Still Crazy

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Still Crazy ★★★ ½ 1998 (R)

Twenty years after the breakup of his band Strange Fruit, Tony (Rea) is ready to give it a go again. With the Wisbech rock festival beckoning, he rounds up the others: lead singer Ray (Nighy), still a musician living in a mansion; drummer Beano (Spall), a gardener on the run from the tax collector; and singer-bassist Les (Nail), who runs a roofing business. One glitch: lead guitarist Brian (Robinson), the most popular band member, is supposedly dead. Luckily, love of the music (and money) forces the band to get it together. Inspired by a reunion tour of the Animals, but has more “Full Monty” fun and heart than “Spinal Tap” parody to it. The cast is superb and the actual concert makes you want to stand up and cheer, when you're done laughing. 96m/C VHS, DVD . GB Stephen Rea, Billy Connolly, Jimmy Nail, Timothy Spall, Bill Nighy, Juliet Aubrey, Helena Bergstrom, Bruce Robinson, Hans Matheson, Rachael Stirling, Phil Daniels, Frances Barber, Philip Davis; D: Brian Gibson; W: Dick Clement, Ian La Frenais; C: Ashley Rowe; M: Clive Langer.