Damselvis, Daughter of Helvis

I'd call it a minor masterpiece except for the word minor is inescapably condescending. How about this? It's John Michael McCarthy's *first* masterpiece.

A rumination on the vast concepts of religion and belief that at the same time reinvents their aspect of spiritualism in such an impossibly elegant way that the viewer is forced onto a journey wherein he creates a pathway for his own trials and tribulations, alongside that of JMM's. At times deviating and at times intersecting, all together these infinite winding strings weave together into a braid, showing for the first time what was previously known as the mystery of God.

And all of this done without pretension, with friends as cast members, found locations, local bands for the soundtrack.

Although based on a great concept,this movie has gratuitous everything. And that takes away from the rest of the movie. The sound quality and video quality are not great either. In some places you can't hear the dialog and have to really look to see what is going on. The one good thing you shouldn't miss in this film,is Evil Knievelvis. Robert Gann is really funny and his version of the MGM Lion after the credits ain't bad either. Love the part where he says "I hit the ramp doing about 120 miles an hour with my motorcycle right behind me."

There comes a time in every man's life when he must realize that great films exist, films that are better than others, more moving, more entertaining, more amusing, more wrenching than most.

DAMSELVIS, DAUGHTER OF HELVIS is one of those films.

The movie is full of . . . unforgettable performances, a . . . truly original plot, and possibly the best one-liner I've ever heard. It affects me as much today as it did when I first saw it on screen, and it always will. Indeed, I think it sums up the movie, and much of life in general.

"W . . . Where'dja git that black eye, anyway? Some. . . Somebody kick your smart ass for you?" As said by Evel Knievelvis.

Impressive, isn't it? Dag, yo, if I could write, or talk, or act, that's the sort of phrase I'd like to leave my lips or my pen. Something so inherently . . . real. Nothing beyond that line can describe this movie -- nothing can even come close.