CMJ Music Marathon (Day 4)
Day 4 - Friday November 3rd
Friday morning I woke up at 8am when my alarm clock went off. Why did I set my alarm clock for so early? Well, CMJ also has a film festival aspect to it that premiered such films as Borat, Stranger Than Fiction, The Fountain, and today at noon they were premiering Tenacious D in the Pick of Destiny, and I had every intention of being there for it...even if I was having trouble getting out of bed. I did not sleep well, and my eyes felt like they wanted to just close back up and dream for a while.
But up and out of bed I got, and catching a quick nap on the train into NYC, I was ready to see the new Tenacious D film.
I have been a fan of Tenacious D for some 10 years now, having first seen them live on accident. Janeane Garofalo hosted a show at Irving Plaza some years back, called Janeane Garofalo and Friends, and wouldn't you know that one of the friends would be the mighty D. Immediately won over by not just the humor, but the actual musical talent that Jack Black & Kyle Gass, I left that show a fan. A few years later I stumbled onto their short lived HBO series, which was brilliantly silly, and then their first CD after that. So when I heard last year they were doing a film, I new I had to see it.
Arriving at the theater just shy of 11am, there was only about a dozen or so people in front of me on line to see the screening. I feared it would be much worse. Seems like the noon showing was too early for many who stay out until 3am catching the late night parties and shows at CMJ. When they finally let us in at 11:30, it was as if we were entering a federal building. All bags were inspected. When they found a digital camera in my bag, I had to explain that I had a photo pass for CMJ, and came from NJ, so I couldn't have left it at my hotel room and picked it up later. After a moment where I thought they weren't going to let me in, they told me in no uncertain terms that if the camera comes out of my bag at all, I would be ejected from the theater. Did they think I was going to try to take a picture of the screen? I know they are worried about film piracy, but it's a still camera, just what did they think I was going to be able to do with the camera? But I wasn't going to ask them that. They also insisted that all cell phones be turned off, not just put on vibrate mode (as mine always is). Fine, whatever, so now I have no way of telling the time (as I do not wear a watch).
Having passed through checkpoints one and two, I was just about into the actual theater, when I hit checkpoint three. This time it was 2 security guards with handheld metal detectors, checking everyone going through the door. I was beginning to wonder if it was worth all this trouble just to see a film. I've never been to a concert where they were this thorough in checking people.
Finally, I made it to my seat, and got comfortable, before realizing that before the film started I should use the bathroom and try to get a soda. Well I found the bathroom, but this being a director's theater, they had no concession stand or vending machines. Are you kidding me? Look, I don't like popcorn, not even the smell, but a movie theater without popcorn is just downright un-American.
I made my way back to my seat, but not without having to go through checkpoints two and three again. I would have had to go through checkpoint one again too, but I left my bag on my seat. Yeesch...
I'm not sure how late the movie started (since they made me turn off my only time piece), but it was pretty late, as a lot of people around me were getting angry, and rightfully so. I'm so sick of things that don't start on time. If you advertise a time, you should try to start as close to that time as possible. If you say the show is starting at noon, don't actually start at 12:30, start at noon!
When the film finally did start, after being warned security was watching us with night-vision goggles, it was pure enjoyment. Yes, the film is very clichéd, with a plot so obvious that if you don't figure it out from the beginning, you must be really baked, but that is apparently the way you should watch the film. The film opens with a silly animation sequence done John Kricfalusi, that literally says, "the audience is baking".
The next 5 minutes are not only the big set up for the rest of the film, but also arguably the funniest part. The film opens with a young Jack Black letting his parents know he wants to be a rock star by singing a song during the family dinner. His overbearing father (played by Meatloaf) of course tells him he cannot become a rock star and sends Jack to his room. While moping on his bed, Jack wishes that his Ronnie James Dio poster would tell him what to do, and miraculously it comes to life and tells him to run away to Hollywood to follow his dreams. Doesn't sound particularly original, does it? But that whole scene is done as a musical number, and is just hysterical!
So a present day Jack Black arrives in Hollywood and meets up with Kyle Gass, and eventually Tenacious D is born. I could go on to explain the rest of the story of what "the pick of destiny" is, and the adventure and comedy that ensues while they search for it, but really, you don't want me to ruin the film. If you were a fan of Tenacious D's short lived TV series, you'll recognize their apartment, the venue where they do their open mic nights, and even their biggest fan, Lee. If you never saw the TV show, but like a good mindlessly silly comedy where you don't want to think too much (or you'll find flaws), this is the movie for you.
Strangely, I've seen many early review compare this to "This Is Spinal Tap", and other than it being about a rock band, I don't see the comparison. This is not set up as a mockumentary, and the humor is not subtle. An example of how unsubtle it is, They go into a guitar store at one point and for the first full minute of a conversation all you see is the back of the person they are talking to. Obviously the big reveal was it was someone famous.
But despite the lack of subtleness and it's obviousness, the film was entertaining, mostly because Tenacious D are a fun band, and their personalities and charisma can carry the film.
When the film ended, I realized how truly tired and sick I felt. I wanted to hang around NYC, catch a few panels, and then see Kevin Devine at Irving Plaza, but my body said it was time to go home. So home I went on the next train, hoping I'd feel better after a nap and could still make it up to Maxwell's for Tris McCall with Cropduster, Readymade Breakup, Della Valle, and Rachel Zamsteen, but it was not to be. I needed to rest, and rest I did, so Saturday I could see the Fall, on the last day of CMJ.
Day 4 - Friday November 3rd
Friday morning I woke up at 8am when my alarm clock went off. Why did I set my alarm clock for so early? Well, CMJ also has a film festival aspect to it that premiered such films as Borat, Stranger Than Fiction, The Fountain, and today at noon they were premiering Tenacious D in the Pick of Destiny, and I had every intention of being there for it...even if I was having trouble getting out of bed. I did not sleep well, and my eyes felt like they wanted to just close back up and dream for a while.
But up and out of bed I got, and catching a quick nap on the train into NYC, I was ready to see the new Tenacious D film.
I have been a fan of Tenacious D for some 10 years now, having first seen them live on accident. Janeane Garofalo hosted a show at Irving Plaza some years back, called Janeane Garofalo and Friends, and wouldn't you know that one of the friends would be the mighty D. Immediately won over by not just the humor, but the actual musical talent that Jack Black & Kyle Gass, I left that show a fan. A few years later I stumbled onto their short lived HBO series, which was brilliantly silly, and then their first CD after that. So when I heard last year they were doing a film, I new I had to see it.
Arriving at the theater just shy of 11am, there was only about a dozen or so people in front of me on line to see the screening. I feared it would be much worse. Seems like the noon showing was too early for many who stay out until 3am catching the late night parties and shows at CMJ. When they finally let us in at 11:30, it was as if we were entering a federal building. All bags were inspected. When they found a digital camera in my bag, I had to explain that I had a photo pass for CMJ, and came from NJ, so I couldn't have left it at my hotel room and picked it up later. After a moment where I thought they weren't going to let me in, they told me in no uncertain terms that if the camera comes out of my bag at all, I would be ejected from the theater. Did they think I was going to try to take a picture of the screen? I know they are worried about film piracy, but it's a still camera, just what did they think I was going to be able to do with the camera? But I wasn't going to ask them that. They also insisted that all cell phones be turned off, not just put on vibrate mode (as mine always is). Fine, whatever, so now I have no way of telling the time (as I do not wear a watch).
Having passed through checkpoints one and two, I was just about into the actual theater, when I hit checkpoint three. This time it was 2 security guards with handheld metal detectors, checking everyone going through the door. I was beginning to wonder if it was worth all this trouble just to see a film. I've never been to a concert where they were this thorough in checking people.
Finally, I made it to my seat, and got comfortable, before realizing that before the film started I should use the bathroom and try to get a soda. Well I found the bathroom, but this being a director's theater, they had no concession stand or vending machines. Are you kidding me? Look, I don't like popcorn, not even the smell, but a movie theater without popcorn is just downright un-American.
I made my way back to my seat, but not without having to go through checkpoints two and three again. I would have had to go through checkpoint one again too, but I left my bag on my seat. Yeesch...
I'm not sure how late the movie started (since they made me turn off my only time piece), but it was pretty late, as a lot of people around me were getting angry, and rightfully so. I'm so sick of things that don't start on time. If you advertise a time, you should try to start as close to that time as possible. If you say the show is starting at noon, don't actually start at 12:30, start at noon!
When the film finally did start, after being warned security was watching us with night-vision goggles, it was pure enjoyment. Yes, the film is very clichéd, with a plot so obvious that if you don't figure it out from the beginning, you must be really baked, but that is apparently the way you should watch the film. The film opens with a silly animation sequence done John Kricfalusi, that literally says, "the audience is baking".
The next 5 minutes are not only the big set up for the rest of the film, but also arguably the funniest part. The film opens with a young Jack Black letting his parents know he wants to be a rock star by singing a song during the family dinner. His overbearing father (played by Meatloaf) of course tells him he cannot become a rock star and sends Jack to his room. While moping on his bed, Jack wishes that his Ronnie James Dio poster would tell him what to do, and miraculously it comes to life and tells him to run away to Hollywood to follow his dreams. Doesn't sound particularly original, does it? But that whole scene is done as a musical number, and is just hysterical!
So a present day Jack Black arrives in Hollywood and meets up with Kyle Gass, and eventually Tenacious D is born. I could go on to explain the rest of the story of what "the pick of destiny" is, and the adventure and comedy that ensues while they search for it, but really, you don't want me to ruin the film. If you were a fan of Tenacious D's short lived TV series, you'll recognize their apartment, the venue where they do their open mic nights, and even their biggest fan, Lee. If you never saw the TV show, but like a good mindlessly silly comedy where you don't want to think too much (or you'll find flaws), this is the movie for you.
Strangely, I've seen many early review compare this to "This Is Spinal Tap", and other than it being about a rock band, I don't see the comparison. This is not set up as a mockumentary, and the humor is not subtle. An example of how unsubtle it is, They go into a guitar store at one point and for the first full minute of a conversation all you see is the back of the person they are talking to. Obviously the big reveal was it was someone famous.
But despite the lack of subtleness and it's obviousness, the film was entertaining, mostly because Tenacious D are a fun band, and their personalities and charisma can carry the film.
When the film ended, I realized how truly tired and sick I felt. I wanted to hang around NYC, catch a few panels, and then see Kevin Devine at Irving Plaza, but my body said it was time to go home. So home I went on the next train, hoping I'd feel better after a nap and could still make it up to Maxwell's for Tris McCall with Cropduster, Readymade Breakup, Della Valle, and Rachel Zamsteen, but it was not to be. I needed to rest, and rest I did, so Saturday I could see the Fall, on the last day of CMJ.