MovieChat Forums > A Mighty Wind (2003) Discussion > Little things that helped make this movi...

Little things that helped make this movie great

posted 18 years ago by Valentino55
53 replies | jump to latest

The "Stagecraft 101" conversation between Bob Balaban and the stage manager.

Parker Posey using her mandolin as a gun during the line, "Daddy took his Remington and shot away the lock..."

Michael McKean's responses while rehaersing "Loco Man." 'Sunny land,' 'all de time,' and 'sweeter den de honey wine.'

The conversation about the records with no holes in them.

The size of the chess pieces in that photo of young Jonathan Steinbloom. They look like someone really could get impaled on them.

"Good old constipation; if you have an impacted fecal mass on your rectum - you find that pushing on your bladder."

Fred Willard's whispered insinuation about the soaked ladies.

Harry Shearer becomes a woman, but remains a bass.

Ed Begley leaning forward to see if Mitch and Mickey will kiss.

The way Michael McKean sings the line, "There's a star on the horizon."

The busted neon sign that flashes, "Ea A oe's"

Parker Posey's story of how she came to join the group; the fact that there was a picture available of her when she was "on the streets."

I'm sure I'll think of more later.

[–] theburdawg 18 years ago

Stage manager slapping Balaban on the head.

Shearer doing what is very close to Principal Skinner's voice (for the simpsons fans to notice)

The sex sounds in the hotel

Two words: Eugene Levy

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There's a time and a place for everything. And it's called College. Do you understand?

[–] grchereck 18 years ago

"Stage manager slapping Balaban on the head."

LOL That was great!

Ed Begley Jr.'s character dropping Yiddish words into his conversation with Steinbloom.

Jennifer Coolidge's accent, and the way she "hummed" with her mouth open.

Laurie talking about her porn star past.

Mike LaFontaine spouting all his catchphrases from his old TV show.

The hysterical reactions of Steinbloom's sister in the audience during the tribute concert.

The Folksmen going into a rambling monologue before a song... and then having to leave the stage without performing the song.

All that business with Witches In Nature's Colors. (WINC!)

"I know I'm not normal -- but I'm trying to change!" ~ Muriel's Wedding

[–] punkinabox21 18 years ago

Two words: "Wha' Happened?!"

[–] lynchgrrrl 18 years ago

OMG, yes!
that was my fav line in the movie, Fred Willard is hilarious!

I also liked Catherine O'Hara singing 'Sure Flo' at the end, you gotta feel sorry for her.

Jennifer Coolige in general!

The Witches of Nature ceremony

[–] kensloat 18 years ago

I personally love the part at the end when Fred Willard is talking about the show where the group would be Supreme Court Justices by day. He says something along the lines of "it turns out there are now only 9 Justices on the Court. Must be a budget thing or something..." Truly hilarious.

[–] Skroto 18 years ago

"Barth---"

[–] leetron 13 years ago

"Goodnight Everybody!"

[–] gordofett 18 years ago

Have to agree with "Wha' Happened?!"

There's a *lot* of great stuff in the film, but this really stuck in my head. I'm surprised it hasn't become more of a catchphrase!

(Though I'm sure if you said it, anyone who'd seen A Mighty Wind would pick up on it...)

[–] gordofett 18 years ago

[–] jchowzoo 13 years ago

Jennifer Coolidge's open-mouthed-tooth-exposing "hum" touched upon genius. Just as the sound of her vocalization fades in, the camera is focused in on Elliot Steinbloom, the unwilling participant at the party. Watch how his attention is caught and drawn to her strange interpretation of humming. Then, as the camera pans over to Coolidge, Mr. Crabbe's attention is captured by her bizarre behavior. Take note of his reaction. This scene offered to me one of those rare experiences where I laughed so hard that I began to panic a little about catching my breath. I hope that this group of people is right now at work on another mockumentary. This is some of the greatest comedy to come out of the American film industry in years.

[–] ter_maximus 13 years ago

I loved this movie too but personally i would've liked to have seen more crane's then they could've had some big swooping shots, instead it's almost like we had to settle for a toothpaste commercial *dimples*

Walter Crewes: God is just an imaginary friend for grown ups.

[–] zaid-adham 11 years ago

If you pause the DVD at the Variety Magazine article about Wha' Happened getting dumped, and if you look closely you see an actual article with hilarious reasons about Mike Lafontaine. Check it out! :-D

[–] 11 years ago

[deleted]

[–] greeneyedsoul 9 years ago

THREE words: Eugene Levy's eyebrows

This is really one of the best of this crew's movies. It has so many layers and is peppered with truly wonderful bits.

_______
Before music, there was silence.
And the flame still burns
Readers ARRRR leaders

[–] eternal_sunshine88 18 years ago

I love when Eugine Levy is looking at the model train set and hes like "I would love to see this town in autum" lol, priceless.

[–] maxfoster 18 years ago

It's Crabtown actually

[–] My_Name_Is_Lydia 11 years ago

More than 7 years later, I will give you your well-deserved WELL DONE! HA!

No signature required

[–] bertschkid 18 years ago

The smile and look on the face of Michael McKean's character Jerry Palter when he's in the dressing room and realizes that Mitch and Mickey are performing A Kiss At The End Of The Rainbow onstage. He wanders to the wings to see if they'll really kiss during the break, followed by Mark and Alan and then The New Main Street Singers and everybody else joins them.

[–] goldie_43 18 years ago

"There was alot of abuse in my family. It was mostly musical in nature."

"My father would send me to bed with nothing BUT desert."

When the Folksmen were talking about what they should wear on stage..."Doing then now would be very retro, but doing then then would be very nowtro."

There were just so many!! It was the subtlties that made this movie what it was!

[–] Becklin 18 years ago

Right along with that same scene was Parker Posey's character and how she cried. It wasn't funny, but it was touching to me anyway, how much this music meant to all the people there.

[–] jschmidt-10 18 years ago

Ed Begley's LAST MINUTE discussion with the TV director.

"Could we have one of those crane shots? Just to show the...enormity of the event?"

[–] HeartBridge121 18 years ago

"Thank God for model trains. If they didn't have the model trains, they wouldn't have gotten the idea for the big trains."

"It also represents a penis."

"We're gonna put a saddle on you folks. (laughs) Not really."

"Is this the real furniture or the rehearsal furniture?"

"...We don't ride around on broomsticks and wear point ha- well, we don't ride around on broomsticks."

Mitch and Mickey in the record store. ( "For me, it was just watching you, because I couldn't focus on me. Watching you.") I don't know the exact lines, but that scene gives me shivers every time. And their 'almost' kiss while rehearsing at Mickey's house. The way they both smile at each other after the song ends and stare down at the floor. Ugh, great stuff!

[–] lynchmobJ 18 years ago

How about the fact that Guest/Levy and all of their cast members are just plain awesome?

[–] roundthetwist (115) 3 years ago

"Thank God for model trains. If they didn't have the model trains, they wouldn't have gotten the idea for the big trains."

That was indeed an amazing line.

Elliot Steinbloom cracked me up in the front row during the show. Immediately after the end of the first song, he's right in to the program to see how long is left by looking up the running order. It's not even focussed on but just a great piece of acting to add something to it all.

[–] denise1234 13 years ago

So many good ones already mentioned, but I will try to add to the list:

The witches/sparklers scene (already mentioned, I know, but it's SO funny that I had to include in my list, too) ~

The New Main Street Singers playing in front of the roller coaster at the amusement park ~

The New Main Street Singers opening with the song that The Folksmen had practiced for days as their opening song ~

Fred Willard's hair ~

Leonard Crabbe wearing the engineer's cap when showing off his trains ~

Jerry Palter (McKean) asking "Is it on the way?" when Alan Barrows (Guest) said his map was at home while they were driving around lost ~

The 'dangerous plants' in the lobby warning that Steinbloom gave before the show ~

That the actors were doing their own singing and playing the instruments ~

The special features on the DVD ~

ALL the album covers ~

Mitch and Mickey songs ~

The rose ~

I love this movie :)

"I can't stand a naked light bulb, any more than..a rude remark or a vulgar action" Blanche DuBois

[–] RetroDoll 13 years ago

The Steinbloom sister clapping along to the song like a crazy person.

"What if we see sailfish?? Jumping! And flying!" That whole part KILLS me.

Mickey's husband watching a Powerpuff Girls that featured a train.

The "Calling it Quits" album cover.

The fact that Michael McKean doesn't seem to age.

The cake-frosting-dressing debate.

How much pasta is on Jane Lynch's plate when Mickey's trying to find Mitch.

"Is there a cockfight area near here?" "She's joking, right?"

When they're talking about WINC, he's just nodding along to everything she's saying.

Live, live, live! Life is a banquet, and most poor suckers are starving to death!

[–] GetMeWithFuji 13 years ago

-All the Folksman album names (Pickin', Wishin'...etc).

-The fact that Mr. Crabbe only has one actual train.

-Mark Shubb's radical suggestion on opening with Wanderin'.

-Jerry asking Alan if he plans on studying his map academically later.

-Mark giggling (as a woman) during the 'six months later' segment.

-Terry Bohner asking Jerry how they sounded and Jerry telling him they 'weren't really listening.'

-Leonard: 'Do you like trains Mitch?'
Mitch: 'I took a bus.'

-The Folksmen practicing in every different room of the house.

-Jerry's obvious attitude about 'The Skeletons of Quinto' (I think that was the name).

-Anything and everything Mitch Cohen. (A previous poster mentioned the album cover to 'Calling it Quits.' That was gold).

-Right after The New Main Street Singers sing Wanderin' it cuts to Mitch and Mickey's dressing room and you can hear Terry introduce himself and the crowd all laughs (presumably at his last name).

-Anything and everything Mike LaFontaine (The clip of Variety that says his show dumped to 'total lack of interest').

-Steinbloom checking out the stage details, 'I see a light, is that a light?'

I could go on for hours. I really think this movie is Guest's best. Obviously Spinal Tap is the OG of these movies, but as far as writing and directing this one tops them all.

We are number one. All others are number two, or lower. - The Sphinx

[–] Mickyfinn 13 years ago

Mitch's small vertical beard patch on his chin is slightly off-center.

You just have to be resigned-
You're crashing by design

[–] leetron 13 years ago

As the tribute concert progressed, Jonathan Steinbloom's introductions became smoother and the size of the paper he was reading off of became progressively smaller with each subsequent introduction. A very subtle thing that most may have missed.

"Almost"

"Wha Happened?"

The brother who can't stand folk music.

The long line outside Tower Records to get autographs.

The amount of talent packed into The Folksmen.

"There's a mighty wind a blowin', it's blowin' you and me!

How high Mitch Coen's pants were hitched up when he stepped off the bus.

The two album covers after the breakup.

Jonathan Steinbloom miromanaging and getting slapped on top of his head.

Everybody goint to the wings to watch "Kiss at the end of the rainbow."

Harry Shearer's neck beard. And that he sounded like Principal Skinner most of the time.