"Wired" (1989): The Weirdest Biopic Ever Made
#1
DVD Talk Platinum Edition
Thread Starter
"Wired" (1989): The Weirdest Biopic Ever Made
What happens when you make a movie about true life events and then use *two* different narrative devices at once? You get the 1989 bomberino "Wired". There are movies that left a bad taste in my mouth and this is one of them.
It stars Michael Chiklis ("The Commish"; "The Shield") as John Belushi as he's higgledy piggledy shown aspects of his life in no cogent order by a Puerto Rican grim reaper, MEANWHILE Bob Woodward is investigating the life and death of Belushi a'la "Citizen Kane" with once in a while the two story threads intersecting. (It doesn't work.)
And all the while we're subjected to inexplicably bizarre scenes like Belushi undergoing an autopsy while he's still concious; the pinball game for his life; Belushi's body in a bag being put in the cabin of an airplane and then Belushi getting out of the plane and falling thousands of feet to the ground unharmed; and Belushi dying in his bed while talking with Woodward himself.
Anyone else seen (and survived) this curiousity from the 80's?
It stars Michael Chiklis ("The Commish"; "The Shield") as John Belushi as he's higgledy piggledy shown aspects of his life in no cogent order by a Puerto Rican grim reaper, MEANWHILE Bob Woodward is investigating the life and death of Belushi a'la "Citizen Kane" with once in a while the two story threads intersecting. (It doesn't work.)
And all the while we're subjected to inexplicably bizarre scenes like Belushi undergoing an autopsy while he's still concious; the pinball game for his life; Belushi's body in a bag being put in the cabin of an airplane and then Belushi getting out of the plane and falling thousands of feet to the ground unharmed; and Belushi dying in his bed while talking with Woodward himself.
Anyone else seen (and survived) this curiousity from the 80's?
#2
DVD Talk Hero
Re: "Wired" (1989): The Weirdest Biopic Ever Made
I've never seen it but I do remember when it came out and how unusual everyone said it was. I should try tracking it down one of these days for curiosity factor alone.
Oddly enough, Jerry had a VHS copy of this movie on his shelf in the background of his apartment on Seinfeld. I don't know why it always caught my attention but it did.
Oddly enough, Jerry had a VHS copy of this movie on his shelf in the background of his apartment on Seinfeld. I don't know why it always caught my attention but it did.
#4
DVD Talk Hero
Re: "Wired" (1989): The Weirdest Biopic Ever Made
I actually saw this in the theater. I was a Ray Sharkey fan, which is why I went to see it, but you could tell something was "off" about the whole film. I was just beginning to study film, and the only thing I really remember from the movie was during the pinball scene there is a low-angle shot of Sharkey, and the ceiling light above him forms a halo around his head (he plays an angel in the film). I remember pointing it out to my friend. And that's about all I remember of the movie, except that it was panned by the critics.
#5
Re: "Wired" (1989): The Weirdest Biopic Ever Made
Responsible for one of my most favorite reviews Siskel & Ebert ever did!
#6
DVD Talk Hero
Re: "Wired" (1989): The Weirdest Biopic Ever Made
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#7
DVD Talk Reviewer & TOAT Winner
Re: "Wired" (1989): The Weirdest Biopic Ever Made
God this movie was a mess.
"Gonna call the book Wired." "I'm fucked!"
"Gonna call the book Wired." "I'm fucked!"
#9
DVD Talk Legend
Re: "Wired" (1989): The Weirdest Biopic Ever Made
Aww, I miss Siskel and Ebert.
#10
DVD Talk Platinum Edition
Thread Starter
Re: "Wired" (1989): The Weirdest Biopic Ever Made
Before the New Year comes in here on the west coast, I feel the need to reflect that 25 years later, that Wired is still one of the worst films ever made. Not an opinion--FACT.
#11
DVD Talk Reviewer & TOAT Winner
Re: "Wired" (1989): The Weirdest Biopic Ever Made
I'd have to watch it one more time before I pass judgment on it- but I don't have it in my collection and not going out of my way to find it. Leonard Part 6 is still worse in my memory.
#12
DVD Talk Platinum Edition
Thread Starter
#13
DVD Talk Platinum Edition
Thread Starter
Re: "Wired" (1989): The Weirdest Biopic Ever Made
^^
And if all else fails, the reviewer known as The Cinema Snob has a pretty entertaining (and snarky) review/retrospective of the whole thing.
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/P46aUeDn4Ek" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
And if all else fails, the reviewer known as The Cinema Snob has a pretty entertaining (and snarky) review/retrospective of the whole thing.
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/P46aUeDn4Ek" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>