Does anyone care about Wim Wenders anymore?
Yes, he’s made some exqusite films like “Paris, Texas,” “Wings of Desire” and the “Buena Vista Social Club,” and many classics in the ’70s and ’80s (“The American Friend” is an semi-unappreciated masterwork), but it’s been a while since he’s had a memorable film.
His latest, “The Palermo Shooting,” which features Milla Jovovich, Dennis Hopper and Giovanna Mezzogiorno, played at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year to – if we recall correctly – rather tepid reviews (which is probably why it’s not at TIFF, NYFF or Venice; here’s just one bad review).
But maybe some good music will at least get him onto DVD in the U.S. (or maybe not; his recent track record is not good). ‘Shooting’ includes new songs from Will Oldham, Nick Cave’s Grinderman, a cameo appearance by Lou Reed and a score composed by Can’s Irmin Schmidt according to Pitchfork.
The film also includes musical appearances by Iron & Wine, Calexico, Beirut, Jason Collett, and the Long Winters, Velvet Underground (“Some Kinda Love”) Portishead (“The Rip”), Beth Gibbons & Rustin Man (“Mysteries”). Wenders apparently called Gibbons “simply my favorite singer in all of contemporary music” in the film’s press materials.
There’s no word on a soundtrack disc, but unless this film sees a U.S. release, which seems doubtful at this juncture, we doubt we’ll get one; though new tunes from Will Oldham and Grinderman could change that. We’re skeptical though.
