Du-beat-e-o

All I have to say is that although I gave this flick a 1 out of 10, I still think everyone interested in unusual films should see it. It's just fun to think about how something this bizarre could get made, let alone distributed. No description could ever depict how utterly awful but fascinating du-beat-E-o is.

Not only a comedy about a junkie editor who can't finish a documentary on Joan Jett, but ends up being a compilation of old Runaways amateur 16mm filmclips that in itself is worth the price of admission. With the best cast of random punk scene people, that you have to know to appreciate. Really a document of the times.

It's a great movie, I can't believe other reviewers couldn't see that. It is not for everyone, sure, and maybe you'll find some things offensive in it but it is a punk movie, after all. I don't think you should watch it for Joan Jett only, and the movie is not about her. But Ray Sharkey in the title role, wow, it's one of his best roles, I think. He is totally sleazy and insanely charming, crazy and captivating. The movie itself is extremely fast, violent, messy, nightmarish, funny and clever. Maybe if you expect something conventional, it might be difficult to get into it, but if you can open your mind, you'll feel how attractive it is.

Two years before her solo career took off, Joan Jett was without a band (The Runaways had just split) and she was contracted to do a low-budget B-flick called "We're All Crazy Now", a Beatlesesque look at a day in the life with The Runaways. Since the band was no more (and guitarist Lita Ford had the good sense not to sign on the dotted line), Joan was the only band member to appear. The movie shut down after only half was completed, yet here it is--resurrected with a framing story starring Ray Sharkey--and it's of great interest to Jett-fanatics. Sharkey plays a filmmaker under pressure to complete his latest opus (a rock movie starring...Joan Jett!) while a group of unseen people comment on everything that's going on (and this includes belittling Joan so badly, I'm surprised she didn't sue). I felt really grimy after watching this sludge-fest. The footage of Joan is indeed terrific (she's beautiful in her short hair, jeans and cowboy hat or running around the streets of Hollywood), but you have to sit through some disgusting, degrading material just to catch the Jett moments. Thankfully, the bootlegs of this video made the rounds in 1988 and '89, and seemingly have everyone who cares satisfied. Fester in peace. * from ****

Well El Duce's "role" was sort of interesting. I was totally annoyed by the barely audible running commentary by him and a couple of his groupies (?) during the film. At one point there's a minute long super-fast mismash-collage of all the scenes in the movie, which was interesting, plus Tex and the Horseheads and Joahanna Whendt were fascinating. Overall, if they had cut out all the footage which was supposed to tie the whole film together and released the old footage of the bands and Joan Jett's performances, this would have been a good half hour well spent. RIP - El Duce