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| From | bob <segarini@rogers.com> |
| Subject | My Dinner With Jimi... |
| Date | Sat, 8 Dec 2007 09:40:20 -0500 (EST) |
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In all the years I have sat through incredibly innacurate movies about the '60's music scene. Hollywood, and rock stars, with people I knew personally depicted as stereotypical cartoons, I never thought in a million years I would finally see a film that nails the music, the scene, and the people as accurately, painfully realisticly, and endearingly as Howard Kaylan has managed to do with "My Dinner With Jimi". Written by Howard and lovingly cast, directed, and shot, it stays true to the material without a big budget, hype, or name players.
If you want to see Mama Cass, Zappa, Jim Morrison, The Turtles, Graham Nash, The Beatles, a dead on Jimi Hendrix, and other icons portrayed exactly as they were, look no further than this film.
I laughed, I cried, I could smell the pastrami at Cantors and see the cloud of smoke that covered the dance floor ar The Whiskey. It recreates the time so wonderfully, that I sometimes forgot it was a movie. It was almost like going back in time.
I was there.
The second half of the film takes place in England, and the actors don't physically resemble the musicians they are portraying as much as the Hollywood contingent, but Howard manages to capture the dialogue and personalities with wicked accuracy.
I haven't seen Howard or Mark, (Volman), in years, but we've stayed in touch all the while, and spending some time with Howard today was a real treat. At the Q&A after last night's screening, he told some fantastic stories, and was as entertaining as he always was. Stories about Springsteen, the biz, the reality of success...all honestly and with humility. Anyone worthy of the mantle of 'Rock Star' would be wise to embrace the depth and wisdom of Howard Kaylan.
The movie is showing every Friday night this month at the Bloor Street Cinema, and I heartily suggest that those of you that live in the Toronto area get your asses down there.
...and Not...Howard told a great story about Warren Zevon, who was signed to White Whale records at the same time as The Turtles, how much they all liked the strange and quirky writer, and recorded several of his earlier efforts, like the wonderful song they're shown performing at the Whiskey.
We talked about old friends and great times and I feel like I was incredibly lucky to have been there when it all happened.
Watch for great performances by all the players, including turns from Wendy Jo Sperber, (one of her last), Curtis (Viola/Booger) Armstrong, and an incredible portrayal of local L.A photographer Henry Diltz by an almost unrecognizable John Corbett.
...and Crawford Street Regulars. expect to see this here the next time we convene...
Honestly, this is the film by which all others that attempt to capture these people and places will be judged. At least by me...
bib
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