Go Go Tales
| Go Go Tales | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Abel Ferrara |
| Written by | Abel Ferrara |
| Produced by |
|
| Starring | Willem Dafoe Bob Hoskins Asia Argento Riccardo Scamarcio Sylvia Miles Stefania Rocca Matthew Modine |
| Cinematography | Fabio Cianchetti |
| Edited by | Fabio Nunziata |
| Music by | Francis Kuipers |
Release date |
|
Running time | 96 minutes |
| Countries | Italy United States |
| Language | English |
Go Go Talesis an independent 2007 film byAbel Ferrara.[1]Ferrara based the film onThe Killing of a Chinese Bookie,directed byJohn Cassavetes.[2]It starsWillem Dafoeas astrip clubowner and co-starsBob Hoskins,Asia ArgentoandMatthew Modine.[3]Ferrara had the cast improvise much of their lines.[2]He described the film as his "first intentional comedy".[4]
Plot
[edit]Ray Ruby, who manages Ray Ruby’s Paradise, is worried about fewer tourists visiting the establishment so he decides to hold a lottery to bring them in. Ray is running out of money but people expect to be paid, including the pole dancers. A landlady by the name of Lillian plans on using the spot for aBed Bath & Beyondlocation if she does not receive rent money.
Desperate for money to keep the establishment open, Ray tries to find the winning ticket of his own lottery. His brother Johnnie helps keep the strip club open. The film shows the lives of people who depend on the strip club and what the lack of money does to them.
Cast
[edit]- Willem Dafoe- Ray Ruby
- Bob Hoskins- The Baron
- Matthew Modine- Johnie Ruby
- Asia Argento- Monroe
- Riccardo Scamarcio- Doctor Steven
- Sylvia Miles- Lilian Murray
- Roy Dotrice- Jay
- Joseph Cortese- Danny Cash (as Joe Cortese)
- Burt Young- Murray
- Stefania Rocca- Debby
- Bianca Balti- Adrian
- Shanyn Leigh- Dolle
- Lou Doillon- Lola
- Frankie Cee- Luigi
- Anita Pallenberg- Sin
- Andy Luotto- Stanley
- Romina Power- Yolanda Vega
- Julie McNiven- Madison
- Dominot- Mrs. Mime
- Anton Rodgersas Barfly
Production
[edit]The part of Ray Ruby was offered toChristopher WalkenandHarvey Keitel.[5][6]
When the film came out, Asia Argento said she regretted she did it because everyone was only talking about the infamous dog-kissing scene. But both director Abel Ferrara and actress Stefania Rocca confirmed that it was Asia herself who wanted to do that scene.[7]
Release
[edit]It was screened out of competition at the2007 Cannes Film Festival.[8]It has been seen only at selected film festivals, including theMontréal World Film Festivalwhere it competed for the "Grand prix des Amériques".[9]Despite being filmed by an American director, the film rights were never bought in the United States. Its only other United States airing besides the Cannes Film Festival and New York Film Festival was at the Anthology Film Archives, as part of a program titled "Abel Ferrara in the 21st Century".[4]The film was released on DVD in Australia.[10]The film was also screened in May 2019 as part of a 27-film Abel Ferrara retrospective at New York'sMuseum of Modern Art.
Reception
[edit]OnRotten Tomatoes,the film has an approval rating of 68%, based on 19 reviews, with an average rating of 5.80/10.[11]OnMetacritic,the film has aweighted averagescore of 61 out of 100, based on 4 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[12]
Ed Gonzalez, writing forSlant Magazine,praised the acting and the music.[13]Robert Koehler, ofVariety,said that "Ferrara is in a wonderfully loose and comedic mood after the complex spiritual dramatics of 'Mary.'"[2]A review byThe New York Timessaid, "A lovely drift of a movie, “Go Go Tales” commands your attention even as it lulls you along. Conspicuously inspired byJohn Cassavetes’sKilling of a Chinese Bookieamong other touchstones, it is a sincere and inspired meditation on art and creation, but in a loose, funny key ".[4]Simon Miraudo, of Quickflix, said that "all anyone wanted to talk about was the sequence in whichAsia Argento’s exotic dancer tongue-kissed a dog onstage ".[10]It is a Critics' Pick ofThe New York Times.[14]Cahiers du Cinémaplaced Go Go Tales 7th in its list of top 10 films of 2012.[15]
References
[edit]- ^Child, Ben (22 October 2008)."Italian government to sell final stake in Cinecitta".The Guardian.London.Retrieved3 May2010.
- ^abcKoehler, Robert (June 8, 2007)."Review:" Go Go Tales "".Variety.RetrievedOctober 2,2013.
- ^"Ty's weekend movie picks for Friday, November 14".The Boston Globe.14 November 2008.
- ^abcDargis, Manohla (January 6, 2011)."Go Go Tales (2007)".The New York Times.RetrievedOctober 2,2013.
- ^Cryptekeeper 044 Abel Ferrara/New Rose Hotelat YouTube
- ^Tobias, Scott (27 November 2002)."Abel Ferrara".The A.V. Club.Retrieved19 March2017.
- ^"Film scandalo, tutti contro Asia Argento".corriere.it.Retrieved5 August2022.
- ^"Festival de Cannes: Go Go Tales".festival-cannes.Archived fromthe originalon 2012-03-08.Retrieved2009-12-20.
- ^"Two Films Tie For The Grand Prix Des Ameriques".Film Festivals.Montreal World Film Festival. September 3, 2007.RetrievedOctober 3,2013.
- ^abMiraudo, Simon (November 13, 2012)."Interview: Abel Ferrara (Go Go Tales, Bad Lieutenant)".Quickflix.RetrievedOctober 2,2013.
- ^Go Go Tales,Rotten Tomatoes,retrieved2022-03-20
- ^Go Go Tales Reviews,Metacritic,retrieved2022-03-20
- ^Gonzalez, Ed (September 25, 2007)."Go Go Tales".Slant Magazine.RetrievedOctober 2,2013.
- ^"Go Go Tales (2007)".Movies & TV Dept.The New York Times.2011. Archived fromthe originalon January 12, 2011.RetrievedOctober 2,2013.
- ^"Cahiers du Cinema Names Top Ten Films of 2012: 'Holy Motors' Reigns, Cronenberg, Ferrara and Coppola Represent [TRAILERS]".