Search - Robyn Hitchcock - Storefront Hitchcock on DVD

Craig S. (InnerMacro) from WAUSAU, WI
Reviewed on 9/20/2022...

I've been a fan of Hitchcock for many years and have most of his albums. I was a bit disappointed in this film because it was so lean. I think labelling it a documentary is being a bit dishonest - and, to his credit, Demme does not call it one, but I see that this DVD is commonly classified under 'documentary'. This picture is simply a gig in New York where the drapes are pulled up and down over a storefront window in NY, depending on the mood of the song. Robyn plays a wide range of his lengthy catalog (up to this point in his career) and he provides some background behind a few songs (in typical nonsensical Hitchcock fashion), but this is not a place where you can learn more about the artist and his history with the Egyptians or the Soft Boys for example. Not sure why the film is PG-13. Perhaps it's because nobody under 13 would be likely to understand his work? There's no view of the audience throughout, just passer-bys on the New York City street looking in to see what's going on or trying to get attention (which is eliminated by camera work when it becomes annoying).

0 of 1 member(s) found this review helpful.

SEEING IS BELIEVING

02/29/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"just like HOCKEY...it seems to get Robyn Hitchcock you need to see him LIVE...and I can't imagine a better simulation than this wonderful little film. THE ONLY drawback is it is WAY too short! with DVD I have become expectant of bonus material and a few extra songs wouldn't hurt ..but hey that just tells you how good this is..YOU DO NOT WANT IT TO END. I wasn't a big fan before I saw this movie and now I understand why his fans (or cult) are so passionate..lyrics which are challenging (to say the least) great vocals (lennonesque) and a pretty stunning guitarist to boot...BUY this DVD...you will be charmed and enthralled."

BRILLIANT

rocketfly | Walhalla, SC USA | 07/27/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I had seen this film breifly on Sundance but a friend of mine always turned it to something else saying "I hate this guy!"

Then I found what I was sure was it, even though I didn't know the title before I bought it. I took it home and watched it and was hooked; I continuously watched it and it never got old. I always find something I missed the time before. No one I show it to understands it the same way I do, but there's something special about it. It's like it's not just a concert video, but it's really a movie, but a different kind of movie all together. I reccomend this to ANYone, however, I've determined that this is the border of coolness. If you enjoy this film, you're cool, if you don't then you are uncool and you probably only listen to mainstream pop anyway."

I'm finally proud to be a fan!

Emiliano Penelas | 06/22/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I've been a fan for years and years, but I have learned that my friends just don't see the brilliance in Robyn that I do - mainly because it takes a little effort on the part of the listener to look beyond the cheese, flesh, and tomato references to find the humor and genius. I saw Storefront Hitchcock this weekend, and the film is so well-made: the store-window concept, the camera work, and the songs that were chosen - all excellent. If you're this kind of fan, buy this video!"