lokidog

Annoying characters, lack of a story, unrealistic events, silly acrobatics that mask as dancing, and boring. Is this a 'Don't Say Know?' video? Characters that seem to be familiar with rave culture that are outraged at being exposed to psychedelics - Really!? I've seen LSD users many many times, this is not what happens. If I wasn't so convinced this was made by a kindergartner it would have been funny.

Maybe if this focused on an experimental or designer drug, or a mystery as to why someone would spike the parties punch, Maybe a take on Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde sort of theme. Filmmaking was at times interesting, but turning the frame upside down is not creative, it's childish. If it's trying to capture what it's really like in the film, the filmmaker should realize that when you are physically upside down, your perception is not completely 'upside' down.

I guess I had really high expectations about this film. I also thought I'd get some answers to the real life mystery. Perhaps with no preconceptions I would have enjoyed it more. Wonderful acting, some great dialogue. Understated performances is an understatement here (with notable exceptions). I was not really captivated by the wrestling scenes, but this could be my lack of interest in them rather than the film itself. It's all atmosphere, character development, and performance, with some fine direction. But where is the story? I also found fault with what I assume is the editing. There are parts of the film that seem be skipped, where I was sure a scene was missed - or parts that were so briefly shown it was nearly impossible to observe what was important, but this could be a fault of direction or camera- work.

I am still wondering why most of the events in the film happened. Time after time, events occur in the film that beg the question "what!? - where did that come from?". Did I miss something? I even went back to re-watch some scenes and there were no answers.

Perhaps the filmmakers did not want to make this an 'inspired-by-real- events' film, but a more accurate portrayal. Fine aspirations but the result here was a really long dissatisfying film.

This show was truly great. It must have been - I still think about it regularly after so many years. What I wanted to put here was a sad update on the show's inspiration - at least for it's atmosphere and location - Chez Helene in New Orleans and it's proprietor Austin Leslie. I visited New Orleans a few years after the show was canceled, and sought out the restaurant. Austin talked to me at length and told me stories about the influence his place had on the show, as well as many other stories and anecdotes, as well as advice on my visit. He was really a great host. It was first time to New Orleans and his welcome really made my trip special. So did the smothered cabbage and pig tails!(it was a creole and soul food restaurant). Years later, after Katrina, I looked him up to see how he was doing. I have a cookbook he signed for me (as well as drawing a caricature of himself inside); and I was making a recipe out of it... Sadly he died from the ravages of Hurricane Katrina. He was trapped in an attic and was exposed to heat (over 120F!) and other deprivations, which weakened him, and he eventually succumbed to pneumonia. But what a cook and truly remarkable person!