Philloz3000 Reviews

Just a Gigolo (1978)

Just a Gigolo was NOT Bowie's first acting role.

[20 June 2012]

Above, a previous post makes the claim, "Believe it or not, this was David Bowie's first acting role in a motion picture, despite the fact that this film was released a year after THE MAN WHO FELL TO EARTH. A large portion of this film was destroyed in a fire, so it took director Hemmings nearly three years to piece together a motion picture out of what remained." Don't believe it. This story is a total fabrication.

All available contemporary sources reveal that "The Man Who Fell To Earth" was shot in 1975, and a simple viewing will attest to the fact that Bowie's physical appearance is of the 1975/1976 era of his career. Contemporary sources also show that "Just a Gigolo" was shot Berlin in 1978, and its initial running time was 147 min. upon its November, 1978 release in German cinemas. It was soon pulled from release because of poor reviews, and it was *intentionally* cut down to shorter lengths for its various international releases, not because of accident by fire.

Omnibus: Cracked Actor (1975) Season 8, Episode 13

"I'm just the space cadet - He's the commander."

[10/10 · 14 February 2006]

This excellent documentary - originally broadcast by the BBC in 1975 - may seem slow moving and "arty" to those weened on Biography's breezy chrono-bio clip-show style, but it's as honest a portrait as you'll ever find on the enigmatic singer, captured in the midst of an intensely creative period, but fueled and debilitated by massive cocaine use. It contains some unusually candid behind-the-scenes footage as well as providing fascinating glimpses of the fabled 1974 "Diamond Dogs" tour, unavailable elsewhere. If you can find a good gray market copy, snap it up. Otherwise, pester the BBC to give this a proper release.

Strangers with Candy (1999–2000)

Brilliant Satire, soon to be a movie

[2 September 2004]

Amy Sederis is brilliant as Jerri Blank amid a cast of other excellent comic writer/actors, including Paul Dinello and "The Daily Show's" Stephen Colbert. It had me consistently on the floor with it's inventiveness, audacity and vicious wit (i.e., the prayer at the Families of Alcoholics meeting: "Dear God, please give me the strength to blame those who did this to me, to accuse those who didn't, and the wisdom to know the difference.") It's long since disappeared from Comedy Central, but DVDs of Seasons One and Two are out, and a movie version by the same team is on its way for 2005. BTW, whoever suggested that the writers were "white supremists," I sincerely hope you are joking. It's called satire, in the vein of Swift and Voltaire.