Last weekend The Bad Kitty and I were at our friend HMO's place, watching Everything is Illuminated, when we discovered what will surely become my favorite band ever for the next several months.
The Bad Kitty and I had both been avoiding the film for fear it would be a depress-a-thon, even though we were intrigued by the trailer and what little we'd heard from people who'd actually had seen it. HMO said she'd been avoiding it too, but assured us that it was a well made, funny film with charming characters and great music. So she made us some brownies (as she is wont to do, superlative hostess that she is), popped in the DVD and off we went.
She was, of course, right. All of the characters were indeed charming and I could have watched them for a good deal longer. In fact, Liev Schreiber (this was his directorial and screenwritin' debut, dontchaknow) has made a great little film with narry a bad actor or clumsy shot in the lot. Elijah Wood's character is very bland, but he's supposed to be, so that's OK.
To my mind though, the best thing about the movie was Alex, played by Eugene Hütz. I can name several box-office-gold actors that could never had pulled off such an honest and, to my untrained eye, subtle performance. Without question he made the film.
Mr. Hütz also happens to be the front man for the Gypsy punk band Gogol Bordello, which brings us back, finally, to the subject of music. The soundtrack for the film is full of Ukrainian-rock-punk-ska fusiony goodness, including two tracks by Gogol Bordello. I can't wait to get my mitts on the soundtrack and the Gogol Bordello CD Gypsy Punks Underdog World Strike.
So, here's your to do list:
- Watch Everything is Illuminated
- Listen to the soundtrack
- Listen to the NPR interview
- Buy Gypsy Punks Underdog World Strike
- Enjoy
DVD Viewing Note: Watch the deleted scenes after you've watched the movie. Most of them I think are best left deleted. They make Elijah Wood's character more interesting, but I think perhaps to the detriment of pacing and cohesion. The fantasy scene where Alex introduces himself, and the one where we see Elijah Wood through the viewpoint of the dog, are priceless.
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