New Wave Outpost Forum

by **drsevrin** » Sat Sep 16, 2006 5:13 pm

OK, I realize this may have been done before (I looked, really), but here it comes anyway. What are your favorite movies with New Wave artists as actors and why. For me, these come to mind:

1. Straight to Hell. Alex Cox's low budget spaghetti-western spoof featured The Pogues, Joe Strummer, and Elvis Costello. Not exactly a masterpiece but amusing for sure. Sergio Leone must have turned over . . .

2. Mystery Train. Director Jim Jarmusch is one of my alltime favorites. Throw in Strummer again and you can't lose. Steve Buscemi doesn't hurt either. Also recommended by Jarmusch: Down by Law (Tom Waits, John Lurie, and Roberto Benigni) and Stranger than Paradise.

3. Corrupt. Italian film also known as "Copkiller". Who'd have thought that John Lydon would star alongside Harvey Keitel in a cop thriller. Well, again not exactly academy award material but fun nonetheless from a novelty standpoint. Fortunately Keitel screams less than in the Bad Lieutenant and stays clothed more than in the Piano

4. Tin Men. Fine Young Cannibals didn't really act, but played. Cool.

5. Slam Dance. Adam Ant is featured along with Tom Hulce in this stylish murder mystery. Can't go wrong.

6. Repo Man. Again, no actors per se, but Circle Jerks perform.

I'm going to list one last movie with a great New Wave ambience, although there weren't exactly any New Wave artisits in it.

7. Subway. Christopher Lambert stars in a fun tale of love and suspense in the Paris subway. Lambert's bleached hair and dream of forming a band, along with the underground neon imagery screams New Wave. Loved it.

What are your favorites?? What have I missed?? [:)]

by **deethelurker** » Sat Sep 16, 2006 5:27 pm

[i]Sugar Town[/i] was cheesy as hell, but with it you got the potent thrill of watching both John (Duran Duran) Taylor and Martin (Spandau Ballet) Kemp play members of a fading rock band with Michael Des Barres as the lead singer dude. Just fast forward through the bits with Ally Sheedy's character and that psycho bitch from hell and you've got cheese that goes down right.

You can watch JT in another, better music-themed movie -- VH1's [i]A Diva's Christmas Carol[/i], where the West Midlander tries gamely to do his best Cockney. It's just all around fun and a nice spin on the Christmas Carol story.

And that's all I can think of. I did catch Adam Ant (and squealed like a baby pig) when he guest-starred on "Northern Exposure", though. That was, like, one of the finest moments in '90s TV, for sure, a total reunion of two disparate interests of mine when I was a teen.

by **drsevrin** » Sat Sep 16, 2006 5:37 pm

Wow, you just reminded me - The Kemp brothers of Spandau Ballet starred in The Krays, (1990), a fact-based drama about the famous 60's era London gangsters. I knew I'd forgotten something. I'll have to look for Adam Ant on Northern Exposure . . . [:)]

by **anemiccinema** » Sat Sep 16, 2006 10:34 pm

Here are few ...

Gavin Friday (Virgin Prunes) - "Breakfast on Pluto"

Michael Hutchence (INXS) + Ollie Olsen (Orchestra of skin and Bone)
- Dogs in Space

Adam Ant, and David Bowie have been in many (use IMDB)

by **skinnytie** » Sun Sep 17, 2006 12:27 am

Rockula (featuring Thomas Dolby!) [:D]

by **design_femme** » Sun Sep 17, 2006 12:31 am

Iggy Pop's guest appearance on "Deep Space Nine" will always be a favorite.

It was a comic, Ferengi-centered episode. He played a Vorta and captured the dry, deadpan humor so perfectly.

by **waldnorm** » Sun Sep 17, 2006 12:36 am

If you include Cyndi Lauper, then there's Vibes as a "psychic" and her memorable character as the eccentric and demanding ex-wife to Ira Buchman in Mad About You (I think she won an Emmy for it).

by **deethelurker** » Sun Sep 17, 2006 1:37 am

[quote][i]Originally posted by drsevrin[/i]
<br>Wow, you just reminded me - The Kemp brothers of Spandau Ballet starred in The Krays, (1990), a fact-based drama about the famous 60's era London gangsters. I knew I'd forgotten something. I'll have to look for Adam Ant on Northern Exposure . . . [:)]
[/quote]

Oh yeah. I saw a clip of it ([i]The Krays[/i]) during C4's late '90s "Top Ten '80s Romantics" special (the Brits will know what I'm talking about). I've been meaning to check out that movie ever since. And ooh, is "Northern Exposure" being rerun anywhere? Listening to The Posies this morning gave me a need to revisit other things from the '90s.

The "Top Ten '80s Romantics" thing reminds me of another clip I saw, this time with Phil (Human League) Oakey in it, where he's all long-haired and laughing like a loon along with these two other guys. All three appear completely insane. It was an outdoor scene. I can't remember the name of the mov-- ooh, thanks to imdb, I DO now "remember". It was called [i]The Weekenders[/i] and was apparently on TV. And apparently it was supposed to be a comedy. That explains things....

by **KYYX4ever** » Sun Sep 17, 2006 3:11 am

The lovely John Taylor also appeared in a super cheesy movie [i]Las Vegas: City of Sin[/i]. Haven't seen it but have seen some screen caps, and boy, does he look luscious.
He also appeared in a movie called [i]Dogs Playing Poker[/i], as well as a guest appearance on TV's [/i]That 80s Show[/i].

design femme, I also thought Iggy playing a Vorta on DS9 was cool !

by **beautifulmutant101** » Sun Sep 17, 2006 7:04 am

Nick Cave has a good ten minutes screen-time in "Johnny Suede", as slightly unhinged rock and roll icon Freak Storm. He's also in "Wings of Desire".

Hey, that's a good question, has Nick Cave ever been considered "new wave"? I know the Bad Seeds aren't, but what about the Birthday Party?

They might have been more "No wave". I love 'em either way.

by **WolverineSyr** » Sun Sep 17, 2006 11:09 am

Debbie Harry has been in tons of movies. I don't really think she's a very good actress - but loved her in Hairspray & will watch her in just about anything, anyways.

I remember Toyah was in an old (1979?) version of The Corn is Green with Katherine Hepburn. HBO used to play it constantly. Toyah was pretty evil I loved her.

by **glokstadt** » Sun Sep 17, 2006 11:26 am

Debrah Harry in Videodrome, Sting in Quadraphenia and Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels (which his wife produced), Adam Ant in two or three Sci-Fi movies I cannot rememeber the names of right now *they are cheesey), Claire Grogan in That Sinking Feeling and Gorgie's Girl... more to go!

Oh yeah, Roland Gift (of FYC and The Argyles) in Scandal, a great flik!

It's a Mod, Mod, Mod, Mod, World!
<a href="http://s97.photobucket.com/albums/l237/vespa_boy_2006/?action=view¤t=ModTarget.png" target="_blank"><img src="http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l237/vespa_boy_2006/ModTarget.png" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"></a>

by **BigBri** » Sun Sep 17, 2006 12:11 pm

Some I remember of the top of my head (maybe not truly "New Wavers" but...):

Sting appeared in [i]Dune[/i]. I recall that was the only reason I went to see it. I also recall being bored beyond belief.

Micheal Penn appeared in [i]Boogie Nights[/i]. He also composed the score.

Jim Jarmusch cast Iggy Pop in one of his vignettes in [i]Coffee and Cigarettes[/i], opposite Tom Waits.

Lou Reed appeared in Paul Simon's [i]One Trick Pony[/i], but I was too young to realize it at that time. He also appeared in the improvised [i]Blue in the Face[/i].

Ric Ocasek had a cameo as a beatnik in John Waters' [i]Hairspray[/i].

by **Obtuse** » Sun Sep 17, 2006 12:41 pm

How about some memorable TV roles/cameos?

Boy George on "The A-Team"

Adam Ant on "Northern Exposure"

Devo on "Square Pegs"

by **drsevrin** » Sun Sep 17, 2006 1:11 pm

[quote][i]Originally posted by glokstadt[/i]
<br>Debrah Harry in Videodrome, Sting in Quadraphenia and Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels (which his wife produced), Adam Ant in two or three Sci-Fi movies I cannot rememeber the names of right now *they are cheesey), Claire Grogan in That Sinking Feeling and Gorgie's Girl... more to go!

Oh yeah, Roland Gift (of FYC and The Argyles) in Scandal, a great flik!

It's a Mod, Mod, Mod, Mod, World!
<a href="http://s97.photobucket.com/albums/l237/vespa_boy_2006/?action=view¤t=ModTarget.png" target="_blank"><img src="http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l237/vespa_boy_2006/ModTarget.png" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"></a>
[/quote]

Yeah, I forgot about Sting. Have to include Stormy Monday as well - he owned a Jazz club and starred with Melanie Griffith, Tommy Lee Jones, and Sean Bean.

And yes, Scandal was great. Just put that on my "to rent" list.

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