Daft Punk Meets Mystery Science Theater 3000 (MST3K)
Introduction/mini-review by David Shuey and interview by by Dani Deahl, December 11, 2007
Robots, robots everywhere. From Daft Punk taking my #1-show-of-the-year honors at Lollapalooza to a bizarre screening of their Electroma in Chicago's Piper's Alley last week, it feels like 1981 again. Perhaps it's an obsession in all things French, existential and electronic that made me feel like the only attendee – besides Dani, perhaps – whose heart beeped for this minimalist, monotonous, yet thoughtful visual journey of a pair of robots attempting to become human (and not quite succeeding). Yes, there were 20 minute stretches where "nothing" happened. Sure, the inebriated audience guffawed loudly and often ("One down, one to go!"). Several walked out. Chicagoans obviously rejected what is appreciated midnight-screening fare in Paris. But in 20 years, the MCA and MoMA will parade Daft Punk's Magical Mystery Tour as high art, and I'll still be contemplating whether mechanical objects have feelings – possibly while ogling my robot maid. ~ DS