Too
High, Too Wide, Too Long (1999)
Highly interesting as a document of Texan artist Bob
Wade, known as Daddy-O to his pals and fans, "Too High,
Too Wide, Too Long" is often compelling. Unfortunately,
it's just pretty much a straight forward document. Director
Karen Dinitz doesn't really add too much flair of her
own. Sure, the subject matter is interesting enough.
But as a film, it's nothing new. It's even sloppy and
slapdash at times.
The film features a videotaped documentation of Wade's
road trips in the South to publicize a new book about
him. He makes these trips in an Airstream trailer that
has had sculpture added to make it look like a sort
of lizard on wheels. Wade dubs the piece, "The Iguanamobile."
Through interviews with Wade and his contemporaries,
archieval footage, old photographs and videotapes and
old TV news clips, we learn about Wade's career and
his art work. Oft times it is fascinating. His huge
sculptures and installations add an interesting edge
to the debate about "what is art" and "what is advertisement."
There are discouerses on the ideas of art, installations,
folk art, public art, sculpture, industrial sculpture,
art cars and more. It's truly an interesting look at
this subject with a decidely Texas edge to it.
Texas is everywhere in the film. In addition to Wade,
other Texas folk artists are shown and recollected,
especially the Texas Kid. Texas lumanaries as diverse
as Kinky Friedman and Carolyn Farb are interviewed.
And the "down home" music of many a Texan is poured
onto the soundtrack. The music of Dale Watson is particularly
prevelant and it adds the perfect seasoning to the film.
This one is all about subject matter and nothing about
style. In a way, I think Wade deserved far better than
what he gets here. Nonetheless, the film works because
it's always interesting and always thought provoking.
The best no budget movie about art I've seen since "Wild
Wheels."
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