LENINGRAD COWBOYS GO AMERICA
A film review by Lons Ponschock
Copyright 1995 Lons Ponschock
A film by Aki Kaurismaki Stars a truly International Cast (1989) PG-13, 80 mins. Cameos Jim Jarmusch, Duke Robillard
It's got accordions in it. There's cool points for that. And subtitles but not many and ... what else? Oh yeah, the hair. The hair is really good. And the shoes are excellent: just the right touch.
LENINGRAD COWBOYS is a hoot.
If Richard Lester (A HARD DAY'S NIGHT, HELP!) were Finnish, he'd be Aki Kaurismaki. And remember, we have a lot of Finnish brethren and sistren around here. I run into the Valmet folks all the time. Here is an example of Finnish humor at it's most deadpan farcical best: a Monty Python meets the Flying Burrito Brothers.
The Leningrad Cowboys are a rock 'n' roll band. They sometimes play accordions, but mostly they are a rock 'n' roll band.
Trust me, LENINGRAD COWBOYS is a lot of fun ... a road movie with music and Jim Jarmusch (MYSTERY TRAIN, A NIGHT ON EARTH) in a used car lot. The band goes from Russia to New York, New Orleans, Texas and finally Mexico where the accordions and all that come in handy again. I have tried to explain my love of accordions often whether it be Conjunto, Zydeco or Oompah music, but alas, accordions are apparently for discriminating tastes.
I usually watch these vids by myself. The sign of a good vid is if you can pop your fingers and laugh out loud by yourself. A really good film like this one will remove all the inhibitions associated with self-entertainment. ;-)
Well-directed with a style bordering ... no, right *in* the country of the absurd LENINGRAD COWBOYS GO AMERICA could be a modern classic if somebody saw it besides me. I guess it's the kind of show that is not recognized by the slackers because it is too low brow and not appreciated by the "film buffs" because ... well ... no one else saw it *before* them.
So have I given you enough reason to go rent this piece?
I hope so.
You can watch it and then amaze your friends with your subtle cool taste and international erudition. But mostly it's just plain good fun.
-- lon
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