martylee13045burlsink342

A brief retrospective of the life and career of the owner of what was often called one of the greatest voices of the 20th century. McCormack's personal life and early career (huge success in Opera and even larger renown as the foremost concert vocalist of his time) are well documented...and we get to hear some of his recordings (beginning with some on wax cylinders). We also see a few clips from two of his film appearances. Oddly enough the films themselves (and the huge payday he got for "Song O' My Heart") are never mentioned. So anyone hoping for a fully well rounded examination of his enormously full and much lauded career will want to look elsewhere.

This may be the best of the numerous attempts to eulogize the tempestuous, magnetic, and wildly messed up legend...possibly because it simply lets those who new him share their simple memories of the boy and man. What comes through in the way too brief 51 minutes (thank heavens for the wonderful DVD extras that are equally invaluable) is what may be the closest we will ever get to an actual nodding recognition of who Dean really was and who he might have become. Given that so many of the big name witnesses are now gone this little film becomes even more remarkable and more important.

How in blazes did the filmmakers managed to dredge up stunning gold like Deans screen test for EAST OF EDEN where he shares a devouring kiss with Joanne Woodward several years before she met and married the actor who was helped to stardom by inheriting a couple projects passed his way after Dean's death! Absolutely STUNNING stuff...and the whole package is fascinating. If only they could come up with a longer and even more detailed version! Bravo all around!

It may be a bit premature to label this revolting pile of misplaced ego as the worst film of the decade...but I doubt it!

Humorless, witless, and utterly hopeless as comedy and so proud of being universally offensive that it deserves to be slapped...repeatedly and hard.

The one train wreck fascinating aspect of this tripe is the alarming spectacle of some genuine talent subjecting themselves to the "comic" "vision" of the loser who conceived this mess and SOMEHOW managed to get it made...and released.

Did Theron and Neeson actually READ this rancid mess of a script (or at least have somebody read it for them) ?

Several other "names" also seem to have utterly lost their (common) senses when they signed on for this...and some like Ribisi, Harris, and Silverman obviously need someone to intervene and make sure they are NEVER allowed to attempt movie comedy again.

BUT the main blame of course goes to the guy who so proudly (and repeatedly) smeared his name all over the opening credits.

He proved that he had no visible style or genuine talent when he flamed out as an Oscar host.

And this grotesque mess amply demonstrates his total lack of wit, taste, or shame.

Literally appalling.