Showing posts with label Frank Zappa. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Frank Zappa. Show all posts

Thursday, 6 January 2022

Summer '82: When Zappa Came to Sicily (2013)


 

The historic but disastrous concert held by Frank Zappa at the La Favorita stadium in Palermo on July 14, 1982 and the journey of the Zappa family to discover the artist's Sicilian origins.

Although this documentary is made within the Italian director's quite personal view of a specific (but not insignificant) moment in Zappa's life, it is extremely well-made, very thorough and manages to present revelatory insight and some very moving scenes.  


 

Thursday, 23 September 2021

Zappa (2020)


 

An in-depth look into the life and work of musician Frank Zappa.

Authorized biographical documentary profits from getting access to the Zappa vaults with lots of previously unseen footage; furthermore, it is intelligently made, presents a good overview over Zappa's music and art, and still avoids adulation. 



Tuesday, 31 August 2021

Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention: In the 1960s (2009)

 

Critical review of the classic rock band, focusing on the band's musical output in the 1960s.

This Australian production comes without any credits to its makers, although this is a remarkably extensive and informative documentary which assembles a vast amount of rare original material and some good interviews. 



 

 

 

Saturday, 22 April 2017

Roxy the Movie (2015)



A concert movie showing a performance by the much-loved 1973 incarnation of the Mothers of Invention.

Straightforward concert film offers a great occasion to see Zappa and his top-notch band on stage; the complex music and the virtuoso performance are a treat, not just for die-hard fans.


Sunday, 2 April 2017

Eat That Question: Frank Zappa in His Own Words (2016)



A look at the life and work of avant-garde musician Frank Zappa.

Not as revelatory as announced, this is rather a nicely patched ready-made portrait of the artist who has always been entertaining not just with his music but also with what he had to say.


Thursday, 4 August 2016

Head (1968)



Hey, hey, it’s the Monkees . . . being catapulted through a surreal sixties odyssey.

Deliberately plotless, harmless psychedelic romp; mainly silly, but also funny and entertaining, and a genuine document of its time.

Halliwell*: "A psychedelic trip of a movie which does for the Monkess what A Hard Day's Night  and Yellow Submarine did for the Beatles, and what Monty Python did for us all. Sometimes funny, slick and clever; often just plain silly."

Maltin***: "Far-out film debut for TV rock group...this overlooked item is a delightful explosion of crazy ideas with no coherent plot, many old film clips, some good songs, and such unlikely guests as Sonny Liston and Victore Mature...Well worth seeing."