SpuffyWeb
Sadly Over-hyped
PiraBit
if their story seems completely bonkers, almost like a feverish work of fiction, you ain't heard nothing yet.
Philippa
All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.
Staci Frederick
Blistering performances.
RainDogJr
Today I saw my second Aki Kaurismaki film, was this one, Leningrad Cowboys Go America, and was on the big screen. It's a film with good laughs, with good charm, a little film about a, insert your favourite music genre here (yes, there's rock 'n' roll and country for you), band. Is the American dream for a band that had no success in their homeland, is the story of a band that has little voice outside the stage. The humor comes since the very first minutes and for us is just impossible not to love the Leningrad Cowboys (that's the name of the mentioned band): you have to love their look (sort of Blues Brothers but also with a f****** unique hairstyle!), their music, their dog, their frozen pal, the grandpa (see this film and see Abraham Lincoln as, well you better check that out!). However we can't launch them, we can't help their music career so yes we love them but practically nobody else does or at least not the producer that at the beginning of the film says to the manager of the band that they should go to America, the producer knows that there people like, well you know. The humor of the film is often just truly great but practically there is not a scene that ain't at least a little bit amusing. The thing of "you should go to America, you should go to Mexico" is hilarious and is an indication that the Leningrad Cowboys are not having a really great time but not only that since their manager is just about the quintessential manager that treats the members of the band just like tools. The humor is great sometimes with this stuff, the manager is having a great time drinking lots and lots of beer and practically saying to the band "now you will play rock and roll, now country" and stuff. We have versions by the Leningrad Cowboys of classics like "That's All Right" and "Born to Be Wild" and we have the Cowboys finally finding their market! And this film was, by the way, part of a season at the Cineteca (very pretentious "art-house", located in the south of Mexico City, but nevertheless good stuff plays there) of rock films that ended today. I missed all of the films of the season but this one. Oh and I'm almost sure they projected a VHS of Leningrad Cowboys Go America on the big screen, but well at least I saw it since I really had desires (the cameo of one of my favourite filmmakers of all-time, the awesome Jim Jarmusch, was one of the reasons. And Jarmusch appears as a guy that sells the Cowboys a car, a Cadillac – "for you guys $700" "that's all we have" "I know, that's why"-, yet not everything will go fine for the Cowboys with their new car and not only because of the car's capacity) to check it out and while I was more enthusiastic before seeing it than after it ended I liked it a lot, a little Kaurismaki film that deserves a DVD release. It's all right!
Max_cinefilo89
Has anyone ever heard of a Finnish rock band called Leningrad Cowboys? No? Then here's a great chance of catching up with a piece of music history. Jokes apart, this is a very clever and funny film chronicling the Cowboys'slow, excruciating journey towards success.It all begins in the Siberian countryside, where the musicians are trying to impress a potential producer. Sadly (for them), this guy states the obvious about their work: "It's sh*t". Hence the guys'need to go somewhere else. More precisely, the USA. Led by the ruthless manager Vladimir (Matti Pellonpää), the Cowboys try to export their music and look (Pulp Fiction-style suits, absurdly long tufts and matching boots). Not an easy task, as their efforts are way too unconventional for the yanks. "You know Mexico? Go there. My cousin's getting married. He could need people like you". And so the journey continues in a second-choice car (don't miss Jim Jarmusch's cameo as the salesman) and under miserable circumstances. Only Vladimir seems to be enjoying himself. The other band-members have to cope with his dictatorial manners. Well, except for one Cowboy (Silu Seppälä) "travelling" on the car roof (you see, he froze to death at the beginning of the film), and Igor (Kari Väänänen), the village idiot who's following the group in the desperate hope of joining them (he was rejected because his hair isn't long enough).A lot of things happen in this film, some on the brink of credibility, and to reveal them in advance would be a serious offense on my behalf. Suffice to say that this is one of the funniest films ever made: after four movies in which he dealt with various sides of Finnish society, mostly poor, Aki Kaurismäki decided to tell a different kind of story, featuring the "worst rock band in the world" (their words, of course). The result is a wildly inventive, often politically incorrect, always hilarious musical comedy.Trust me: this is one odyssey worth watching.
Simoso
This is the story of a terrible band of musicians for Finland called (bizarrely) The Leningrad Cowboys. They want to come to America and make lots of money. Of course it is not as easy as that.I guarantee you will not have seen anything like this. You need to watch it with a couple of beers in you as it it is very silly indeed. There are some extremely funny episodes in this film such as the band's manager who is in charge of the money gets the shopping in. He buys a six pack of Buds for himself and a bag of onions for the band to eat. He sits in the front seat draining the bees and throwing the cans into the back hitting the guys in the head. Another good bit is where the band has turned on the manager they spend the remaining money on booze and one of them, fur coat and all, falls over whilst dancing drunk into the fire. Any road up, watch it for yourselves and you will enjoy it, I did.
bobbymeizer
Reminiscent of some of the best Eastern European comedies, this absurdist Finnish look at the foibles of both Communist and capitalist attempts at reality is not going to change your life, but it is an enjoyable way to spend 79 minutes. A rousing oompah band from a small Eastern European village travel to America to find their fortune. They all have hairdos like Buddy Holly on acid and wear the pointiest-toed shoes you've ever seen. In New York City they buy an old Cadillac and get a gig to play a wedding in Mexico. On the trip there they also travel through rock, blues, country, and mariachi, and meet people almost as strange as themselves. Most memorable moment: Igor, the village idiot, catching up to the band out in the middle of the Texas countryside, carrying a very large fish.