"Jazzclub" is an 80-minute (without credits) movie from roughly 10 years ago starring Helge Schneider, directed by Helge Schneider and written by Helge Schneider. In terms of the script, he got some help from longtime collaborator Andrea Schumacher. Schneider turns 60 this year and there is a documentary in theaters right now about his life and work. When "Jazzclub" was made he was roughly 50 years old and had been in the film industry for about 20 years. His films usually have no big names in the cast, but rather actors who sometimes aren't even real actors, but share a long time of companionship and collaboration with Schneider, such as his band members.If you know his humor, you know that it is certainly not for everyone. Some will love it, some will not find it funny at all. I like it. He is an atheist, he does not drink tea. Pretty funny. As in most Schneider movies, he plays several characters, or at least changes costume frequently. Here he shows up as a jazz musician, a paperboy, a fish vendor and a doctor and probably more. In many of his films, female are played by males in drag, but this one not really. The female characters are also played by women. Apart from that, as the title suggests, there is lots of music in this one. After all, Helge Schneider is a gifted saxophone player himself. And at the very end, it becomes even a bit supernatural. The X-Files was already finished, but I guess aliens were a much bigger deal back in 2004 in movies than they are now. Anyway, solid movie. Recommended.

I think this film is schneiders worst. Of course, this depends on what you expect of a Helge movie. As a Helge fanatic for years i am used to the kind of humor of the preceding movies - loving the sometimes senseless, sometimes daffy but mostly with a subliminal critical and ironical undertone between the lines style of this intelligent musician and comedian. But this one is really different.I was really looking forward to see the movie. When i went out the cinema, i was really deranged and couldn't really believe what i saw. There might be the thin storyline of the club, Helge and his fellows playing jazz at, being closed and Helge is forced to ensure his subsistence and so on. But in my opinion this is not enough even for this relative short movie of 84 minutes. The only thing happening is the band jamming at their jazz club, Helge selling fish and Helge carrying out newspapers. Additionally visiting the bum under the bridge and bearing his wife.I think Helge just didn't want to miss the chance making a movie with his temporary band mates Jimmy Wood and Pete York but without really having an substantial idea of a story - so this really boring movie came out.Nevertheless the music being played at the movie is still of high quality as we are used to from Helge. Furthermore there are indeed some funny scenes like Helge trying to get the newspapers under control in the hurricane or the alien-scene at the end of the movie.

Yes, even Helge calms down.. I can definitely recommend this film but would strongly disagree to call it the best film of Helge ever. The thing, that makes him and his art great is not the "silly stuff"(as it appears to many at the first glimpse), but it is improvisation. He talks and acts just like he is playing handling his instruments - free. He is a word-jazzer and this is what makes him unique and a very important. This films seems more planned and professional than the others, especially compared to Texas, where he is singing and playing guitar with the camera focused on him for nearly 10 minutes. But can we "accuse" him of that? Surely not. It's a film about music, more than his other works. Great jazz, lots of fun and a lovely contribution to "Ruhrpott's" - urban life. And sometimes you still feel the anarchistic notion, especially in the Alien scene with one of his most famous impersonations: Udo Lindenberg. In total, watch this film, but don't miss the others.

I love the older films of Helge Schneider, but I think this one is the best. Although it is still low-budget, there are some excellent takes (like one closeup of his face where you see his hands playing piano mirrored in his sunglasses). To all who already love Helge, don't worry, he refers to his earlier films (for example there is a man bouncing a basketball ;)In this film Helge Schneider really shows that he is a genius concerning jazz. The gags of course are excellent as well.The film is a very strange and different mixture of "Monty Python" and "Bluesbrothers". If you like one of both the film is a must-see.