Real to reel

Local observations from a movie, music buff

By Dan Ochwat

Go on a ‘Wim’ for movie night

In a film studies class in college, my eccentric professor screened a film clip of a guy parking on the side of a road, walking into a field and then taking a crap. It was the only scene of the film he showed us.

My reaction? Clearly, this is the work of a legend. The director: Wim Wenders. The film: I believe it was “King of the Road,” but like I said, all we got was the poop scene. New from the German director is the film “Don’t Come Knocking,” and it is a grand, imperfect and highly recommended film.

If unfamilliar with Wenders’ work, I hope I didn’t scare you with the back-to-nature scene I described in the first graph. Wenders makes beautiful films. His most notable is “Paris, Texas,” the award-winning 1984 movie starring Harry Dean Stanton as a desert wanderer reunited with his brother after missing in action for four years. Stanton then reconnects with his eight-year-old son, and they go off and search for the boy’s mother and Stanton’s ex-wife, played by a super young (and stunningly sexy) Nastassja Kinski. She was Jessica Simpson-esque, except, you know, with the ability to act.

“Don’t Come Knocking” may not have much life left in theaters, but try your best to catch it, and then go home and rent “Paris, Texas,” which just hit DVD shelves. There just aren’t any films like these two.

Playwright and actor Sam Shepard penned “Paris, Texas,” and Wenders re-teamed with Shepard for “Don’t Come Knocking.” This time, Shepard not only writes but stars in the movie as a washed-up Western film star and tabloid cover boy who goes AWOL from a movie set to find his children. If it sounds similar, it is. “Don’t Come Knocking” is frighteningly close to “Paris, Texas” in its themes. While it’s not quite to the level of Paris, it is a great movie. It graces us with gorgeous shots of the Nevada desert and shots of Butte, Montana, which looks like a long lost valley town with few stragglers walking its empty crossroads.

For this latest release, the “poop” scene, or future scene shown to film classes, is anchored by Jessica Lange, who plays Shepard’s ex-lover and mother to his son. Standing in front of a storefront window housing one of those small, sparse, independent gyms like we see in Chicago, she tears into the sad sack for all he’s done and for his laughable attempt to regain what they once had. The beauty of the scene is how it juxtaposes the modern kids exercising in the gym against the argument outside between a wayward cowboy and his fed up cowgirl. Shepard and Lange almost appear to be performing a live stage performance in front of a guy on a spincycle. It’s just memorable.

A final beware: Shepard specializes in writing long monologues in “Don’t Come Knocking” that can move you to no end, such as the Lange speech, or send you reaching for a pistol, such as the final monologue by Sarah Polley.

Rachel’s Rich Friends

Nicole Holofcener is a musician with dialogue. The writer/director is one of my favorite filmmakers, and her latest film, “Friends With Money” finally received a wide release on Friday, April 21. Thank you, Jennifer Aniston. Hopefully, Holofcener will now get the fanfare she deserves

This is her third film, and it’s another slice-of-life treat. Aniston stars in the movie along with Joan Cusack, Catherine Keener, Frances McDormand and some guys. As in her earlier movies, “Lovely & Amazing” (2001) and “Walking and Talking” (1996), “Friends With Money” is driven and paced by rich dialogue. Holofcener clearly knows how to direct too, as her films always hit a perfect pitch and tone. They’re tender, fun movies.

“Friends With Money” is almost “Sex in the City” for real, mid-life married women. It’s not cartoonish like “Sex in the City” because it strikes a genuine chord. The film isn’t in the league of “Lovely & Amazing,” so rent that film first if you missed it. It stars Jake Gyllenhaal and Keener as his wayward, matron lover. But, despite lukewarm reviews by many critics, “Friends With Money” satisfied my Holofcener hopes. It’s not a perfect movie, with multiple plot lines jutting off in all directions, some not really adding up, but who needs a plot? I’d say it’s the best film I’ve seen this year, and yes, it’s early, and I haven’t seen the Mad Hot Banderas Dangerous Minds Ballroom movie yet.

Moving to music and Band of Horses

From an early movie favorite to an early album favorite. I’ve recently flipped over the album “Everything All the Time,” by Sub Pop’s Band of Horses. I first heard some early single releases on Internet radio, and when the album dropped, it didn’t disappoint. Drawing comparisons to label-mates The Shins and Rogue Wave, Band of Horses does fit into that folk-pop sound that Sub Pop seems to be coining, but they are a band all their own. The band plays Schuba’s on June 5-6 and then the Pitchfork Music Festival July 29.

Other concerts I recommend and will be trying to see: The Wrens play Schuba’s 4/28 and 4/29, playing with Tapes ‘n Tapes during the Saturday show. Like Band of Horses, the Modest Mouse-meets-Wolf Parade sound of Minnesota’s Tapes ‘n Tapes has me loving 2006. Tapes ‘n Tapes is also in concert 4/28 with throwback band Essex Green at Subterranean.

Bluesy, White Stripesy Deadboy and the Elephantmen play the Empty Bottle 4/29. Complete your weekend by seeing Aloha at the Logan Square Auditorium 4/30.

Fiery twosome Two Gallants play the Empty Bottle, and Elf Power plays Subterranean on 5/5.

Dreamy electro Sigur Ros plays the Civic Opera House 5/9. Young band Sound Team opens for Elefant at the Metro 5/9. Check them out for this one electrifying song: “The Fastest Man Alive.”

Hip Hop heads should check out Edan and Prefuse 73 at Empty Bottle 5/11 or 5/12. Polished British band The Subways ripped up the Empty Bottle last time in town, and the bassist is one of the sexiest women in rock. They play the Double Door 5/14.

Film School is in session at Schuba’s 5/16 (that was bad, I know). Deadboy and the Elephantmen return on 5/18 for a show at Metro along with Wolfmother. Not to be confused with Wolf Parade or Wolf Eyes or Bride of Wolf Destroyer. The last band has a three song EP I received in response to my call for local acts. It was bizarre, making Xiu Xiu sound like he had life figured out. Nonetheless, keep sending me your music or anything else on your mind at danochwat@hotmail.com. I’ve also joined the MySpace army, so give The Real Chicago some love at http://www1.myspace.com/danochwat

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