An idiosyncratic blog dedicated to the precursors, the practioners, and the descendants of power pop. All suggestions for postings and sidebar links welcome, contact any of us.
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Nick Rivers, Superstar
For some reason Top Secret, the 2nd feature by the guys who made Airplane!, isn't as well known as it should be; I, for one, think it's one of the most deliriously funny movies ever. The premise is brilliant -- an Elvis Presley musical crossed with a Cold War thriller -- and it goes from one outrageous gag to another with such speed that you can barely breathe sometimes. In any case, I wasn't surprised later when Oliver Stone cast Val Kilmer as Jim Morrison; after his impersonation of the King here, it was obvious he had the right moves for the Lizard King.
Wow, I totally forgot about this movie. In ways, it is actually the better of the two movies.
ReplyDeleteGeez, Kilmer looks like a teenager.
And it's got tons of songs, all of them hysterical.
ReplyDeleteHe does a ballad where he's trying to commit suicide -- by hanging, shoving his head in the oven, etc -- in front of an audience of screaming girls that's one of the best musical numbers ever filmed.
Complete with the Jordannaires....
I think I prefer "Skeet Surfing," myself.
ReplyDeleteOh, crap! Skeet Surfing! lol
ReplyDeleteYes, Skeet Surfing.
ReplyDelete