Border Radio - Criterion Collection (1987)

a look at punk rock

This review is for the Criterion Collection DVD edition of the film.

Border Radio is a student film made by Allison Anders who later went on to direct episodes of "Sex and the City" and other TV shows.

The film is about a group of musicians who track down a thief hiding in Mexico. The film is not very good in my opinion and probably would only appeal to fans of punk rock.

The DVD has a lot of special features also.

There are deleted scenes, two audio commentaries: one with the directors and one with the cast. A making of documentary, a music video of the group portrayed in the film, a theatrical trailer and radio spot, and biographies of the cast and crew February 10, 2007

a time capsule of los angeles - and more.

Originally scripted as a grim film noir homage, a series of financial dry spells stretched out the film's production schedule to three years, whereupon the screen story underwent as many dramatic changes as any of the hard-living bands from the music scene the film adopts as its backdrop.

Star Chris D. insists in the supplemental features that the original script's noir aspects are what attracted him to the project, but it was only once he became involved that the thing took shape as a "rock movie," with the added participation of D.'s friends (and sometime bandmates) like John Doe and Dave Alvin. Alvin went on to create an eclectic and memorable score for the film (now out of print, sadly), with players culled from friends and colleagues from X, Los Lobos, The Blasters and other local heroes.

Not every film could survive three filmmakers AND active contributions by everyone in the cast, but then it's a rare project that manages to pack this much simpatico talent onto one movie poster.

Additional DVD extras include deleted scenes, a potent "trailer" (including several moments not in the finished film) set to a driving musical score, and a pair of loose, enjoyable commentary tracks. Another welcome addition is Chris D. and The Flesh Eaters' vintage ain't-no-WAY-this-is-running-on-MTV music video for their classic "The Wedding Dice" (comically mangled by Chris Shearer in the film itself).

Had it followed its intended "straight noir" course, BORDER RADIO may well have survived as an interesting curio; but as it turned out, the film stands as a fitting elegy to an era, both in its depiction of a musical phenomenon's sunset and for its unique collaborative approach to filmmaking. That both still feel like breaths of fresh air twenty years on only stands as a testament to their legitimacy.

Like so many of the "lost" bands of the music scene it salutes with unabashed affection, BORDER RADIO is ripe for rediscovery. January 12, 2007

An entertaining rookie debut by Allison Anders.

Border Radio was the first film made by the nowfamous Independent filmmaker Anders. the filmmade before her groundbreaking GAS, FOOD,AND LODGING WAS TITLED AFTER THE L.A. ROCKABILLY BLASTERS song,BORDER RADIO.The film takes placein a small Texas town,where a murder takes place.I can't say much more but if you're a Indie Filmfan you will definitely like this film. A firstfilm so you should'nt expect great anything.Butdefinitely a fun film. It was made and developedwhile Anders was still at the Sundance Institutein 1986,so you can prepare yourself for a cheaptreat,but a good one. Good soundtrack,too.Withcameos' by BLASTERS front man Dave Alvin, andX Vocals man John Doe. Give this film a try, please..... c. 1987. ALLISON ANDERS. SUNDANCE INSTITUTE. May 23, 1999

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