THE FILM I AM MOST OBSESSED WITH
This is Spinal Tap
by Tracy Moede
Films I enjoy, like my music, are eclectic and do not fit into any one classification. I like a little bit of everything, the only stipulation being that it needs to make me glad I spent the time watching it.
I was introduced to the rockumentary This is Spinal Tap via a mixtape. My roommate at the time was from Chicago( we lived in Maryland) and her boyfriend sent her mixtapes about once a month. Side note: This is what we did in the early‘ 80s, either by taping from one tape to another or from the radio, TV, and movies. Often the DJs would interrupt the intro or fade out with their talking. That was very annoying, but at least we could listen to what we wanted when we wanted. And share what we loved with others, hence the mixtape.
It was a great mixtape and I still have it, believe it or not. There was lots of iconic music interspersed with scenes from Tap. It didn’ t take long before I rented the video and became truly a fan of Spinal Tap, the movie and music, and of Christopher Guest and his charismatic satire.
Probably the most impressive, funniest, and oft-quoted moment in the film is the line about the volume knobs on the guitar amplifier:“ The numbers all go to eleven.” Guitarist Nigel Tufnel( brilliantly portrayed by Christopher Guest) explains to Marty that his special amp can play up to volume eleven, as opposed to the standard ones with knobs only going up to ten. When asked if it wouldn’ t be easier to just make a more powerful amp and leave the range of one to ten on the knobs, Nigel is slightly puzzled, but eventually counters in sovereign deadpan,“ This goes to eleven.”
This scene is the film’ s pivotal comedic moment and was so impressive that realworld sound equipment manufacturers added knobs on their amps that go all the way up to number eleven. This Is Spinal Tap is also the only film on IMDb that allows users to rate the film on a scale of one to eleven stars. One of the most important one-liners in the music business!
Every last minute of this movie is funny. I love that Metallica stole the idea of the Black Album from them.( This raises the question how much more black could it be. The answer: None, none more black.)
It’ s one of those movies that get better with every watch. There are a lot of small details in every scene you don’ t notice on the first viewing. All of it is fantastic parody with original music that sounds close enough to be genuine but just slightly over the top.
There are so many amazing scenes and throwaway one-liners— it’ s just great. And I am waiting impatiently for The Savoy in Hamburg to have a showing of Spinal Tap II, the End Continues. I’ ll be the first in line for tickets.
If you are a fan of Tap and Christopher Guest, you’ ll know his other films. Of them, Best In Show, A Mighty Wind, and Mascots are my favorites.
36 AT THE MOVIES