Search - Still Crazy on DVD

S A A. (Learned2Heal)
Reviewed on 11/10/2008...

This is officially one of my top 5 favorite movies. The story is awesome about a once-famous rock band that wants to reunite for a comeback 20 years after they split up.

Although the storyline is not exactly full of surprises, it is so well presented, the characters so well fleshed out, that you just feel like you're right there on that road trip with them and you can feel all the seething tensions, angst and frustrations they are going through, as well as the camaraderie, the underlying affection and the history that holds these people together. This movie is extremely well written and often gut splitingly funny.

All the actors are fantastic. Bill Nighy is as entertaining as ever. In fact, he got his role for "Love Actually" on the strength of his previous performance in this movie. He learned how to sing for this movie and does all his songs himself. Quite an impressive voice too... Jimmy Nail is an actual rock singer and has a voice that comes directly from heaven. Stephen Rea puts in a top-notch performance and Timothy Spall is really funny as the drummer. Billy Connolly as the band's "Road Dog" and the narrator of the whole tale, adds lots of color to the story with his wonderful Scottish brogue, his amusing, wise insights and his ever so lively and interesting facial features.

Bruce Robinson, who plays the long lost Brian, puts in the most amazing performance I have ever seen. In one scene, he conveys a host of complex emotions and thoughts with just body language and facial expressions. I can't believe this man does not appear in more movies than he did. That is sacrilege, pure and simple! What a waste of talent! This man can make Brando pale in comparison.

If you look this movie up on IMDB.com, you will see that it has quite a cult following. The reviews are not your usual "yeah, I saw it... it was about so-and-so, doing this that and the other thing. Yeah, I enjoyed it, it was OK..." Instead, it's more along the lines of: "I first got the VHS of this movie and wore it out from watching it too often in the first two weeks or so. Had to get the DVD. And then, of course, I had to buy the soundtrack too. This movie is going to drive me crazy. I keep watching it over and over again." If the reviews don't hook you, the message boards will (just scroll down to the bottom of the page). I promise.

The sound track of this movie is beyond awesome. They are all original songs made just for this movie and the quality of the composing and the lyrics are unbelievable! Makes me very frustrated to know that Strange Fruit is just a fictional band and there are no other songs from them. Bummer!

The very best part of the movie is the ending. It is gut-wrenchingly beautiful and will surely make you cry for joy, if you're not made of stone.

I just received my second DVD from this site, because I wanted a pristine one (got it!), because the first one had some surface scratches. And - you guessed it! - I also got the soundtrack CD. Right here on Swap-a-CD too! What luck!

This movie is one of those "can't get enough" kind of movies that just gets better with every new viewing. Don't miss out on this, if you can help it.

1 of 1 member(s) found this review helpful.

Great, Believable Movie, NOT WIDESCREEN!!

P. Miller | Colorado | 03/12/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"While "Spinal Tap" is also a great satirical movie about the dynamics of "Old Rockers", it is more in the vein of venues such as "Best of Show, "A Mighty Wind", etc.On the other hand "Still Crazy" is a very believable as well as moving story about the possible, perhaps probable, outcome of once famous rock groups "as time inexorably goes by". Overall, great acting. The movie's music is very good and Once the band gets back in their groove the music track becomes outstanding.

The one sub-plot of the movie that should have been omitted is the crazed groupie chasing after the drummer. Possible, perhaps, probable, unlikely. Regardless, this "aside" did distract from an otherwise great story line. If you like rock you've got to see the last "jump to" scene of the movie. I guarantee it will give you chills!!

On another note, as others have posted, although Amazon lists this movie as widescreen IT IS NOT WIDESCREEN!! Yes, I should have read the reviews more carefully before purchasing, but as someone else pointed out the movie is great entertainment for $10!! I do wonder why Amazon doesn't correct this error in their listing as people should not have to scour every review of the product for these type of "gotchas". In reviewing the DVD details on IMDB it appears that the only way to get a widescreen version of this movie is to buy a region 2 copy and of course that would require a region free player here in the US. Having the widescreen format would have made a great movie even better."

Old Rockers

Chris | Florida | 02/14/2010

(3 out of 5 stars)

"
A little crazy well perhaps a lot crazy. Old rockers coming together many years later to attempt to grasp the music, self-esteem and fans of yesterday. Sad people who are able to garner a short time of happiness. Rachael Sterling plays a nice role of a daughter about high school age. I believe this was her first film."