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Still crazy

Threat advisory: High - High risk of entertaining activities

Movie propaganda

Their name was Strange Fruit. Some called them the greatest rock band of the 70s. They haven't played together in 20 years. No wonder they're worried about their performance.

Twenty years after Strange Fruit's highly publicised break-up in 1978 at the Wisbech open-air Festival, the band keyboardist Tony (Stephen Rea), who was working as a condom salesman in Ibiza; bassist Les (Jimmy Nail), now a roofer in the frozen north of England; drummer Beano (Timothy Spall), leading a reclusive existence in his mother's garden; ultra-vain lead singer Ray (Bill Nighy), living beyond his means with his second Swedish wife (Helena Bergström); and Brian (Bruce Robinson), the fragile lead guitarist who is currently missing in action - are persuaded to get back together for a reunion concert, Wisbech 1998.

Still crazy charts their increasingly desperate efforts to recapture the magic, the music, the lost opportunities and the missed performances of their prime.

Persons of interest

Stephen Rea .... Tony Costello
Billy Connolly .... Hughie
Jimmy Nail .... Les Wickes
Timothy Spall .... David "Beano" Baggot
Bill Nighy .... Ray Simms
Juliet Aubrey .... Karen Knowles
Helena Bergström .... Astrid Simms
Bruce Robinson .... Brian Lovell
Hans Matheson .... Luke Shand
Rachael Stirling .... Clare Knowles
Phil Daniels .... Neil Gaydon
Zoë Ball .... Zoë
Virginia Clay .... Young Karen
Luke Garrett .... Young Hughie
Sean McKenzie .... Young Beano
Rupert Penry-Jones .... Young Ray
Matthew Finney .... Young Brian
Alex Palmer .... Young Les
Gavin Kennedy .... Young Tony
Lee Williams .... Young Keith
Andy Nichol .... Gary
Francis Magee .... Hockney
Dick Clement .... Screenwriter
Ian La Frenais .... Screenwriter
Brian Gibson .... Director

Cinematic intelligence sources

Awards and film festivals:

Hollywood Foreign Press Association (Golden Globes) 1998: Nominated: Best musical or comedy motion picture, Best motion picture original song

Intelligence analyst

Special Agent Matti

Theatrical report

Har! Har! Har!

Still crazy is equal parts rockumentary, music film, comedy and drama: a coming of middle age film that picks up where Velvet goldmine left off and where Priscilla, Queen of the desert never dared to go. That said, it is definitely not an English Spinal Tap.

This flick is primarily a drama, albeit a humourous one, about grown up boys and their toys and the never ending search for fame and fortune. It's about guys who've have been out of the limelight for too long, who, once they catch a hint of their former glory, return to the scene of their demise like an alcoholic to a pub. (I pause to ask myself what sentence that was about.)

Imagine a bunch of guys who hate each other with a passion, who are completely incompatible, who get on each other's nerves and who are stuck on a bus touring third rate dives in Amsterdam. Damaged goods with no insurance. Then imagine that they have an incredible talent which could change the world (only a slight exaggeration).

The cast is talented, insightful and powerful. The script is tight and full on. The concept is hard-edged. The realisation is human. (I am now wondering if my medication is kicking in.) If you remember 70s rock or if you like a gritty drama, then Still crazy is the film for you.