A Mighty Wind

A Mighty Wind movie review: stars Christopher Guest, Harry Shearer, Michael McKean

A Mighty Wind

A Mighty Wind is Christopher Guest's third impro film and this time his marvellous ensemble looks towards early 1960s Folk Music, once a genuine force articulating social change and carrying a message of "Peace & Freedom". This time, though, Guest breaks with the 100% impro rule and adds some obviously set up comedic scenes as visual candy, enabling this wonderfully warm film to lift considerably above its two predecessors.

A Mighty Wind centers around a one-off concert by three groups:

The New Main singers, a harmony "neuftet" featuring Sissy Knox (Parker Posey), Laurie Bohner (Jane Lynch) & her husband Terry (John Michael Higgins) with Mike La Fontaine (Fred Willard) as their irrepressible manager
The Folksmen, featuring Alan (Christopher Guest), Jerry (Michael McKean) & Mark (Harry Shearer) N.B. the three are a.k.a. Spinal Tap &
Mitch & Mickey (co-writer Eugene Levy & Cathering O'Hara) former sweethearts, who had been pushed apart by Mitch's increasingly erratic psychological condition

The three groups agree to participate in a one-off concert to commemorate their former manager, Irving Steinbloom's passing and as with all Guest's films, A Mighty Wind is a wonderful collection of individuals with extreme behavior, from:

Laurie Bohner's white trash metamorphosis from porn star to Color Therapy Grand Witch
Sissy's memories of years as a street-kid to a sunshine-smile kidergarten teacher & minstrel
Mike La Fontaine's bizarre managerial suggestions
Mark (from The Folksman)'s increasing interest in his appearance and, of course
Mitch & Mickey's genuinely moving performances as lovers revisiting the intimacy of yesteryear through more mature eyes

...add to that some genuinely well crafted songs, mostly written by various combinations of the cast, wonderful parody album sleeves & bogus retro TV performances and it's almost as if you were back there.

The Mitch & Mickey story interweaves (almost) believably through the whole film, bringing a maturity to the proceedings that is a joy to watch. A Mighty Wind is more than just satire, it's marvellous, sardonic, grown up entertainment.

A Mighty Wind DVD

"...What really blew me away about A Mighty Wind was when I found out that the actors actually played all the instruments and did all the singing. The music is fantastic and very well done. The performances are very polished and tight, the harmonies beautifully written and executed..." Amazon reviewer Glynn Clapsaddle

"...This movie brings a powerful cast of modern-day comedians together to parody the pre-Vietnam war generation of folksingers. The music, surprisingly, is very good, if you like folk music, and a delight, especially for those of us who enjoy Woody Guthrie, Peter Paul and Mary, Tom Paxton, et al..." Amazon reviewer Jo Anne Harrison "Lady Hawkwind"

"...The best of the Chris Guest films - with great outtakes. Don't finish the rest of this brief review; buy this. Why are you still reading? Start clicking away to buy it..." Amazon reviewer Marcus Aurelius

And I have no doubt that when you see A Mighty Wind, the ensemble's rousing encore number, you'll feel that The Mighty Wind is most definitely still blowin', oh yes indeedy!

A Mighty Wind soundtrack

"...As he did with Spinal Tap Christopher Guest has the uncanny ability to perfectly mock and pay tribute to a music sub-culture. This time around, he spoofs the folk revival scene of the 1960s..." Amazon blurb

"...The music is top-notch, but the lyrics are absolutely hilarious. The more I listen to them, the more I understand just how funny they are. I didn't get all of it when I watched the movie, but it's becoming funnier every time..." Amazon reviewer Benjamin M. Watson

"...(There's) a version of the Rolling Stones' "Start Me Up" by the Folksmen that is sure to crack up anyone who listens to it..." Amazon reviewer C. Sheppard

A Mighty Wind poster