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7.5/10
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An in-depth look at the life and work of avant-garde musician, Frank Zappa.An in-depth look at the life and work of avant-garde musician, Frank Zappa.An in-depth look at the life and work of avant-garde musician, Frank Zappa.
- Awards
- 3 wins & 4 nominations
Frank Zappa
- Self
- (archive footage)
Steve Allen
- Self
- (archive footage)
Chuck Ash
- Self - Pennsylvania State Police
- (archive footage)
- (as Trooper Chuck Ash)
Arthur Barrow
- Self
- (archive footage)
Adrian Belew
- Self
- (archive footage)
Theodore Bikel
- Rance Muhammitz
- (archive footage)
Jimmy Carl Black
- Self
- (archive footage)
Pierre Boulez
- Self
- (archive footage)
Thomas Braden
- Self
- (archive footage)
- (as Tom Braden)
Napoleon Murphy Brock
- Self
- (archive footage)
Tom Brokaw
- Self
- (archive footage)
Wally Bruner
- Self
- (archive footage)
Paul Carman
- Self
- (archive footage)
Del Casher
- Self
- (archive footage)
Connie Chung
- Self
- (archive footage)
Vinnie Colaiuta
- Self
- (archive footage)
Katie Couric
- Self
- (archive footage)
Storyline
Did you know
- Quotes
[last lines]
Frank Zappa: You're 18. Take the spoon out of your nose, take the needle out of your arm, take the beer out of your mouth, and go vote. You know what I mean? Vote. Register and vote like a beast.
- Crazy creditsThere is a final bit of footage at the end of the closing credits where Zappa encourages young people to vote.
- ConnectionsEdited into Zapped: Frank Zappa par Frank Zappa (2016)
Featured review
Interviews and live music from one of the most interesting musicians of the 20th Century makes for one interesting film.
Eat this Review
"Eat That Question: Frank Zappa in his Own Words" is a film about the musical iconoclast, composer and entrepreneur, Frank Zappa. The film is mainly Zappa in his own words and his words are almost as entertaining as his compositions. The film also has a lot of footage of him playing live. Unlike the U.S., Zappa was a celebrity in Europe. Thus, many of the interviews are from European shows. In fact, his song Bobby Brown, despite its 'lewdness' in English, was a number one hit in Norway and Sweden.
The film illuminates Zappa and shows his combative style as well as his creative talents. As a musician, he wrote everything from blues to classical to jazz to standard rock. All the while, he mocked musical styles he thinks of as trite such as disco, psychedelia and new wave. In one scene, Zappa mocks Devo music with an imitation of part of Devo's hit, Whip It. What Zappa seems to not know is that Devo would have absolutely agreed with Zappa's critique of music and pop culture. And that is why many love Zappa, his willing to challenge convention and critique everything.
He talks about free speech and freedom, he calls himself a conservative and a composer, he is proud to "have four kids" and brags that he pays his mortgage and pays taxes like any American. He has no patience for "terrible music" and people who are sell outs. There are many noteworthy quotes in the film. He hates the record industry for messing with his music and preventing him from making money off of his talent and music in generally, but one senses that if he could rid the world of music he hates, he might just do that.
I would have liked to hear him talk more about music he likes and dislikes and some of his other influences more than the one scene where he lists classical artist he likes and have influenced him such as Stravinsky and Bartók. Did he like Dylan, Miles Davis, punk rock, or rap music? Perhaps these questions weren't in the vault anywhere. But the questions are intriguing given the interviews that were in the film.
Rating: Pay full price
Interviews and live music from one of the most interesting musicians of the 20th Century makes for one interesting film.
Peace, Tex Shelters
"Eat That Question: Frank Zappa in his Own Words" is a film about the musical iconoclast, composer and entrepreneur, Frank Zappa. The film is mainly Zappa in his own words and his words are almost as entertaining as his compositions. The film also has a lot of footage of him playing live. Unlike the U.S., Zappa was a celebrity in Europe. Thus, many of the interviews are from European shows. In fact, his song Bobby Brown, despite its 'lewdness' in English, was a number one hit in Norway and Sweden.
The film illuminates Zappa and shows his combative style as well as his creative talents. As a musician, he wrote everything from blues to classical to jazz to standard rock. All the while, he mocked musical styles he thinks of as trite such as disco, psychedelia and new wave. In one scene, Zappa mocks Devo music with an imitation of part of Devo's hit, Whip It. What Zappa seems to not know is that Devo would have absolutely agreed with Zappa's critique of music and pop culture. And that is why many love Zappa, his willing to challenge convention and critique everything.
He talks about free speech and freedom, he calls himself a conservative and a composer, he is proud to "have four kids" and brags that he pays his mortgage and pays taxes like any American. He has no patience for "terrible music" and people who are sell outs. There are many noteworthy quotes in the film. He hates the record industry for messing with his music and preventing him from making money off of his talent and music in generally, but one senses that if he could rid the world of music he hates, he might just do that.
I would have liked to hear him talk more about music he likes and dislikes and some of his other influences more than the one scene where he lists classical artist he likes and have influenced him such as Stravinsky and Bartók. Did he like Dylan, Miles Davis, punk rock, or rap music? Perhaps these questions weren't in the vault anywhere. But the questions are intriguing given the interviews that were in the film.
Rating: Pay full price
Interviews and live music from one of the most interesting musicians of the 20th Century makes for one interesting film.
Peace, Tex Shelters
helpful•121
- texshelters
- Aug 1, 2016
Details
- Release date
- Countries of origin
- Official site
- Language
- Also known as
- Eat That Question
- Filming locations
- Prague, Czech Republic(Zappa meeting Václav Havel)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Gross US & Canada
- $355,074
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $16,695
- Jun 26, 2016
- Gross worldwide
- $365,540
- Runtime1 hour 33 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.33 : 1
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By what name was Eat That Question: Frank Zappa in His Own Words (2016) officially released in Canada in English?
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