Tapeheads (1988)
The story of Ivan and Josh, two dim witted ex-security guards who love music videos. Out of work, with no job prospects, they form a music video production company. They soon learn the in's and out's of the business in LA and with some help from Mo Fuzz, they soon become hot property. But not all goes smoothly when they try to resurrect the career of their favorite R&B duo, the Swanky Modes.
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How sad is this?
A brilliant film that helped define a genre
if their story seems completely bonkers, almost like a feverish work of fiction, you ain't heard nothing yet.
This is a must-see and one of the best documentaries - and films - of this year.
There is a scene with a music executive watching a music video that consists of random shots of animals mixed with cleavage and butt shots of bikini clad girls. He loves it. Later on, a pretentious critic gives The Blender Children's new video, a funeral set to one of their songs, an emphatic thumbs up. Both videos were either slapped together or botched up. That is a good representation of the music video genre as a whole. As for the film, future A-listers Tim Robbins and John Cusack fool around in a punky film that could have been directed by Alex Cox. The film is uneven, as most punk films are, the movie jokes not being nearly as successful as the music video jokes. The scene where two girls square off with nun-chucks and switchblades just doesn't seem to fit and Clu Gulager's sex scandal politician sub-plot is left too far in the background. But nobody has ever roasted music videos as well as Tapeheads.
Tapeheads is a surprisingly perfect satire of the eighties made at the end of the eighties. It is very funny, with an intelligent script and great dialog. Fine comedic performances by Cusack and Robbins. Multiple intertwined plots. There is a love story between a female artist and Robbins' nerdy video artist. A self-help guide with Cusack trying to better himself and his buddy. A music marathon with wonderful performances. A corrupt politician caught in a delicious scandal. All this combined with an hysterical dysfunctional family drama, make for a thoroughly wacky and wild time. The soundtrack is fabulous too. In particular, Roscoe's Rap manages to send up MTV, KFC, TV advertising and Rap music. Loved it!
It's a next-generation Blues Brothers. Quick-moving visuals, good script, well executed. Funny, irreverent, and best of all the music is great. Love the two leads (Cusack & Robbins) and wonder if they remember having fun making this movie because it sure looked like they did. (Cusack can dance; Robbins can't.) Great to see some old-timers in the music roles - Sam Moore and Junior Walker, for two; plus there are several tunes I've never heard before so I got to hear and appreciate them for the first time. Cinematographywas well done. I'm surprised it's not a cult film for old r & b rock & rollers. The DVD came with a CD of the ending song "Ordinary Man" by the Swanky Modes (Moore & Walker), guaranteed to get you moving in your chair.
I thought that this movie was so funny I was crying during the baby doll music video. Also during Hermans will. "Okay I'm tired now I think I'll go to sleep!" Then his head rolls over. I thought the voice John Cusack used for that was hilarious. A definate must see!