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Be Kind Rewind (2008)
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Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writer:
Michel Gondry (written by)
Release Date:
22 February 2008 (USA)
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Tagline:
You name it, we shoot it more
Plot:
A man whose brain becomes magnetized unintentionally destroys every tape in his friend's video store. In order to satisfy the store's most loyal renter, an aging woman with signs of dementia, the two men set out to remake the lost films. full summary | full synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Friend
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Video Store
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Sabotage
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Power Plant
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Deception
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Awards:
2 nominations
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NewsDesk:
(82 articles)
Trailer Premiere: "I'll Come Running"
(From IFC. 4 November 2009, 11:08 AM, PST)
10 Most Underrated Young Actresses
(From The Movie Fanatic. 22 October 2009, 1:48 AM, PDT)
(From IFC. 4 November 2009, 11:08 AM, PST)
10 Most Underrated Young Actresses
(From The Movie Fanatic. 22 October 2009, 1:48 AM, PDT)
User Comments:
Fun film, though script is lacking
more (209 total)
Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| Jack Black | ... | Jerry Gerber | |
| Mos Def | ... | Mike | |
| Danny Glover | ... | Elroy Fletcher | |
| Mia Farrow | ... | Miss Falewicz | |
| Melonie Diaz | ... | Alma | |
| Irv Gooch | ... | Wilson | |
| Chandler Parker | ... | Craig | |
| Arjay Smith | ... | Manny | |
| Quinton Aaron | ... | Q | |
| Gio Perez | ... | Randy | |
| Basia Rosas | ... | Andrea | |
| Tomasz Soltys | ... | Carl | |
| Marcus Carl Franklin | ... | Kid #1 | |
| Blake Hightower | ... | Kid #2 | |
| Amir Ali Said | ... | Kid #3 |
Additional Details
MPAA:
Rated PG-13 for some sexual references. (also video version)
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
102 min
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
Ireland:12A |
USA:PG-13 (certificate #43318) |
Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) |
Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) |
UK:12A |
Canada:G (Québec) |
Canada:PG (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Ontario) |
Australia:PG |
Norway:7 |
Denmark:A |
Sweden:Btl |
Singapore:PG |
Germany:o.Al. |
Malaysia:U |
Finland:K-3 |
Greece:K |
Netherlands:AL |
USA:PG-13 |
Hong Kong:IIA |
Australia:M |
France:U |
South Korea:12 |
Argentina:Atp |
Iceland:L |
New Zealand:M |
Brazil:Livre
Filming Locations:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
The reason for Jack Black's hilarious version of the "Ghostbusters" theme song was simply because the legal department didn't have the rights to Ray Parker Jr.'s song yet.
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Goofs:
Factual errors: The type of movies they were making would definitely have fallen under the "parody" exception of United States copyright law.
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Quotes:
Movie Connections:
Spoofs Boogie Nights (1997)
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Soundtrack:
Body Move
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FAQ
What is "sweding"?What is the movie that Fletcher asks for at the video store?
A Note Regarding Spoilers
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Michel Gondry is a very talented filmmaker especially when it comes to visuals. His music videos and films go beyond simple video marvels into a world of simple visual trickery. This is something Gondry is very good at. Furthermore, he has a do it yourself mantra when it comes to filmaking. He's not into the marvels of CGI. He's more into what you can do without it.
But it takes a little more than visual trickery to make a film a success. Be Kind Rewind is a prime example. The film starts off well enough. Mos Def helps run a video store owned by Danny Glover's character. The store is probably one of the last remaining stores catering to VHS. Jack Black is Mos Def's left of center friend who works at an electrical plant. Through some plan to sabotage the plant, he becomes magnetic, erasing all the tapes.
Our heroes are forced to re-record the movies and do it through a process called "sweding," producing 10-15 minute versions of the film, using a wide array of do it yourself techniques that Gondry himself has utilized in his work. An example is a simple trick where filming through a fan makes the film look old. All of this is fun. The way the guys try to truncate the film's stories into a little time or their lack of knowledge regarding some films like Driving Miss Daisy. the crude effects are fun and are prime examples of why we love Michel Gondry.
The downside to the film is the script, penned by Gondry. Clearly, the film is built around the sweded films. But I was starting to think that watching the sweded films would've been more fun than watching Be Kind Rewind itself. Gondry never fully fleshes out his characters or resolves some of the subplots. The visuals are fun, but when Gondry's forced to wrap up the movie, it becomes a little sporadic and we start to realize the the film doesn't go much beyond its rich concept.
There is something great to take away from this film. And while I have some reservations about the film, my recommendation for the film is based on Gondry's filmaking vision. That is to say, there is clearly a joy of filmaking associated with Gondry that will have me continue to look forward to his work. If you're not sure what I mean, take a look at his promotional materials or at his other short films. The man loves filmaking and has fun with this movie. However, I'd recommend he build an alliance with some good screenwriters that would help his visions become fully realized, and not just good natured diversions, as this film is.