Mayor Of The Sunset Strip
BBB
(out of 5)
From autograph hound to club owner and, when this documentary finds him, popular radio disc jockey, Rodney Bingenheimer has carved out a life for himself where he is the fawning worshipper of many a popular celebrity. He is also, thanks to his keen eye for good music and the huge audience that his radio show has been reaching for decades, responsible for introducing North America to the sounds of such disparate artists as David Bowie, No Doubt and Coldplay. Here, in this mildly enjoyable though hardly compelling film by George Hickenlooper, his life is traced from his family roots, through to his early days in Hollywood as buddy to Sonny and Cher (she appears in the film to talk about their relationship) to his current stasis as a DJ supreme whose career is hanging by a thread. The film is ample on celebrity sightings (including the appearances of Courtney Love, Joan Jett and…Kato Kaelin), but doesn’t really get too deep beneath the surface; when it tries, it reveals a mostly unsympathetic subject. Still, fans of music documentaries should enjoy it.
USA, 2003
Directed by George Hickenlooper
Screenplay by George Hickenlooper
Cinematography by Kramer Morgenthau, Igor Meglic
Produced by Christopher Paul Carter, Greg Little, Greg S. Little, Tommy Perna
Music by Anthony Marinelli
Film Editing by Julie Janata
Film Festivals: TIFF 2003
Cast Tags: Alice Cooper, Annabella Lwin, Annie Shane, Becca Grove, Beck, Belinda Carlisle, Bing Bingenheimer, Blondie, Bobby George, Bow Wow Wow, Brian Wilson, Brooke Shields, Camille Chancery, Carnie Wilson, Cher, Cherie Currie, Chris Martin, Chris P. Carter, Chris Stein, Clem Burke, Coldplay, Corey Feldman, Courtney Love, Danny Sugerman, David Bowie, David Johansen, David Lee Roth, Davy Jones, Deborah Harry, Domenic Priore, Dramarama, Elvis Costello, Exene Cervenka, Gary Strobl, George Wendt, Green Day, Gwen Stefani, Heather Shane, Henry Diltz, Isadore Ivy Spaceman At Large, Jane Wiedlin, Jed ‘The Fish’ Gould, Jello Biafra, Jerry Lee Lewis, Joan Jett, Joey Ramone, John Doe, John Easdale, John Lennon, John Lydon, John Peterson, Johnny Marr, Kato Kaelin, Keanu Reeves, Kim Fowley, Lance Loud, Leo Braudy, Liam Gallagher, Linda Ronstadt, Liza Kumjian-Smith, Lori Mattox, Louise Wener, Mackenzie Phillips, Manny Furlong, Maria Montoya, Michael Des Barres, Mick Jagger, Miss Mercy, Monique Powell, Monte Robinson, Nancy La Perch, Nancy Sinatra, Neil Young, Neve Campbell, No Doubt, Noel Gallagher, Oasis, Pamela Des Barres, Paul McCartney, Pete Townshend, Phil Spector, Ray Manzarek, Rob Zombie, Rodney Bingenheimer, Ronald Vaughan, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Sharon McDonald, Sid Vicious, Sonny Bono, Steve Jenkins, Suzanne Jenkins, The Doors, The Four Seasons, The GTOS, The Mamas and the Papas, The Monkees, The Sex Pistols, Tori Amos, Van Halen, Wendy Wilson, X., Zelda Bingenheimer
Independent Spirit Award Nomination
Best Documentary
