A few random truisms about Shane MacGowan, the singer/songwriter who once fronted the Pogues, Ireland's semi-legendary punk-traditional band: His teeth, or what's left of them, are an affront to the entire dental profession (with whom MacGowan has clearly had zero acquaintance). He was and is a terrible drunk, whose nearly impenetrable talking and singing (and yes, it seems to be English), could really benefit from subtitles. Oh, and this: the guy is genuinely talented. Employing a mix of interviews, old and recent performances, music videos, photos and other footage, this Dolby Digital 5.1 recorded DVD documents the life of a musician who's at once repellent but compelling, pathetic yet charismatic. Best of all are the videos from MacGowan's days with the Pogues, including “Dirty Old Town,” “Song with No Name,” and the politically incorrect “Fairytale of New York”--his duet with the late Kirsty MacColl (“You scumbag, you maggot, you cheap, lousy faggot/Happy Christmas your arse, I pray God it's our last”). The disc also includes a variety of extras--including interview footage, and a “sing-along” option for three tunes that actually do have subtitles--the bulk of which simply proves that “bonus” can be synonymous with “extraneous.” Recommended. Aud: P. (S. Graham)
If I Should Fall from Grace: The Shane MacGowan Story
(2000) 93 min. DVD: $19.95. Music Video Distributors (avail. from most distributors). Color cover. Volume 18, Issue 4
If I Should Fall from Grace: The Shane MacGowan Story
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