The Linguini Incident
The Linguini Incident | |
---|---|
Directed by | Richard Shepard |
Written by | Tamar Brott Richard Shepard |
Produced by | Sarah Jackson Arnold Orgolini |
Starring | Rosanna Arquette David Bowie Eszter Balint Marlee Matlin Buck Henry Viveca Lindfors |
Cinematography | Robert Yeoman |
Edited by | Sonya Polonsky |
Music by | Thomas Newman |
Distributed by | Academy Entertainment |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 98 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
The Linguini Incident (also released on home video as Houdini and Company, The Robbery, Shag-O-Rama) is a 1991 American
Plot
A British bartender, Monte (
Cast
- David Bowie as Monte
- Rosanna Arquette as Lucy
- Marlee Matlin as Jeanette
- Eszter Balint as Vivian
- Buck Henry as Cecil
- Viveca Lindfors as Miracle
- Andre Gregoryas Dante
- Kathy Kinney as Denise
- James Avery as Phil
- Al Berry as Bread Man
Iman and Julian Lennon have brief cameos in the movie.[1]
Production and release
The movie was shot in late 1990, after Bowie had completed his Sound+Vision Tour.[2] It was co-funded by Bowie's own production company, Isolar.[2] The film was released in America on the weekend of the Rodney King riot. In Los Angeles, where the LA TIMES had called the film "an off the wall treat" there was a curfew so box office was obviously disappointing despite the fact that The NY Times called the film a "cheerfully bizarre comedy". It was released on VHS in 1992, and again in January 2000 on DVD with the name Shag-O-Rama, The Robbery, and Houdini and Company. [2]
Critical response
While reviews were mixed, many critics praised the film for its humor and avant-garde surrealism.
Since its initial release, the film has garnered a cult following of fans who have come to appreciate its bizarre humor, surreal tone, and relative obscurity. On October 4, 2022, Collider called it "a hidden gem in Bowie's filmography" and "the best kind of cinematic comfort food".[7] In March of 2020, film reviewer Virginie Pronovost wrote "it keeps you entertained from the beginning until the end with its humour, its peripeties and the overall aura of excitement".[8] Affirming fan appreciation for the film's obscurity, one 2013 review from Mutant Reviewers says "here on my Island of Misfit Movies, The Linguini Incident lives on in a special place of honor".[9]
On August 8, 2023, director Richard Shepard announced on his twitter account that he had recovered the rights to the film, remastered it in 4K, with a never before seen director's cut. The BluRay release is scheduled for 2024. [10]
See also
Notes
- ^ a b Cohn, Lawrence (May 4, 1992). "Review: The Linguini Incident". Variety. Los Angeles, California: Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved February 20, 2015.
- ^ a b c d Pegg 2016, p. 676.
- ^ Maslin, Janet (May 1, 1992). "Movies: The Linguini Incident". The New York Times. New York City. Retrieved February 20, 2015.
- ^ Thomas, Kevin (May 1, 1992). "MOVIE REVIEW : 'Linguini' a Modern Screwball Comedy". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
- ^ "Reviews: The Linguini Incident". London, England: Bauer Media Group. 1 January 2000. Retrieved 20 February 2015.
- ^ "The Linguini Incident (Review)". TV Guide. New York City: CBS Corporation. Retrieved February 20, 2015.
- ^ Boccella, Maggie (Oct 4, 2022). "Why David Bowie's Zaniest, Most Underrated Film Role Is 'The Linguini Incident'". Collider. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
- ^ Pronovost, Virginie (Mar 11, 2020). "David Bowie on Screen: The Linguini Incident (Richard Shepard, 1991)". The Wonderful World of Cinema. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
- ^ "The Linguini Incident (1991)". Mutant Reviewers. Jun 17, 2013. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
- ^ https://twitter.com/SaltyShep/status/1735005000689144246
- ISBN 978-1-78565-365-0.