Pittsburgh
(2006/Comedy/Anchor Bay)
Picture:
B- Sound:
B- Extras: A- Film: B+
Pittsburgh, starring Jeff Goldblum, is what
has been lovingly referred to as a mockumentary, in the fine tradition of This is Spinal Tap, Waiting for Guffman, Zelig, and Best in Show. Since it stars Jeff Goldblum, it might need a
new category all together: hypermentary.
As with
any mockumentary, the simpler the plot the better. Jeff has a new girlfriend,
Catherine Wreford, a Canadian actress whose work visa is about to
expire. They stumble on a way to stay; both will be cast in a summer
production of The Music Man, which is taking place in Jeff's hometown of
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (disclaimer: this review is being written by a
Pittsburgh native and, no, this is not an effort to extend the
conceit). In the summer of 2004, Goldblum did star in a Pittsburgh Civic
Light Opera revival of The Music Man so that much we know is true.
And, yes,
we have the so-so reviews to prove it (Pittsburgh
Post-Gazette, July 8, 2004, Pittsburgh
Tribune Review, July 12, 2004).
And that,
believe it or not, is the genius of it. To have gotten the idea to film a
major Hollywood star during summer stock in his hometown, with a grafted on
plot about green cards before the production started was a decidedly brilliant
stroke. The film follows the couple from the inception of the idea,
through auditions, rehearsals, dealing with panicked agents and a director
concerned whether his star would be able to cut it. There are lots of
star guest appearances, including Ed Begley and Illeana Douglas, who were also
in the Pittsburgh production of Music Man. Begley sends
himself up gloriously in a subplot dealing with his well-known ecological
concerns and Douglas' "affair" with a sexually seedy Moby is just
perfect. Jeff's Conan O'Brien stint, too, is inspired, with O'Brien
aloofly distancing himself from the
Hollywood
star who is losing his edge.
Though
local theater critic Jean Horne noted that Goldblum "can't sing or dance a
lick," she also asks "Is it just me, or doesn't it
matter." Her answer is a resounding yes. It was a fine
balancing act Goldblum performed while in Pittsburgh. He was followed
around for a feature article about a Hollywood star returning to his hometown
haunts (article by Chris Rawson, Pittsburgh
Post-Gazette, July 4, 2004); simultaneously, while he was experiencing the
incumbent nostalgia, a crew filmed the experience for a send-up of said
experience. The lines between fact and fiction were very blurry, indeed, probably
not more so for anyone than Goldblum himself.
Most intriguing
is Goldblum's portrayal of Harold Hill. There is an analog here
between Goldblum and the character he portrays: both are trying to get over
with something that they are not suited for. Goldblum plays against the
self-assured character of Harold Hill. We see him being berated by the director,
watch his own neurotic musings as to his lack of ability and yet, like Hill, he
pulls it off; not spectacularly, but he pulls it off.
The
anamorphically enhanced 1.78 X 1 image was shot in HD of some kind and looks
fine for that, clean and clearer than usual, while the Dolby Digital Stereo
track is as fresh and clean. The
combination is impressive.
Whatever
you do, don't miss the outtakes. This is one of those rare cases that the
outtakes are worth every minute. Not only do they not detract from the
film, the outtakes themselves add to the film. Any of them certainly
could have been incorporated in with no loss of relevance nor interruption of
pacing. It makes the viewer wonder if it was a focus group, the director
or some "savvy" studio type who felt 84 minutes was all we could
take.
Sure,
there is plenty of c*h*e*s*s*e* here. And in Pittsburgh, the city, when
you order a steak salad you get: cheese on top of fries, on top of steak, on
top of salad, all adding up to a Pittsburgh steak salad. You get
something like that in Pittsburgh the movie, too; it's filling, it's tangy and,
though it's probably not good for you, you love it anyway.
- Don Wentworth
