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The online film magazine Combustible Celluloid offers new movie reviews, DVD reviews, film reviews, actor interviews, actress interviews, director interviews, film books and all things cinema related for the thoughtful and passionate. Online for ten years! Over 3000 reviews!

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Tapeheads (1989)

Rating: 2 1/2 Stars (out of 4)

Betcher Bottom Dollar

By Jeffrey M. Anderson

Buy Tapeheads on DVD

Producer and former Monkee Michael Nesmith followed up his brilliant classic Repo Man (1984) with this equally weird movie, featuring John Cusack and Tim Robbins as music video makers. Cusack plays the slick salesman and Robbins the sensitive artist. Their first job for a restaurant chain pays them in chicken and waffles. When they discover their favorite band, the Swanky Modes, in a bar, they cook up a scheme to revive their heroes' sagging careers. Tapeheads plays with the same kind of off-kilter energy that Repo Man has, but lacks the complete abandon of the former.

DVD Details: Anchor Bay Entertainment's DVD DVD comes with tons of great extras, best of all a Swanky Modes CD single, as well as a delightful commentary track by Nesmith, director Bill Fishman, and production designer Catherine Hardwicke. Unfortunately, it does not contain deleted scenes or a trailer. But the sound and transfer are very good, as usual.

Starring: John Cusack, Tim Robbins, Clu Gulager, Katy Boyer, Jessica Walter, Sam Moore, Junior Walker, Susan Tyrrell, Doug McClure, Connie Stevens, King Cotton, Don Cornelius, Ebbe Roe Smith, Keith Joe Dick
Written by: Bill Fishman, Peter McCarthy, from a story by Bill Fishman, Peter McCarthy, James Herzfeld, Ryan Rowe
Directed by: Bill Fishman
MPAA Rating: R
Running Time: 93 minutes
Date: May 10, 2001