I've worked in the music industry for almost 20 years, and have spent most of the last decade dealing with urban music, and if nothing else, the filmmakers behind this movie certainly understand this world. The stories being told are very true-to-life, and many of the incidents are clearly based on reality. It is no surprise that almost everything else the director Peter Spirer has done before this has been Hip Hop documentaries. He is obviously an authority on the matter, as his films are some of the most prestigious docs out there on the subject (Rhyme and Reason, the Beef series, Tupac Thug Angel, the Biggie doc). Does this qualify him as a great feature director? Not necessarily, but it definitely gives him a lot of credibility, and a unique perspective from which he has crafted his urban feature debut. This isn't slick Michael Bay or Stephen Spielberg directing... it is raw, honest, totally indie, and has a "fly-on- the-wall" feel, like we're catching a glimpse behind the scenes. The contrast between the two main characters is also evident (albeit subtly) in the filmmaking, as the Young Eastie storyline (that of the struggling rapper) is shot with hand-held cameras and has a more frenetic editing style, while the scenes involving the established, big name rapper (A-Maze) are smoother, obviously shot with dollies, steady cams, etc, and has smoother, more polished editing. This interesting dynamic gets played with as the movie progresses and the lines between their two worlds blends. I don't know if this film will be of interest to those who are not into the music business, or urban films in general, because there aren't any big explosions, sweeping romances, slapstick comedy, or other "blockbuster" elements. But for anyone who has interest in the industry, and especially for those who understand this world, it is a fascinatingly authentic little gem. It is understated and tells a simple but harsh story of the cold cyclical nature of the Hip Hop business.
Reviews
3 Reviews
Kiss and Tail: The Hollywood Jumpoff
(2009 Video)
Hilarious, disturbing, fascinating and eye-opening!
8 August 2009
Oftentimes documentaries are able take a subject which I might otherwise have never really thought twice about and manage to wrap me up in that world completely. "Kiss and Tail" is a movie like that. I rented this upon the advise of a friend who saw it at a premier screening and he was raving about how wild it was. He was right. I'm not particularly knowledgeable or even interested in Hip Hop video girls or groupies, and I've never read Karrine Steffans's books ( though I'm very familiar with her reputation, and I've seen a few of her very tasteless and annoying homemade video diaries on you tube), but this movie was so unique and irreverent that I just was utterly fascinated. The interviews are at the same time hilarious and truly illuminating (even if a bit surreal), with "experts" ranging from super-pimps, to porn stars, to academic journalists, to celebrities, to the video girls and groupies themselves (both current day groupies and old school groupies, featuring insight from the charming and incredibly "hip for her age" Pamela Debarres (SP?) who apparently banged members of The Doors, The Who, Led Zeppelin and every other classic rock band back in the day). But the real draw of the film and the character at the heart of the story (if "heart" is the right word to use) is Karrine Steffans herself. This movie does her no favors in exploring every seedy facet of the grimy world she created for herself. It presents a pseudo-biography of her life, talking to the people who knew her, and some who screwed her (or got screwed over by her), along with interesting interviews with the woman herself. She comes across as very intelligent, very conniving, and more that just a little bit psychotic. I don't want to ruin anything except to say by the end of the movie I really felt that I understood what makes this woman tick, and it is really kind of sad. Ironically, it makes me want to read her books now, just to see more how her twisted mind works. the woman is sick and unstable, but again, that is a little bit fascinating, and what I love about this movie! I gave the movie 9, because as much as I love it, it's not trying to change the world or anything, so I can't justify a 10 just for entertainment value, but I will give the DVD itself a 10, because the special feature are amazing and plentiful. As I said, when it ended I was so wrapped up in these people and their stories and I wanted to know more about them, and the special features afford you that opportunity. there are special segments dedicated to almost all of the main interviewees, giving you a deeper and even funnier look into their bizarre worlds and extreme persona's. I especially recommend "The Principals of Pimping" and "The Tale of Nasty-Fat-Nasty." I'll say no more... you have to see it to believe it!
The Man from Earth
(2007)
A thinking person's movie
6 August 2009
This movie was such a pleasure to watch late at night and all alone. There were no car chases or sex scenes, no slapstick humor or explosions, yet it kept me glued to my seat. It reminds me of how enthralled I would get watching the twilight zone as a child. Without giving away any plot points, I'll just say it presents a fascinating premise explored from all angles with interesting characters. It plays a bit like a low budget TV movie, but again, this movie isn't about polished showiness, it's about ideas. Not all movies about people sitting in a room and talking can hold one's attention. Often movies like that feature young self-important hipsters, pretentiously waxing philosophical about things that most folks could care less about. This movie is the opposite of that. It is mature, deep, complex, and thoroughly enjoyable.
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