This gently satirical British comedy chronicles the quixotic reunion of a late, arguably not-so-great and unlamented 70s rock band, Strange Fruit, with a winning mix of humour and poignancy. The "Fruits", as the survivors call themselves without irony, had disbanded after the tragic loss of one member, the mysterious disappearance of another and the aftershocks of internal rivalries, but 20 years later they warily reassemble for a Dutch club tour, a warm-up for a proposed festival appearance. Between that seemingly hare-brained proposal and the fateful festival, director... Brian Gibson, working from a sharp script by Dick Clement and Ian LaFrenais, captures the absurdities of middle-aged rockers trying to recapture that lost cockiness.Breathing life into the band is a terrific cast, including Stephen Rea, Jimmy Nail, Timothy Spall and Bill Nighy, each managing to juggle deft archetype with believable character traits: Spall's cheerfully crass, flatulent drummer and Nighy's preening, slow-witted lead singer exemplify the approach, grabbing chuckles yet making you actually care about them. Equally impressive is Billy Connolly as the wily roadie, Hughie, at once pragmatic and devoted to his charges. All are well-served by production details and script points that get the group's lost world of late 60s and early 70s rock exactly right, from costuming and stage moves to the long-forgotten bands they name-check--Blodwyn Pig, anybody?The band's music likewise benefits from inspired insiders, cowriters Mick Jones (Spooky Tooth, Foreigner) and Chris Difford (Squeeze), who hit a nifty combination of bombast (for the silly scenes) and earnestness. When Gibson and his cast risk the story's amiable glow on a darker, more dramatic final act, the music rises to the challenge and the whole project, like its fictional subject, achieves an unexpectedly touching victory. --Sam Sutherland [show more]
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Please note this is a region 2 DVD and will require a region 2 (Europe) or region Free DVD Player in order to play. STILL CRAZY is the critically acclaimed, Golden Globe(r) -nominated comedy which follows the hilarious exploits of a 70s rock phenomenon 'Strange Fruit' as they reunite 20 years after a nasty break-up and attempt to recapture their fame and fortune. With stand-out performances from Stephen Rea, BillyConnolly, Bill Nighy and Juliet Aubrey, the comically bittersweet film combines the raucous energy of The Full Monty with the broad humor of This Is Spinal Tap. Directed by Brian Gibson (What's Love Got To Do With It) and featuring the music of Mick Jones (Foreigner) and Chris Difford (Squeeze).
Rock band Strange Fruit split up in 1977 after a disastrous concert performance, but twenty-one years later keyboardist Tony (Stephen Rea) is asked to reform the group for a reunion gig. He manages to trace bassist Les (Jimmy Nail), drummer Beano (Timothy Spall), singer Ray (Bill Nighy) and manager Karen (Juliet Aubrey). Guitarist Brian (Bruce Robinson) cannot be found, however, but the group decide to tour without him. Complete with their old roadie, Hughie (Billy Connolly), they set off on a warm-up tour, but it isn't long before the old rivalries come bubbling to the surface.
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