Elvis Costello Movies

In the future (the distant year of 1997), the United States of America is in crisis. The oil shortage has grown to epic proportions, leading to people living in their cars and bicycling to work. Cigarettes and meat have been outlawed, gold coins are needed to operate common household appliances, and the Western White House (located in a luxury apartment in California) has been forced by economic necessity to operate round-the-clock tours for vacationing Chinese citizens. The economy is deep trouble; President Chet Roosevelt (John Ritter) has borrowed four billion dollars from Native American tennis shoe manufacturer Sam Birdwater (Chief Dan George), and he's foreclosing on the loan. When a media expert, Eric McMerkhin (Peter Riegert), is summoned for advice (since despite all hardships, Americans refuse to give up their televisions), he suggests a telethon. It's a great idea, except the President's assistant Vincent Vanderhoff (Fred Willard) is in cahoots with the United Heb-Rab Republic, a sinister coalition of Israeli and Arab nationals who want to snap up America if the debt can't be paid. He ensures that the show is stocked with endless ventriloquists and insists on Monty Rushmore (Harvey Korman), a washed-up, drug-addicted television personality as host. The star of the popular sitcom "Both Mother and Father," he is sure to self-destruct over the grueling 30-day-and-night telethon schedule. Despite terrorist attacks and the kidnapping of President Roosevelt, the patriotic spirit prevails and American citizens dig deep and pledge their gold to the cause. This outrageous farce (based on a play by Firesign Theatre alumni Philip Proctor and Peter Bergman) features cameos from Elvis Costello, Jay Leno, Meat Loaf and the Del Rubio Triplets, and is narrated by George Carlin. The Beach Boys, Eddie Money, and Nick Lowe contribute to the musical soundtrack. ~ Fred Beldin, All Movie Guide

Enjoy this British version of Saturday Night Live with satire, bad taste and rock music. ~ All Movie Guide

A moribund nightclub on the fringes of Liverpool's sprawl is the primary setting for this frenetic, dark, and confusing comedy done in a heavy regional "dialect" by director Peter Smith. Set on New Year's Eve, the film chronicles the rivalry between elderly Irish Catholic and Protestant attendees at a party held in a gritty pub in Liverpool. Mixed in with the warring oldsters are some shady types such as Billy the Beast, the killer of an Ulster terrorist. The club's new manager has a talent for dealing with mayhem and violence, but his first challenge lies in handling the punk rock band perversely scheduled to entertain the oldsters by the disgruntled former manager. After that challenge, he is faced with a magician on the verge of a nervous breakdown and other kinds of chaos that tear through the place. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide

This bizarre comedy spoof on spaghetti westerns was made in a hurry on location in Almeria, Spain. Simms (Joe Strummer), Willy (Dick Rude), and Norwood (Sy Richardson) are inept hitmen who decide to rob a bank. They encounter the MacMahon's (The Pogues), a quintet of caffeine-addicted gunslingers who ride motorcycles across the range wreaking havoc. Elvis Costello has a reoccurring role as a waiter who is always ready with a new tray of coffee. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide

One of the most distinctive vocalists in the history of rock and roll, Roy Orbison was in the midst of a well-deserved comeback in 1987 when he performed this special concert for television, beautifully filmed in black and white and featuring some famous friends helping him out. Orbison is joined onstage by Bruce Springsteen, Elvis Costello, Bonnie Raitt, k.d. lang, Jackson Browne, Tom Waits, and T.Bone Burnett as he sings "Oh, Pretty Woman," "Only the Lonely," "It's Over," "Blue Bayou," "Crying," "In Dreams," "Running Scared," and ten other classics. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

In this special episode of the acoustic-oriented MTV showcase, Tony Bennett (joined by the Ralph Sharon Trio) sings a set of favorites and new numbers in the easygoing but swinging style he made famous, including "I Left My Heart In San Francisco," "All of Me," "Steppin' Out With My Baby," and "They Can't Take That Away From Me." Includes guest appearances from Elvis Costello and k.d. lang. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

When it's announced that Artie (Rip Torn) will be producing this year's People's Choice Awards, Larry (Garry Shandling) vies for host duties and Hank (Jeffrey Tambor) makes his bid to become the announcer. In addition to the tension that arises when Artie doesn't hire them, Hank's feeling are hurt when Larry pulls one of his jokes from the show. After the host Artie had hired pulls out at the last minute, Larry gets the gig but is dismayed to discover that his co-hosts will be Dean Cain and Rita Moreno. As Larry and Artie nearly come to blows over the miscommunication, Elvis Costello seems a bit down in the dumps as well. Special guest stars include Deborah May, Reynaldo Duran, Elvis Costello, Rita Moreno, and Bob Odenkirk. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

When Larry (Garry Shandling) catches wind that the network reps may be grooming guest host Jon Stewart to fill a more permanent position on the show, an embittered Larry will stop at nothing to see that Stewart's career on The Larry Sanders Show is put on ice. With sabotage on the brain, Larry schemes to steal Stewart's illustrious guests and replace them with Charles Nelson Reilly. Meanwhile, Hank (Jeffrey Tambor) purchases an unreliable car from Elvis Costello, leaving the sidekick at odds with how to handle the situation. As the battle between the hosts pans out, Larry is somewhat disturbed at the affection showered upon him by David Duchovny, who seems to seek a bit more than Larry's friendship. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

Dusty Springfield was quite simply one of the very best vocalists to emerge from the British pop music scene; blessed with a superb voice and the smarts and soul to use it to its best advantage, Springfield scored a string of hits on both sides of the Atlantic in the 1960s with such classics as "Wishin' and Hopin'," "I Only Want to Be With You," and "Son of a Preacher Man," and enjoyed a comeback in the 1980s thanks to her collaboration with techno-pop duo the Pet Shop Boys, "What Have I Done to Deserve This." Dusty Springfield: Full Circle -- Life & Music is a documentary that offers an in-depth look at Springfield's life and career, with Dusty herself offering a perspective on the events, as well as featuring a wealth of performance footage and vintage television appearances (including rare film of Springfield performing with Jimi Hendrix). Popular comediennes Jennifer Saunders and Dawn French play host for the documentary; other interview subjects include Burt Bacharach, Dionne Warwick, and Elvis Costello. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide