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https://theconversation.com/why-this-is-spinal-tap-remains-the-funniest-rock-satire-ever-made-264591>
"With
Spinal Tap II: The End Continues hitting cinemas, now is the perfect
moment to revisit its precursor, one of most influential and hilarious comedy
films ever made, 1984’s
This Is Spinal Tap.
Directed by Rob Reiner and co-written by Reiner and the stars of the film,
Christopher Guest (as Nigel Tufnel), Michael McKean (David St. Hubbins) and
Harry Shearer (Derek Smalls), the mockumentary film follows a fictional British
heavy metal band on a disastrous tour of the United States.
As audiences dwindle, equipment fails and egos clash, the band’s decline
satirises rock’n’roll excess and the absurdities of the music industry.
Widely acknowledged as a cult classic, the film codified the “straight-faced”
style of mockumentary that became central to modern comedies such as
The
Office and
Modern Family.
Its dry and absurdist tone, handheld camerawork, faux interview format and
largely improvised dialogue were inspirational for many contemporary comedy
creators, including Ben Stiller, Mike Schur and Ricky Gervais. It also
established a tone and style Guest would return to throughout his filmmaking
career, in movies such as
Waiting For Guffman (1996),
Best In Show (2000)
and
A Mighty Wind (2003)."
Guest's films are all great fun.
Share and enjoy,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
