The Exploding Plastic Inevitable

Author: Adrian James

Location: Nashville

"The Exploding Plastic Inevitable"

CREW:

Directed by Wes Anderson

Written by Wes Anderson and Owen Wilson

CAST:

Lou Reed - Justin Theroux

Andy Warhol - Owen Wilson

Nico - Gwenyth Paltrow

John Cale - Adrien Brody

Sterling Morrison - Jason Schwartzman

Maureen Tucker - Natalie Portman

Narrator - Bill Murray

TAGLINE: Witness the Rebirth. Witness the Rebellion. Witness the Banana!

SYNOPSIS: The year is not important. Its a cold, rainy day, and a young boy is about to be scarred for life. His parents, after constantly trying to tone down his rebellious ways, send him in for treatment from his ailment. The doctors strap him in a chair, and put a mouthguard in him. Then, they give him electroshock therapy, to get rid of the "rock'n'roll" that has flooded his brain. Ten years later, this boy would become one of the most influential musicians of his time. He would take drugs. He would make love to beautiful hippies, and then help create art from a banana. This boy is Lou Reed, and this is his tale.

During the early sixties, nobody quite knew what they were doing. Teens were bopping along to "I Wanna Hold Your Hand" when years later, the same group would influence their acid trips with Magical Mystery Tour. Vietnam was just a police action when in less than 5 years it would become a national movement. And Lou Reed was working his way up the food chain with his band, "The Velvet Underground".

INTERVIEW - Sterling Morrison

"I was with Lou from the very beginning. When the band was formed, it was so new. It was so stylish. Nobody knew what to think. But one man really connected to what we were trying to do with our music. He was our biggest fan, and he was a huge riot at parties. Andy really helped us mature as a band, and with him we found our voice."

Andy Warhol was a Manhattan based, eccentric modern artist. He was an inevator in the "Campbell's Soup" area of artwork. He helped create a revolution of his own, using his taste for modern culture and expensive LSD. He had a taste for foreign women, and was an exceptionally good cook. Ironically, he was never any good at cooking Campbell's Soup. It always burned. But one thing that Andy was extremely good at, was creating hip clubs. And none were hipper than "The Exploding Plastic Inevitable".

INTERVIEW - Maureen Tucker

"I remember the first time the EPI was held. People gathered in one of Andy's warehouses to watch us play. The crowd was wild. These kids, who didn't have a clique, who didn't have an identity, finally found a place where they were accepted. They loved us. It was a great feeling to have."

The EPI was the launching point for all things Velvet, and definately all things Underground. Soon the world had taken notice of Warhol's factory, and in Lou Reed. With Reed's growing popularity this caused some slight trouble in the band. He was their leader. he was their face. But Reed assured his fellow bandmates that he wasn't going to leave them. Andy was happy with the band, but felt it needed a little something more. That's when he brought in his actress/model/performer/German friend, Nico.

Nico was a German born blonde beauty who quickly fell in with Warhol and his factory workers when she moved to New York. Andy liked her vocals, and so did Reed. He wanted her to help the band with their debut album. Reed was the only one who thought it was a good idea.

INTERVIEW - John Cale

"I never wanted Nico to sing on the album. She wasn't a musician, she was a factory rat. She was Andy Warhol's little pet. The only reason that Lou wanted her on the album was because she was banging him. Which wasn't really a surprise. She was also having relations with Bob Dylan, Jim Morrison, Iggy Pop, Jackson Browne, and......well, me. If you bang enough musicians, does that make you one?"

Arguably, John was very against Nico joining the Underground. After the recording of their first album, "The Velvet Underground and Nico", the band had hit a rough patch. Feuds between Warhol and Reed increasiing got more evident, and a dispute included throwing a can of soup at each other. The band was huge, and Reed decided to fire Warhol as their manager. They also fired Nico.

Over the next couple of years, Reed and his Underground released several more albums, and then called it quits. Maureen Tucker went on to have a less than successful solo career, but is always remembered as the chick drummer from the band. Sterling Morrison went on to not have a career in music, but instead became the captain of a tugboat. Andy Warhol died in 1987, but is always remembered as one of the most influential modern artists of the century. John Cale went on to have a successful solo career, and even once cut the head off a chicken while on stage, forcing his vegetarian drummer to leave. Nico died in 1988 from a brain hemorrhage in Spain. Lou Reed went on to become one of the biggest solo careers of all time, and is to this day performing and touring. But we will never forget them all, as the Velvet Underground.

PRESS SECTION:

Shot as a documentary, Wes Anderson makes "The Exploding Plastic Inevitable" a sometimes wacky, sometimes heartbreaking, and sometimes poignant dark comedy that traces the lives of artists. All forms of artists, as they clash, create, and then clash some more. The writing is sharp and witty, much like most Anderson films, but in this one it doesn't feel forced. The characters are eccentric and kooky, but they never feel written. They feel real. Anderson took the story of the Velvet Underground and just ever so slightly made it his own, and he actually pulled it off. Thanks in a large way to co-writer Owen Wilson(whose previous collaboration earned them both an Oscar nomination), "The Exploding Plastic Inevitable" is the most entertaining film of the year.

Headlining the cast in the only leading role is Justin Theroux, who somehow buries himself so deep in the mind and persona of Lou Reed. His gait, his looks, his voice; all match. He is astounding, and hilarious. A surefire contender. Adrien Brody is terrific as the other half of the headlining duo, John Cale. Jason Schwartzman is funny as always as the bass player in the innovative band, and Natalie Portman is completely out of character for herself, playing the quiet, secluded, and quirky Maureen "Moe" Tucker.

But the real scene stealers come from the supporting cast, with Owen Wilson portraying the ever interesting Andy Warhol. His quirks, his eccentricities, his delusions, all come out in terrific ways when Wilson is center stage. Wilson is the comic relief, and it seems we are laughing at him. But Wilson delves so deep into this performance, that we must, in fact, be laughing with him. The other half of the terrific supporting cast is Gwenyth Paltrow as the German-born singer Nico. Portrayed as much more than a factory slut, Paltrow makes us feel for the hardships of this war torn beauty, and how she expresses her inner emotions by trying to find the love of a man. Or by singing. Or by modeling. Either way, both of these performances are absolutely breathtaking, and absolutely funny.

"The Exploding Plastic Inevitable" is one of those films that will be talked about for ages, and never fully understood. Many will think it is deep. Many will think it is pretentious. But the beauty of this film is that it is so simple. There are no messages. There are no allegories. There are no allusions. Wes Anderson does here what Wes Anderson does best. And that is tell a story.

FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION:

Best Picture

Best Director - Wes Anderson

Best Actor - Justin Theroux

Best Supporting Actor - Owen Wilson

Best Supporting Actress - Gwenyth Paltrow

Best Supporting Actress - Natalie Portman

Best Original Screenplay - Owen Wilson and Wes Anderson

Best Costumes