'THE COMEDY': Two Stars (Out of Five)
Tim Heidecker (of the cult classic 'Adult Swim' sketch comedy show 'TIM AND ERIC'S AWESOME SHOW, GREAT JOB!') stars in this dark comedy-drama about a narcissistic sociopath who deals with his father's coming death while goofing around with his friends and aimlessly looking for trouble to get into. Basically Heidecker plays the same character he always does and his buddy Eric Wareheim (also of 'TIM AND ERIC'S AWESOME SHOW, GREAT JOB!') plays his buddy (once again) in the film. The film also co-stars James Murphy, Gregg Turkington and Jeffrey Jensen. Rick Alverson directed and co-wrote the movie (along with Robert Donne and Colm O'Leary) and he says he cast Heidecker and Wareheim in the film after watching their show because of their "signature use of excessive awkwardness". I'm not a fan of Tim or Eric (or anything they do) but I do think they have talent, I just think they misuse it. I keep giving them another chance to impress me though (because I know they have the skills to). Here they definitely disappoint once again.
Heidecker plays a guy from Williamsburg named Swanson who spends most of his time hanging out with his equally lazy friends, lead by Van Arman (Eric Wareheim). His dad is dying and he's about to inherit his estate but Swanson is apathetic about this as well. He hits on girls, uses them and abuses them and spends the rest of his time roaming the streets looking for trouble to get into and drinking excessively. We watch as he finds more and more innocent people to harass and exploit.
The film was shot in 15 days using a screenplay treatment just 18 to 20 pages long (so most all of the dialogue was improvised). It's supposed to be a critique of our culture and how self-loathing and sarcastic we all are. I don't buy that though. I think that's just an excuse to make a mean-spirited and hateful film (like all of Heidecker's work). I don't think people in general are all that malicious and bitter but I do think people like the filmmakers probably are. They might really be nice and likable guys in real life but I don't understand why they constantly try to make 'so-called' art that's so ugly and hateful. The first ten minutes of the film was leaked to torrent websites with a anti-piracy plea at the end of the video. The film then went on to become the most pirated independent movie of the year. I think this is great. No one should pay to see this movie. It does have a few good laughs and is worth seeing out of morbid curiosity (I suppose) but filmmaking like this shouldn't be encouraged.
Watch our movie review show 'MOVIE TALK' at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQ4Gr6CX0-g
Tim Heidecker (of the cult classic 'Adult Swim' sketch comedy show 'TIM AND ERIC'S AWESOME SHOW, GREAT JOB!') stars in this dark comedy-drama about a narcissistic sociopath who deals with his father's coming death while goofing around with his friends and aimlessly looking for trouble to get into. Basically Heidecker plays the same character he always does and his buddy Eric Wareheim (also of 'TIM AND ERIC'S AWESOME SHOW, GREAT JOB!') plays his buddy (once again) in the film. The film also co-stars James Murphy, Gregg Turkington and Jeffrey Jensen. Rick Alverson directed and co-wrote the movie (along with Robert Donne and Colm O'Leary) and he says he cast Heidecker and Wareheim in the film after watching their show because of their "signature use of excessive awkwardness". I'm not a fan of Tim or Eric (or anything they do) but I do think they have talent, I just think they misuse it. I keep giving them another chance to impress me though (because I know they have the skills to). Here they definitely disappoint once again.
Heidecker plays a guy from Williamsburg named Swanson who spends most of his time hanging out with his equally lazy friends, lead by Van Arman (Eric Wareheim). His dad is dying and he's about to inherit his estate but Swanson is apathetic about this as well. He hits on girls, uses them and abuses them and spends the rest of his time roaming the streets looking for trouble to get into and drinking excessively. We watch as he finds more and more innocent people to harass and exploit.
The film was shot in 15 days using a screenplay treatment just 18 to 20 pages long (so most all of the dialogue was improvised). It's supposed to be a critique of our culture and how self-loathing and sarcastic we all are. I don't buy that though. I think that's just an excuse to make a mean-spirited and hateful film (like all of Heidecker's work). I don't think people in general are all that malicious and bitter but I do think people like the filmmakers probably are. They might really be nice and likable guys in real life but I don't understand why they constantly try to make 'so-called' art that's so ugly and hateful. The first ten minutes of the film was leaked to torrent websites with a anti-piracy plea at the end of the video. The film then went on to become the most pirated independent movie of the year. I think this is great. No one should pay to see this movie. It does have a few good laughs and is worth seeing out of morbid curiosity (I suppose) but filmmaking like this shouldn't be encouraged.
Watch our movie review show 'MOVIE TALK' at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQ4Gr6CX0-g