Eat That Question (2016)

An in-depth look at the life and work of avant-garde musician, Frank Zappa.

Director:

Thorsten Schütte

Stars:

Frank Zappa, Steve Allen, Angel

3 wins & 4 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Steve Allen	...	Himself (archive footage)
Angel	...	Herself (archive footage)
Chuck Ash	...	Himself - Pennsylvania State Police (archive footage) (as Trooper Chuck Ash)
Arthur Barrow	...	Himself (archive footage)
Adrian Belew	...	Himself (archive footage)
Theodore Bikel	...	Rance Muhammitz (archive footage)
Jimmy Carl Black	...	Himself (archive footage)
Pierre Boulez	...	Himself (archive footage)
Thomas Braden	...	Himself (archive footage) (as Tom Braden)
Napoleon Murphy Brock	...	Himself (archive footage)
Tom Brokaw	...	Himself (archive footage)
Wally Bruner	...	Himself (archive footage)
Paul Carman	...	Himself (archive footage)
Del Casher	...	Himself (archive footage)
Connie Chung	...	Herself (archive footage)

Storyline

In the 20th Century, Frank Zappa made his mark as a musician unlike any other in America. With a wild eccentric iconoclastic attitude guiding his distinctive music, which it was itself guided by a firm intellectual integrity, Zappa made himself an unforgettable force in popular music. This film covers his life and work through various archival footage through the decades. Whether it was his taboo challenging early creations, his outspoken efforts against the political forces determined to censor him or his constant quest for new artistic challenges, Zappa made a mark no one could ignore.

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Plot Keywords:

singer | composer | entertainer | social commentary | interview | 

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Taglines:

A fantastic collage. (Neil Genzlinger/The New York Times)

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Genres:

Documentary | Biography | Music

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language, some sexual references and brief nudity

Details

Country:

France Germany

Language:

English

Release Date:

8 December 2016 (Germany)

Also Known As:

Eat That Question

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$16,695, 26 June 2016

Gross USA:

$355,074

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$365,540

Company Credits

Production Co:

Les Films du Poisson, UFA Fiction, ARTE

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min

Color:

Color Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

Frank Zappa: Fuck the communists. I don't like those people.

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Crazy Credits

There is a final bit of footage at the end of the closing credits where Zappa encourages young people to vote.

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Connections

Features Night Flight (1981)

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Soundtracks

Trouble Every Day
Written by Frank Zappa
Performed by Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention

User Reviews

Interviews and live music from one of the most interesting musicians of the 20th Century makes for one interesting film.

Eat this Review

"Eat That Question: Frank Zappa in his Own Words" is a film about the musical iconoclast, composer and entrepreneur, Frank Zappa. The film is mainly Zappa in his own words and his words are almost as entertaining as his compositions. The film also has a lot of footage of him playing live. Unlike the U.S., Zappa was a celebrity in Europe. Thus, many of the interviews are from European shows. In fact, his song Bobby Brown, despite its 'lewdness' in English, was a number one hit in Norway and Sweden.

The film illuminates Zappa and shows his combative style as well as his creative talents. As a musician, he wrote everything from blues to classical to jazz to standard rock. All the while, he mocked musical styles he thinks of as trite such as disco, psychedelia and new wave. In one scene, Zappa mocks Devo music with an imitation of part of Devo's hit, Whip It. What Zappa seems to not know is that Devo would have absolutely agreed with Zappa's critique of music and pop culture. And that is why many love Zappa, his willing to challenge convention and critique everything.

He talks about free speech and freedom, he calls himself a conservative and a composer, he is proud to "have four kids" and brags that he pays his mortgage and pays taxes like any American. He has no patience for "terrible music" and people who are sell outs. There are many noteworthy quotes in the film. He hates the record industry for messing with his music and preventing him from making money off of his talent and music in generally, but one senses that if he could rid the world of music he hates, he might just do that.

I would have liked to hear him talk more about music he likes and dislikes and some of his other influences more than the one scene where he lists classical artist he likes and have influenced him such as Stravinsky and Bartók. Did he like Dylan, Miles Davis, punk rock, or rap music? Perhaps these questions weren't in the vault anywhere. But the questions are intriguing given the interviews that were in the film.

Rating: Pay full price

Interviews and live music from one of the most interesting musicians of the 20th Century makes for one interesting film.

Peace, Tex Shelters