Film
What's on at the cinema plus reviews of the latest movie and DVD releases
Bookmark this pageLeningrad Cowboys Go America (1989)
Director: Aki Kaurismäki
Movie review
From Time Out Film Guide
Unable to make it big in frozen Finland, the Leningrad Cowboys, a talent-free pop group with a bizarre image and an idiosyncratic sound, head for America, where - a local promoter assures them - people will 'swallow any kind of shit'. En route to a wedding reception gig in Mexico, they drive their newly acquired Cadillac from one seedy venue to the next, taking in what Kaurismäki calls 'the steamy bars and honest folk and backyards of the Hamburger Nation'. Even without his cameo appearance as a used-car dealer, Jim Jarmusch's influence would be obvious from the tracking shots of dingy downtown areas, the stylised dialogue, and cryptic inter-titles. But Kaurismäki makes this engaging, comic road movie his own with a distinctive visual style, great running gags (the band carry with them a coffin containing their frozen bass guitarist), some memorably dreadful tunes, and his generosity towards the characters and the ordinary people they meet. Looked at superficially, it's a one-joke movie, but as with Jarmusch, the textured images and oblique nuances take priority over the wacky premise and slender storyline.Author: NF
User reviews of this film
-
- Harri said...
-
Posted on Oct 05 2007 11:26
To be able to appreciate this movie you should have seen the band on a gig.
The comic situations are pretty blatant and I have no idea how they were translated from Finnish to keep the dry humour. - Report as inappropriate
Cast & crew
Director: Aki Kaurismäki
Producer: Klas Oloffson, Katinka Farago
Cast: Matti Pellonpää, Nicky Tesco, Kari Väänänen, Jim Jarmusch, Sakke Järvenpää, Heikki Keskinen, Pimme Korhonen, Sakari Kuosmanen, Puka Oinonen, Silu Seppälä, Mauri Sumén, Mato Valtonen, Pekka Virtanen full cast
Genre(s): Comedy
Duration: 79 mins
Most popular on this site
Top Stories
Stephen Poliakoff discusses 'Glorious 39'
Stephen Poliakoff’s ‘Glorious 39’ is his first film for cinema since ‘Food of Love’ in 1997. Dave Calhoun met him
Is 'Paranormal Activity' the new 'Blair Witch'?
How does a film go from DIY experiment to box-office smash? 'Paranormal Activity' director Oren Peli explains
Steven Soderbergh on 'The Informant!' and 'The Girlfriend Experience'
We talk to Steven Soderbergh about his two forthcoming films: one featuring a porn star, the other a chubby Matt Damon
A gateway to all things 'New Moon'
In anticipation of 'The Twilight Saga: New Moon', Time Out is offering the chance to pick up a limited edition pack with three exclusive magazines and a free poster.
London Children's Film Festival
Read our exclusive reviews of films playing at the 2009 London Children’s Film Festival
The films that deserve a TV spin-off
With Roland Emmerich suggesting he'd like to make a '2012' TV spin-off, we propose some more movie-to-TV serialisations
The Coen brothers discuss 'A Serious Man'
Masters of contrary comedy, Joel and Ethan Coen have struck gold again with their latest, ‘A Serious Man’
Michael Haneke discusses 'The White Ribbon'
Dave Calhoun met with Michael Haneke in Munich to mull over the details of his Palme d'Or winner, 'The White Ribbon'
Ten inspirations behind 'Avatar'?
Time Out ponders the influences behind James Cameron's anticipated space-opera on the basis of the trailer
Time Out's 50 greatest animated films with commentary by Terry Gilliam
In celebration of the release of Pixar's 'Up' and Wes Anderson's 'Fantastic Mr Fox', read our rundown of fifty classic feature length animations
What do you think?
Post your review now