Get Crazy
D: Alan Arkush (1983); with Daniel Stern, Allen Goorwitz, Malcolm McDowell, Lou Reed, Ed Begley Jr., John Densmore.Rock ‘n’ Roll High School is a tough film to top. Its free-spirited approach to teens and rock music is corny, absurd, and funny. At the same time, it is a fairly honest film with its vibrant characterizations and youthful hostility. Director Arkush’s early Eighties follow-up Get Crazy is just as memorable in its portrayal of a New Year’s Eve rock show. Promoter Max (Goorwitz, later known as Allen Garfield) has given people great concerts at the Saturn Theater for years. After a near-overdose on chili dogs and a run-in with an evil media baron (Begley) and his henchmen, Max is determined to put on the best concert ever. Aided by his trusty manager Neil (Stern), he proceeds to do just that. The film is almost like a slice of Mad magazine with outlandish situations (a robot drug dealer, a walking joint, people floating, stage diving). At the same time, the collision of musical genres (blues, punk, new wave) makes the whole affair seem like an awesome musical extravaganza. Even better is the fact that rock’s number-one grump Lou Reed steals the show as Auden, the metaphysical folk singer. Equally funny is McDowell, who plays a Jagger parody, Reggie Wanker. Musically, it seems like the end of an era. In the background, concert posters advertising such disparate performers as Bobby Bland and the Talking Heads can be seen. Such a sight is a reflection of a time when rock was still an open-minded business. Sadly, anyone who survived the Eighties knows that such a mentality quickly evaporated under the weight of MTV.
This article appears in October 13 • 2000.