Still Crazy **** (1998, Bill Nighy, Timothy Spall, Stephen Rea, Billy Connolly, Jimmy Nail) – Classic Movie Review 1696

Director Brian Gibson’s 1998 rock comedy is a hilarious, poignant hoot. It is a simple but great idea for a movie, brilliantly carried out, with a delicious screenplay by veteran TV comedy experts Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais.

A most charismatic Bill Nighy is superb as the lead singer of a band of over-the-hill rockers, reassembled years after their heyday for what turns out to be a disastrous reunion tour.

The hilarious Timothy Spall is the other hit turn as the crazy drummer in this funny, good-natured and delightfully coarse comedy. Billy Connolly, Jimmy Nail and Stephen Rea are the other indispensable cast and band members.

Legendary rock band Strange Fruit died the death 20 years ago, literally, when lightning struck the stage during an open-air concert. But now, former keyboard player Tony (played by Rea) sets out to find his old buddies when the idea of a band reunion is brought up. Can the over-the-hill gang get it all together if former manager Karen (Juliet Aubrey), who is still dreaming of Brian (Bruce Robinson), the apparently deceased lead guitarist, helps them?

Brian Gibson died of Ewing’s Sarcoma on January 4 2004, aged 59. He was also known for Poltergeist II: The Other Side (1986), What’s Love Got to Do with It (1993) and The Juror (1996). He attended Southend High School and St Catharine’s College, Cambridge, began as a director of scientific documentaries for the BBC, and produced dozens of commercials and music videos.

© Derek Winnert 2014 Classic Movie Review 1696

Check out more reviews on http://derekwinnert.com/