Home Media Magazine - February 10-16, 2008 - (Page 22) REVIEWS I TONY ROBINSON’S CUNNING NIGHT OUT Street 2/19 Acorn, Comedy, $24.99 DVD, NR. www.homemediamagazine.com I ROCK & ROLL SUPERHERO Street 2/12 Cinequest, Documentary, $14.99 DVD, NR. C unning Night Out features comic actor Tony Robinson’s entertaining (and somewhat educational) one-man show in front of a packed house at the Cheltenham Town Hall in England on June 1, 2007. Robinson covers the gamut of his life, from child actor to his most famous role as the imbecilic sidekick Baldrick on “Blackadder.” As Robinson himself says, it’s quite a statement for so many people to turn out to listen to “someone best known for being the stupidest, smelliest, most incompetent, most incontinent little git in the history of human evolution.” Baldrick’s catchphrase on “Blackadder” was of course, “I have a cunning plan,” which lends itself to the title of this DVD. Robinson himself has had quite the cunning career, beginning with a part in the original production of the musical Oliver! He later was primarily responsible for shows such as “Maid Marion and Her Merry Men,” and hosted the documentary series “Time Team” and “The Worst Jobs in History.” The latter serves as a sort of underpinning theme to Robinson’s message that for every big hero or star, there are countless anonymous others giving them thankless support with menial and often degrading, but nonetheless important, tasks. Robinson’s own father falls into this category. Robinson is engaging and selfdeprecating as he drifts and weaves through various stories. The show is unmistakably British, which is to say Robinson employs references to customs and idioms many Americans may not understand. Obviously Robinson’s following in the United Kingdom is more pronounced than it is in the United States, but he is not without his fans here. Americans who are attracted to this program primarily through his work on “Blackadder” will gain the benefit of exposure to Robinson’s larger body of work and may even be tempted to check out some of those other shows. Cunning Night Out also includes some extra footage in which Robinson discusses the potential future of “Blackadder.” – John Latchem I I THE GRANGE FAIR: AN AMERICAN TRADITION Street 2/19 Inecom, Documentary, $24.95 DVD, NR. A gricultural fairs were once a mainstay of rural America, giving farming families a chance to gather, socialize and trade livestock. Those days may be slipping away from us, but there are some pockets of America where the tradition remains vibrant. Like a time warp to a simpler era, Grange Fair chronicles one of the last such fairs, drawing thousands of people every year to Centre County, Penn., since 1874. Fair participants camp out in Civil War-style tents that have been passed down for six generations. Access to a tent is considered a prized commodity, with a waiting list of nearly 500 families. Control of tent space can even become a bitter point of contention in a divorce. Like the lifestyle it depicts, Grange Fair is not flashy, but it is nonetheless a wonderful slice of Americana. Director Joe Myers wisely chooses to keep things simple, effectively letting those involved tell their own story. The film follows several participants in the months leading up to the fair as they prepare their animals for show or plan elaborate tent decorations. For many families, the Grange Fair is the focal point of the entire year. What’s most fascinating about the film is seeing all the young children involved in raising livestock, ensuring the tradition will continue. This is not a simple lifestyle, but one that takes dedication and hard work, traits most city dwellers would probably shy away from. At the heart of Grange Fair is the story of Ruth Wolf, who may miss her first fair since 1916 due to health issues. When she dies, she wants her family to spread her ashes at the fair. Everything important in Ruth’s life is tied to the fair, she says, and the prospect of missing it devastates her. One of the best moments of the film occurs when Ruth realizes her medicine has given her the energy to make it to the fair after all. There’s something comforting about seeing Ruth sitting by her tent, waving at passersby, and knowing there are still parts of the country where a sense of history remains alive and well. – John Latchem f ever a movie provided a snapshot of how tough the music industry can be, Rock & Roll Superhero is it. Director Peter O. Devin profiles Watt White, who refuses to let go of his dream of becoming a rock star. With shades of Al Bundy, White has been working at a shoe store for eight years, telling himself he’s doing it just to give him time to make it big. After self-producing two CDs that were largely ignored, White begins to push a gimmick involving his band dressing as gothic superheroes on stage. White styles himself Machine, a seven-foot-tall guitarplaying cyborg. His buddy Jay becomes Flexx, a man possessed by a demon with the power to control women sexually. Despite the money White pumps into his dream, his band continues to struggle, mostly because they can’t shake the image that they’re just a poor man’s KISS. White isn’t exactly the best singer, either. White also doesn’t have luck on his side. One important gig to gain industry attention is scheduled in New York on Sept. 11, 2001. Needless to say, it doesn’t happen. The documentary is remarkably frank and honest with its subjects, especially when White’s drummer criticizes his gimmicks and motivation. Another current running through the film is the line between friendship and professionalism. White has no problem dropping members of his band when it suits him, even if it puts personal relationships at risk, in his obsessive pursuit of his music dreams. Devin’s raw directing style begins to drag after about an hour, but fortunately the movie doesn’t run on too long. The soundtrack is provided by White himself. The songs aren’t bad, proving White is definitely a better songwriter than a singer. The DVD includes some deleted footage and a separate playlist of White’s songs. – John Latchem 22 Home Media Magazine February 10–16, 2008 http://www.homemediamagazine.com
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