Thank You,Good Night
...When the show ends,life begins.
Nicole Eggert as Janine
Thank You,
Good Night is a story about four musicians struggling to make it both
personally and professionally. In pursuit of their dreams they learn the lesson you
can't always get what you want, but in trying, you might find what you need.
Official
Selection
Durango Film Festival 2002
Fargo Film Festival 2002
Reel Dallas Film Festival 2002
Dances with Films 2002 (Los Angeles)
Valley Film Festival 2002 (Los Angeles)
WINNER
JURY PRIZE 2002
Best Feature Film
Tambay Film Festival
The Handy Kaufmans, New
Jersey's unknown band, are in trouble. Their bass player just
electrocuted himself into a coma during a performance, and they've booked a two-week
tour from the New Jersey Turnpike to the Great Lakes. Without their fourth man and prior
bookings, what can they do? Cancel the tour? NEVER! Kurt Cobain has just died and to
give up now, would only go against everything our group represents. On top of this
dilemma, our woodworking hero, Lee, just got news that his parents sold their house, and
as his brother points out its time to "stop dreaming and start working.
"With the fear of a 9-to-5 career and as the band's leader, Lee convinces his band
mates
to risk it all for one last chance at rock and roll glory. Their manger, Big Frank,
gathers
everyone he knows for a round of auditions. They prove to be a big disappointment
except for a young independent gal named Trixie. She's bold, sexy, and a serious rocker.
With her audition, they seize the day and set off to on the road. With Trixie's edge and
quirkiness, it's only a matter of time when the sexual tension between Lee and her
explode.
On the road in their borrowed station wagon, a plan develops: get Haskill Benjamin, an
influential record executive, to attend the last and biggest gig of the tour-a concert
upstate. Lee is convinced that Haskill Benjamin is the answer to the band's dreams. As the
tour winds through the Midwest, events go awry, personally and professionally. The
band's singer, Donnie, a self-absorbed Jim Morrison wannabe who thinks he's the star,
has a tryst with Big Frank's jilted lover; The guitarist, Mike, steals money for his
on-again-off-again cocaine habit while trying to emulate the "tortured artist"
that he
believes is the curse of all the great rockers; and Lee and Trixie cat-and-mouse their way
into a hotel-room romance.
Like a runaway train, momentum threatens to destroy the band as they hurtle closer to
their big performance. Finally, they arrive at the concert as the headlining act. No more
coffee houses or seedy clubs, this is an outdoor live event with thousands of screaming
fans. This is their chance, that is, if Donnie doesn't stop teasing the girls at the foot
of the
stage, Lee can overcome Trixie's rejection and, of course, let's hope Mike's not doped up.
But despite these odds, they rock, and they rock hard. We see that this performance is
the performance they have all dreamt of, like a surreal music video, as they are the stars
for this one night. The crowd is blown away, only after the power goes out, threatening
that this moment won't last, until Big Frank finally comes through with stealing power
from
a neighboring BINGO game! Lee, Mike, Donnie, and Trixie hit it hard as the lights come
up, they are playing together, rocking together, and through the shouting matches,
ego-trips, and self-loathing they come on top. Right after the big finish, and before our
heroes can savor the glory, a beer bottle is thrown somewhere in the crowd, and a riot
breaks out. The show stops and The Handy Kaufmans rise to the top seems stymied, to
say the least.
Seemingly out of thin air, Haskill Benjamin's assistant, Sue, reveals that she was at
their
performance. Impressed, Sue is convinced that the band will impress her boss-when he
sees their next gig. The lesson is learned that the hard work they made to get to that
performance, is only the start of many challenges. Inspired by the chance of performing
for Haskill, The Handy Kaufmans are back in the game.
Through this film we all learn that dreams have no price, but feeds on perseverance.
Courtesy of: Mega Interactive
