When JOE spoke to the director and stars of the acclaimed new comedy, they cited an earlier classic as a big inspiration.
The Ballad of Wallis Island, a hilarious and heartfelt new comedy movie, is out in cinemas now.
Currently holding a 98% Rotten Tomatoes score, the film revolves around Herb McGwyer (co-writer Tom Basden, After Life), who was previously one half of popular folk duo McGwyer Mortimer but has since gone solo.
He is offered £500,000 to travel to the remote but picturesque Wallis Island for a performance.
Upon his arrival, however, he is shocked to learn that he will be playing for just one person, Charles (co-writer Tim Key, the upcoming Office spin-off), a wealthy, awkward but enthusiastic fan.
Even worse for Herb, Charles has also invited Nell Mortimer (Oscar-nominee Carey Mulligan, Drive) to the island, his former McGwyer Mortimer bandmate, with whom Herb also went through a romantic break-up.
JOE had the pleasure of talking to Basden, Key and their director James Griffiths (Bad Sisters) about the beloved comedy ahead of its theatrical release.
And you can read about how Northern Ireland’s Van Morrison served as an inspiration on Basden’s “grumpy” folk singer, Herb, right here.
After the writer-star said this, JOE noted that a grumpy folk singer paired with Carey Mulligan recalls the plot of Inside Llewyn Davis, the 2013 musical drama from the Coen Brothers.
Starring Oscar Isaac as a fictional folk singer in ’60s New York, it is often referred to as being among the 21st century’s best films.
Indeed, JOE has recommended Inside Llewyn Davis many times.
When we asked Basden, Key and Griffiths if they had thought about this connection, Basden and Griffiths confirmed they had – though Key revealed he actually hasn’t seen the movie from the Coens.
Basden told JOE: “[Inside Llewyn Davis is] definitely a film that we all love,” before clarifying: “It’s a film that two-thirds of us love.
“It’s absolutely brilliant, and I think the way that they use a fictional musician in that film, it was absolutely on my mind with this.
“I find fictional musicians’ stories way more involving and moving than biopics of real musicians.”
Griffiths then praised the original songs composed by Basden for The Ballad of Wallis Island, which people can listen to on Spotify now.
“What Tom did so well with the music is that it feels very authentic.
“The biggest fear is that you do a sound-alike. It needed to be a specific kind of artist that if you actually looked them up on Spotify, you might find them.
“Well, you will find them. They’ve got an album. The Ballad of Wallis Island [soundtrack] is on Spotify now.
“That was important too, that it really did feel like [Herb] was an artist, and that comes through Tom’s music.”
The Ballad of Wallis Island is in cinemas now.
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