Change Your Image
flaminghat
Reviews
Kill Your Idols (2004)
'...these bands are really f***ed up...'
'Kill Your Idols' was awesome. There's your summary right there. The No Wave art movement and the bands that it spawned have become very integrated in my musical tastes and my way of thinking, and to be able to see some of the people (a lot of them actually) who were involved and hear about their journey was, for me, a very personal and fulfilling experience. So, I'm going to try and be as objective as possible. It's not going to be easy though...
First off, I was born in '82, when the Swans and Sonic Youth were starting out, so I really don't have a sense of 'nostalgia' as such, since I am experiencing the might of that movement completely second (and maybe even third) hand. Also, I have lived my entire life about as far away from New York as possible, by design rather than by intention (though I can't say I am sad about it): my connection to the movement and the ideas were formed simply by following the history and influences of the bands I knew about, slowly revealing more and more of what the 'scene' was exactly and what had come from it. That said, again, the power of the music and the statements it made has affected me profoundly, so I believe (perhaps wrongly) that I am justified in having an opinion on it and being able to judge 'Kill Your Idols' for what it truly is, that being not a simple music documentary where the point is to say 'oh yeah, I remember when...' and play some concert footage. The point is to look at No Wave as an art movement, how it developed, and how it influences music today. In that, I believe it succeeds near flawlessly.
The editing and style of the film is, in itself, very much in tune with the No Wave attitude. The frequent and quick cuts during interviews give it a very jerky feeling quite reminiscent of the music itself. Essentially it is presented in four parts: the actual No Wave movement (Teenage Jesus and the Jerks, Contortions, Suicide, DNA, etc.), the early 80s bands inspired by the movement (Swans, Sonic Youth and Foetus), the newer crop of bands (Black Dice, Liars, etc.) and the final part is an analysis, essentially, of how the new bands missed the point. Many people think that to be unnecessary, but I happen to agree with a vast majority of the statements made by the older generation as well as those made by Sergey Rjabtzev of Gogol Bordello, one of the only people of the newer crop who seemed to really grasp the ideas behind No Wave. Not only are they spot on (Lydia Lunch in particular), but it says a lot about modern music in general: how being different sells and how that is taken advantage of, whereas when No Wave was around, it was about not being liked, it was about spitting bile and wanting to mess with minds. I do like, personally, some of the newer bands, but I would not go so far as to say that they really grasped the concepts engendered by the movement and in fact half of them seemed really fake and cheesy (not to mention lame interviewees). Referring to something as harsh and warped as No Wave music as 'pure and innocent' for example...oh yeah, objectivity...ahem...
Well, without telling too much, I think this should be required viewing for anyone who likes Swans, Sonic Youth or bands of their ilk to find out where they came from and learn about a very interesting and influential, if short-lived, period in American music, or for anyone interested in music-as-art in general. It's well made, poignant, often hilarious, and it manages to be much more than a simple trip down Nostalgia Avenue. It also conveys the principles behind the creation of the movement and the brotherhood (and sisterhood) that formed around it very admirably. Punk is dead, but I for one cannot thank Mr. Crary enough for providing a window and allowing us to look back at a time when it was very much alive.
The Beach Party at the Threshold of Hell (2006)
One Killer Party
There I was, minding my own business, fishing for cheesy movies to watch whilst enjoying a late night drinking session. I'd stumbled upon a listing of post-apocalyptic 'classics' and knew I'd hit the jackpot. One of the movies in that list had an intriguing title: 'Beach Party at the Threshold of Hell'. My eye caught, after doing a little research I decided to give it a shot. Couldn't be worse than 'Roller Blade 7', after all...
Wow...alright, before I explain why this movie induced violent paroxysms of laughter, I will cover its so-called 'weak points'. Yes it's cheap: there's one scene that was apparently beyond the scope of the makers' budget and/or abilities so it was animated, the costumes are usually jeans and t-shirts cut up, everything takes place in basically one location and the cast is not 'diverse', consisting mostly of the creators in the acting roles. It jumps around and inserts documentary sequences and character introductions that break up the action. It's done in a documentary style that will harsh many a buzz of those used to more straightforward storytelling. If you're Tarantino, Rodriguez or Ritchie apparently that's all well and good, but I digress. There may be further 'negatives', but even the ones mentioned aren't negative to me, so forgive me if something's left out. However, now you must again forgive me as I rub my hands together with devious relish and explain why all that doesn't matter, or at least doesn't make the film any less enjoyable.
First and foremost, it made me laugh louder and harder than anything has for a long time. The dialog is great and the gags hit their mark. You do have to possess a sick sense of humor and love of irony to truly enjoy it, but with those two qualifications this movie will take you to fine places. I would love to point out specific things, but honestly, they won't be as funny if you are expecting them. The only one I'll touch is one of the funniest sequences involving some difficulties with a chainsaw. That's all you're gonna get. Just trust me on this, if you're a sicko, your gut will be a-bustin'.
Now to address those alleged weaknesses: the documentary style does slow it down, sure, but it's a comedy. It's not an action-packed thrill-ride that needs to move quickly. It was pulled off very well and allowed for the inclusion of some very good and funny cameos, such as Jane Seymour as the last President, Tony Hale (of 'Arrested Development' as Buster) as a biographer and Richard Riehle (who played Tom in 'Office Space') as the narrator. Some may think the documentary bits padding, but I truly think it adds an element of tongue-in-cheek quirkiness to the proceedings, and while perhaps the characters could have been introduced in other ways, I thought their way was far more interesting than characters busting into monologue or ill-fitting dialog. Some may think it a rip-off of other directors, but I say thee 'nay'. What they did always felt more like respectful hat-tips than straight rips, though there were many. The whole feel of the movie is very Dr. Strangelove meets Pulp Fiction, and I say that as a means of description, not really to compare this film to those others. Even at its most serious it doesn't take itself a bit seriously, but it's imaginative and well-written enough not to spiral off into pure goofiness. Campy, yes, insipid, no.
Bad acting? I have seen bad acting (I've seen 'Men of Honor'), and with a cast of primarily amateurs the acting is actually very good. Hell, even Daniel Baldwin didn't suck, and that's saying something! But the actors had a lot to work with and had reason to do a good job, for the script, again particularly the dialog, is excellent. I'm not even going to qualify that with a 'for a low-budget movie' or anything. It is just GOOD. It's sharp, and is sharply delivered. The characters are weird but cool and well-played. These are not the typical post-apocalyptica stereotypes, but something altogether different and, dare I say, brilliant. What else do you need? But wait, there's more!
There's blood and gore, as one would expect of post-apocalyptic fare, and quite a bit, but done well (though certainly not tastefully) and death scenes that would look cheesy are given the 'go to black' or 'blood spatter on lens' treatment, avoiding the typical groan-and-eye-roll moments that plague horror movies. It's also done with great sick humor. For instance, a spine gets pulled and in later scenes you can still see it lying on the ground as other situations play out in the same area. The much poo'd-upon animated sequence is actually cool, and a smart move on the makers' part. I'd much rather see animation, adding more quirk to the quirky, than hokey live-action. As opposed to simply axing the bit, they use it to make their movie even weirder. I for one dig it and applaud them for it.
I could go on, but this beast needs to be wrapped up. In summary, I think 'Beach Party' is simply a great movie, funny and wrong in all the right ways. It stands up against the best the big companies have to offer, and with a fraction of a fraction of the budget. It's a fine example of what indie developers can do with heart and inspiration. If you want big budget fluff, look elsewhere. I for one will not miss you. If you want a to spend a hour-and-a-half chortling and feeling like a misanthrope for doing so, please, for the love of all that is sick and unholy, look this movie up, then tell someone else. That's the only way to make sure that movies like this continue to be made, as they damn well ought to be.