Hemstreet	....	production accountant
Bart Higgins	....	production assistant
Michael Judd	....	production assistant
David Kaufman	....	location manager
Colin McKean	....	production assistant
Carla Raij	....	location manager: New York
Marci Rosenberg	....	production coordinator
Albert Salsich	....	assistant location manager
Steffen Schlachtenhaufen	....	production assistant
Billy Taylor	....	production assistant
Mimi Turner	....	location scout
Susan White	....	production assistant
Clark Credle	....	additional production assistant (uncredited)
Gary C. Ferraro	....	caterer (uncredited)
Ronald Hairston Jr.	....	craft service (uncredited)
Ronald E. Hairston	....	key craft service (uncredited)
Ryce Hetherington	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Jonathan B. Lee	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Stephanie Lovell	....	additional set production assistant (uncredited)
Helen McGinn	....	script supervisor (uncredited)
Anne Scott	....	post-production accountant (uncredited)

Thanks
Jeffrey Stott	....	thanks

Production Companies

• Castle Rock Entertainment

Distributors

• Warner Bros. Pictures (2003) (USA) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2004) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2004) (UK) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2004) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (2004) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Net5 (2009) (Netherlands) (TV) (first national airing)
• Sandrew Metronome Distribution (2004) (Finland) (DVD)
• Sandrew Metronome Distribution (2004) (Finland) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2004) (Netherlands) (DVD) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2004) (USA) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Central Casting  extras casting
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  cranes and dollies
• Columbia Records  soundtrack
• DMZ Records  soundtrack
• Inter Video  24 frame video services
• Sony Music Soundtrax  soundtrack

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:

One of the Special Features of the DVD is footage of the concert in its entirety as it would have appeared if broadcast for TV.

Goofs:

Continuity: Just before Mitch and Mickey are introduced the MC has his right hand up, holding a piece of blue paper. In the next shot, he has both hands at his sides.

Quotes:

Terry Bohner: This is not an occult science. This is not one of those crazy systems of divination and astrology. That stuff's hooey, and you've got to have a screw loose to go in for that sort of thing. Our beliefs are fairly commonplace and simple to understand. Humankind is simply materialized color operating on the 49th vibration. You would make that conclusion walking down the street or going to the store.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Veronica Mars: President Evil (#3.5)" (2006)

Soundtrack:

Skeletons of Quinto

Subtle Bull's Eye

Christopher Guest's movies, like his performances, are generally subtle and always low-key. They are not for people who need laugh tracks to follow the humor and most of his work is so contextually-based that some knowledge of the subject he's dissecting is a definite asset. Guest, who was a performer in the very early SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE, is, in many respects, the Anti-Belushi of modern American comedy.

Nevertheless, he shares with Belushi - and many of their contemporaries, who came from one or another branch of the Second City organization - a certain fondness for off-the-wall elements in his work; Guest's tend to be slipped in, quietly, while Belushi's popped out of exploding cakes.

A MIGHTY WIND is a spot-on satire of the American Folk Music movement of the early and mid-1960s. The narrative conceit is a memorial concert for a recently deceased impressario, organized by his son, which reunites three folk groups from the 60s.

The real elements of the film are the send-ups of a variety of tropes of the era, musical styles, personalities, and quite an array of music-business cliches. Remarkably, however, the songs are genuinely entertaining in themselves; both the writing and the performances. They're satirical, but so subtlely performed that it's easy to loose the thread of the lyrics and wind up mindlessly nodding heads and grooving along, which pretty neatly captures the popular music experience for the last several generations. Satire within satire.

The musical performances are excellent, recreating, almost frighteningly, the taste and texture of folk music of the era. And, bringing several real 60s folk acts to mind.

The acting is typical of Guest movies, such as SPINAL TAP and BEST IN SHOW; very quiet, restrained, low-key, with, apparently, a lot of dialogue improvised. The performers are mostly drawn from the same group Guest has used in the past: Eugene Levy (who co-wrote the script with Guest) and Catherine O'Hara, Harry Shearer, Michael McKean, Ed Begley, Jr., and Guest, himself.

Comparisons with Guest's most popular picture, THIS IS SPINAL TAP are both interesting and tricky. Interesting because both movies were written and directed by the same man, and shared most of the same casts. Tricky, because while some seem to compare AMW unfavorably with TIST, a looking at these films, together, they have a lot in common. So much so, in fact, that it's reasonable to consider them a pair; very similar takes on two, distinct musical genres of a similar era. The writing, acting, tone, pacing of these two movies is very similar. The jokes are similar. The points of view are similar. The focus on both performers, and the behind-the-scenes people is similar. The real difference is the music.

This, in turn, tends to suggest that those who react very differently to these two films may be reacting more to the music, directly, and to the ambiance of the world around the particular musical genre more than anything else.

Guest's movies don't have many laugh-out-loud moments. Most of the humor is more the "big-smile", sometimes, the chuckle, kind. But, Ed Begley, Jr. has perhaps his best comic scene, ever, when he does a take as a Swedish-American public television producer dropping Yiddish into his conversation; one word per sentence. It's a totally dead-pan and very quiet performance which, like so much of Christopher Guest's humor, you will either get or not get. If you do, you may fall off your chair.

Eugene Levy, who co-wrote the script, with Guest, is also very good, having finally invented a second character after having spent something more than 30 years (since his Second City TV days) doing variations of one.

Who might enjoy A MIGHTY WIND? Anyone who remembers the era and the music, and anyone who enjoys show business insider takes. It's a more difficult call for those born later. And, if you have trouble keeping Janis Joplin and Joanie Mitchell distinct in your mind, you probably won't follow most of what's going on.