Great World of Sound

There's a great, not just good, movie that could be made from the writer's concept, but it's not this movie. It plods along, one character is underwritten and the other one is over the top. So much of the movie is spent on auditions that it feels padded. Or like an indie version of American Idol. Tricia Paoluccio almost single-handedly brings the movie to life but it's too little too late, and her character is used to undermine the protagonist's supposed awakening.

I don't normally review a film before I finish it - and this one runs almost two hours - but I feel compelled to do so here. Why?

I don't know, exactly, and you probably won't either. "Great World of Sound" is one of those films that captures the imagination without really explaining itself. That, in my humble opinion, is the absolute ESSENCE of art.

It's not a guy film but it's not a chick flick, either. Still, I don't know exactly what it is, except interesting. Very interesting.

The music and performers seem genuine - so, if they're not actually amateur talent, then they are topnotch actors and actresses. So believable!

I think, though, the best and most attractive thing about this hidden gem of a film is the chemistry between the main players -Pat Healy as Martin and Kene Holiday as Clarence - they really engage one another and the audience such that you wish you were on their roadtrip, too! I love characters that can do that!

Of course, John Baker (as Shank) and Robert Longstreet (as Layton) set the mood for them. Both are unknown to me, but I think this cast could do great things - I know Mr. Holiday already has done.

When you watch this film, pay attention. Then write to let me know what you think it is that makes this movie so engrossing!

The film with its excellent leads puts its finger on the pulse of the American dream. The subject is the selling of success to would be musicians, but it reflects all aspects of the truly American confidence game. Pat Healy as Martin and Kene Holliday as Clarence are hired as a team to scout for undiscovered talent for an independent recording label, which is interested in the next big thing. Since "skin in the game" is a mark of seriousness, then the aspiring musicians should be willing to put up some cash to hedge the risks of the recording company: a perfectly reasonable request. The two leads play off each other to create a metaphor of the American dichotomy: liberal secular humanism vs. conservative unbridled capitalism. Certainly a film worth seeing.

One good thing about this movie is that the cheap indie feel for once works in a flick's favor. The record-company executives are seen to be scam artists (by us) from the very beginning. We see gold records being spray-painted as the opening credits roll. But the men sucked into the scheme only gradually become aware that they're conning people. You have to suspend some disbelief to accept that it takes them so long to figure it out.

The plot focuses on two of the "record producers," played by Pat Healy and Kene Holliday, who go on the road to audition local talent and persuade the bands to make a contribution to the production of their records. One of them gets really good at it, and is more reluctant than the other one to get out of the game.

The movie has a lot of rough spots and a few bright spots. Kene Holliday's performance is quite good.

The brightest spots were the auditions of all the local acts. I loved every one of them. It seems clear that they really were amateur performers -- bands, singers, songwriters, some good, most not so good -- and I could not imagine how they were lured into making a movie about exploitation of bad local bands, and having their performances immortalized on celluloid. The editing of the auditions was perfect, so we never get bored with them. The dialog between Healy's and Holliday's characters as they sell their operation to the suckers seems improvised, and skillfully improvised.

The movie as a whole just sags too often, and when it does Pat Healy is always the main character on screen. He goes through the entire movie as if drugged, and at the end his character loses all credibility. Well, that's not his fault, I guess, since the script was the script; too bad he didn't get to improvise more.

I predict most people will not be able to sit through the whole movie, but don't give up before the auditions start.

This, I thought, was a satire. It's not...What it is a story about con men who dupe some down on their luck types to steal from those who dare to dream. As such it quite depressing, but somehow it becomes entertainment as well. This fact is due to two actor's excellent performances which bring characters Martin and Clarence to life. Pat Healy and Kene Holiday make this movie and I will, from now on, always know who these guys are. Check them out here and you'll likely be instant fans too. This movie isn't fast paced or wonderfully enjoyable, but is seems real with the right amount of entertainment value to keep you interested. I give it a 7 and a recommendation as such.