Review 0f Christopher Guest's 'Best In The Show', 'A Mighty Wind', 'The Spinal Tap' And 'For Your Consideration'

The enjoyment of a film can often be tied into the viewer's expectations. Having an idea of what you are about to watch can help increase the odds of enjoyment, especially if like me, you can´t abandon a film, of any standard or enjoyment level, half way through. So, if you are a fan of films with thumping sound tracks, gunfights, modern special effects, fast cars, beautiful people, exotic locations, golden beaches, stunning scenery, A-List cast and flesh regularly flashed, then the recommendations below are not for you. So despite having removed all the main ingredients of a traditional blockbuster, and having risked losing your attention, I continue unrepentant.   

I am here in fact to recommend  the ´mockumentary´ and a series of films from this genre's undoubted master: Christopher Guest, who plays varying roles in all 4 of the listed.  The ´mockumentary´ for the uninitiated, is a film in the style of a documentary but in which all characters are actors. Guest and his various cohorts, without straying too far off the idea of a character and dialogue driven film, do allow themselves a little more razzmatazz than an actual documentary and in such the appeal is widened. Mixing techniques such as ´interviews´ with ´old footage´ and ´cameras following unaware characters,´ the films are set in a space of time covering a specific event.

These films revolve around likeable, if slightly oddball, characters with slick dialogue. Guest tends to use the same handful of actors who clearly enjoy their roles and revel in the careful silliness of it all and you are drawn into their worlds seamlessly. In keeping with most real-life documentaries, a slushy ending is avoided and there are usually both winners and losers as the ´event´draws  to a close. Choosing his subjects carefully, the films delight in both the quirks of the individual characters and by revealing a world hitherto seldom seen. Each Guest fan will have their own favourite, I can recommend all of them, though will take the risk of ranking them for your interest-

Best In Show : maybe because this was the first I watched and had been given the simple recommendation ´you might quite like it´. Knowing the recommender, I knew what type of film to expect, but that was all. I did like it, very much. The context is a Dog Show.

A Mighty Wind : This was my second Guest film and being new to the role of self-styled film buff, didn´t realize it was the ´a Christopher Guest´ offering until I thought to myself, ´this is similar to that film I enjoyed about the Dog Show´ and checked out the credits. I enjoyed this one too! The context is a reunion show for a once-popular folk band.

This is Spinal Tap : The first and most acclaimed and quoted of the Guest films. It was inventing the genre – eat your heart out Ricky Gervais! I watched it last and it had got a bit dated for me but still enjoyable and with possibly the best dialogue. The context is a comeback Tour of a Rock Band.

For Your Consideration : The most recent of the films and it had the feeling of pro´s performing a familiar routine that they all know is well liked. Might well therefore be the slickest of them all & Ricky Gervais gets a role. The context is a cast of  an Oscar- Nominated film awaiting Awards nights.

Waiting for Guffman

Best in Show Poster 27x40 Christopher Guest Michael McKean Parker Posey

Best in Show: The Films of Christopher Guest and Company by Applause Books