Okay,
this is my second helping of Meat Loaf in as many weeks. What's
up with that? He's not gonna be in every movie this winter
like Russell Crowe is he? Well, then again, Russell Crowe
an Aussie manly-man with that Trash-De-Blanc- mean- old- head
biker- dude edge, this guy I can stand more of....yeah, stand
against a wall and work my way slowly down his...I digress...
Meat Loaf is the like the cute head biker's fat friend. The
one the skanky biker chicks end up with on the ride to Tijuana.
Sure, Loaf can act, he's really quite good. I aint ragging
on his acting am I? All I have to say is remember when he
was this fat sweaty stringy haired rock singer? Well he cut
his hair.
Anywho,
I have oh, so many positive points to make about this fabulous
directorial debut by Mr. Antonio Bandanas (Banderas).
What a powerful film. I had thought it was a silly, rompy,
comedy, because of that's what the ads seem to want you to
think, no? Wrong. This is a deep look at old America and how
far we've come as a people of diversified races and thoughts.
Sometimes we forget how shortly ago we all looked at one another's
skin color and accents and judged neighbors by that? What
you say we still do that? Oh, yeah, right. Maybe Crazy will
remind us how wrong we are sometimes.
Melanie
'sweet voice' Griffith plays Aunt Lucille. She's just poisoned
her old man and is heading to Hollywood to become a star.
Enroute she has a few misdemeanor occurrences, takes Vegas
by tornado and wears some super chick-babe to the tenth power
outfits. Griffith can act. Did you know that? Most people
think of her as some bimbo with thick, frankly, over pumped
lips.They don't look like no skinny white girl 's lips- then
again have gold card, have lips.And her voice is a tad annoying,
in that Meg Tilly girlie-girl way,but, hey, it's her voice
for criminy sakes. I especially loved her in the James Woods
redemption film (after his SUCK bag performance it that piece
of steaming swine sheet- Vampires)
Another Day in Paradise. Haven't seen it? Stop reading
and go rent it. Great huh?
Aunt
Lucille is trying hard to have a little taste of life, slice
of pie, before all her dreams shrivel up and die. She's had
her kids, seven of them, she's been the good little dinner's
ready by six wife, and stayed barefoot and pregnant for 52
months of her life. Eeek. Well, it does take place
in 1965. That Lucille line alone had me up for three nights...pass
the Ortho-Novum.
Her
adorable nephew, PeeJoe (short for Peter Joseph, played by
Lucas Black) is watching the civil rights movement transpire
right before his eyes in his little backward town, just about
the same time aunt heads west. Sheriff Doggert(Meat Loaf Aday)
has a bit of a white cape with a pointy cap in his closet-if
yer gittin my drift. He's determined that his little town
shall not be integrated. PeeJoe who's mighty smart for a youngin,
witnesses too many awful deeds and has a hard time keeping
quiet. Not the norm back then. He's a lot like his wacky aunt
in a free spirit way.
When
the two simultaneous intertwined stories meet for the last
few scenes in Judge Mead's (an ever bizarre Rod Steiger-he
creeps me out, and NOT in a Dennis Hopper cool way) court
room you'll cheer with all the twists and the absolute bravery
young PeeJoe exhibits. Superb acting on all accounts and a
fabulous fresh script. Kudos to Banditos (Banderas) for his
directing debut, good job old boy. I don't want to forget
the great snob job by Elizabeth Perkins. Gosh she's good.
Snack
Recommendation: Pecan Pie
