johntosh Reviews

Twenty Feet from Stardom (2013)

Slightly disappointing

[7/10 · 8 April 2014]

I was a little disappointed that the film concentrated on footage of a handful of the better known backing singers welling up as they talked about their dreams and frustrations but less hard information about the business itself.

There must be thousands of singers who'd give their eye teeth to be in the position of these backing "divas". We should have heard more from them.

I was looking forward to some juicy anecdotes too! We got some adverse remarks re Spector and Ike Turner but we know all about them already.

I can't help thinking the era of the gospel-type soul warblers is over. Kids don't want to hear that sort of stuff now. But for oldies like me the music is still exciting.

Ed Wood (1994)

An odd thing.

[5/10 · 11 May 2008]

What an enigma of a film. It wasn't as funny as it could have been. It wasn't as interesting as it could have been. And yet it held the attention. I think the film itself was supposed to be as tacky and ephemeral as the dreadful Ed Wood productions themselves. That's a dull concept but Depp made it watchable despite his annoying grimace and unconvincing angora fetish. His character needed to be fleshed out a little more. He came across as just a bit mad whereas he must have had some substance to his life. They could have had much more slapstick fun with the hopeless actors and hangers-on! The big bald guy was a natch for laughs and Bill Murray was sparingly used.