Wild Wheels 1992, 2005
Distributed by Microcinema International/Microcinema DVD, 1636 Bush St., Suite #2, SF, CA 94109; 415-447-9750
Produced by Harrod Blank
Directed by Harrod Blank
DVD, color, 64 min. Director’s cut and 55 min. edited version
Jr. High - Adult
Art, Humor, Popular Culture
Date Entered: 09/12/2006
Reviewed by Brian Burns, Hampden-Sydney College, Hampden-Sydney, VirginiaHumorous and definitely entertaining, Wild Wheels is an eclectic romp through the unique and moving form of expressionism that is car art. Writer/producer/director Harrod Blank is also featured with his own car art creation entitled “Oh My God” which is a strangely painted VW Beetle with a broken television sitting atop the car, two large sunflowers protruding from the roof and a globe on the front. The film begins with Mr. Blank in court where he is contesting a parking ticket (he has been ticketed at least fifty times since he created his car art), citing the attention his car receives.
On this DVD the audience is treated to many different automobiles and the unique owners who create them. Some are serious artists, some are attempting to make a statement, some were honestly bored and one created his art car as a memorial, but all of the individuals feel a very personal and deep meaningful passion about their form of art.
Included is the story of an elderly gentleman who could not sleep well and didn’t wish to disturb his family, so he began sewing buttons onto his pants. Once the pants were covered, he did a shirt, shoes, guitar, and eventually his car. He is known as the Button King and has already prepared himself a button covered casket. Many of the art cars are inspired by the 1960’s with some being political and others religious. The two-disc set includes the director’s cut, the PBS cut, 37-minutes of bonus footage, a car gallery, subtitles, closed captioning and director’s commentary.
The film work and editing are fairly well done, while the audio occasionally leaves a bit to be desired, yet not to the point where purchasing the film would result in any amount of regret. There is no way to adequately describe the appearance of the autos in this film, thus no attempt will be made. This truly is a film that needs to be seen, not described. It’s almost like a train wreck in that you simply cannot look away! Recommended for public libraries and those collections supporting a variety of art and pop culture programs.