brandon 1Head (1968)
March 30th 2008 10:00
Moments before being torn to shreds by screaming fans (literally)
It’s a little known part of film history that in 1968, academy award winner, Jack Nicholson and producer, Bob Rafelson smoked a lot of weed with the manufactured pop group, The Monkees, and brainstormed a bunch of whacky ideas that resulted in the film, Head (1968).
You don’t have to been a fan of The Monkees (consisting of Michael Nesmith, Peter Tork, David Jones and Micky Dolenz) or of their television show to enjoy watching Head- a movie that can be best described as resembling stream of conscious thought. It could also be described as a David Lynch film, if instead of creepy dramatic films he made oddball and funny films. As one of the song’s featured near the beginning of the movie state:
‘We hope you like our story/ although there isn’t one/ that is to say there’s many/ that way there is more fun.’
Throughout Head, The Monkees are put into one scenario after another with interjections of some cool, funky and psychedelic Monkee songs including ‘Porpoise Song’, ‘Circle Sky’ and ‘Long Title: Do I Have To Do This All Over Again?’.
Sometimes The Monkees will go from one scenario to another usually when the skit has finished and The Monkees walk off set and have lunch or something. The next skit might be a fainting cop’s dream about a surprise party in a gothic castle. All the different parts of the movie are mixed up with The Monkees revisiting sets and characters multiple times. One of the sets include a large black box that The Monkees keep getting stuck in. This leads to a hilarious scene in which Nesmith talks about the perception of reality.
It is as if The Monkees are aware of their camp image, and are sending themselves up. One waitress comments to Mickey Dolenz, drummer of the band, 'Are you still paying tribute to Ringo Starr?'.
I guess whether you like this movie is dependent on whether you have a weird sense of humor and like The Monkee’s music. This is a movie you’re either going to love or hate. It’s either going to seem like a mess or like a fantastic satire on The Monkees.
There are various guest appearances by actors, athletes and musicians including Frank Zappa who comments that one of David Jones’ songs is ‘pretty white’.
Personally I love this film. It’s basically a drug trip starring The Monkees. I wonder how Jack Nicholson justifies this film today. He should be proud.
4 out of 5 (but that’s just me)
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