Written & Directed By: Bobcat Goldthwait
Cinematography By: Bradley Stonesifer
Editor: David Hopper & Jason Stewart
Cast: Joel Murray, Tara Lynn Barr, Melinda Page Hamilton, Steve Agee, Bryce Johnson, Frank Conniff, Tom Lenk, Larry Miller, Mo Gaffney, Toby Huss, Tom Kenny, Geoff Pierson, Tom Lenk, Jack Plotnick
Loveless, jobless, possibly terminally ill, Frank has had enough of the downward spiral of America. With nothing left to lose, Frank takes his gun and offs the stupidest, cruelest, and most repellent members of society. He finds an unusual accomplice: 16-year-old Roxy, who shares his sense of rage and disenfranchisement.
The film starts off shocking and instantly grabs your attention. Then is settles down, yet it manages to grab you in the beginning and set you up to be ready for anything.
One of the things I usually enjoy when it comes to the cinema of Bobcat Goldthwait one of the things I usually enjoy is that while his movies have a message they are usually subversive and subtle. I usually agree with them and while they are not technically the best or even the best looking they are usually entertaining and darkly funny that make you think while enjoying them.
Another quality I enjoy is that when his films come out they are usually done with such low fan-fare that when you do watch them they are so strong that they seem to come out of nowhere and have such a big influence and are so surprising that they become instantly memorable and make you wonder at times why they got no press or special mention.
I really feel that Bobcat Goldithwait is a real talent who has evolved from his stand-up comedy routes to tackle stories and uses his background in humor to pepper his films with that bleakness and humor. I really feel he is a filmmaker whose content will be the thing that is best remembered from his films more then his filmmaking. He definately has talent that leaves each of his films memorable.
This film which I thoroughlessly enjoyed is entertaining and his most high profile film to date that could easily be seen as a crowd pleaser though it certainly criticizes half of the audience who will enjoy it as they claim they see it the same way while they are actually half of the problem the film has a problem with.
My only problem with the film is that the message is so blatant and half the time seems to be the only thing that the movie is about. Where as in his previous films there might have been a message but it was buried under the story and plot and made it work. Here it is the reverse the story and plot is on the waifish side where as the message definitely looms large.
His films tend to be more about characters overall. They seem initially to be about funny premise or subject but through it all while there is plenty of comedy come little dramatic moments that say so much and deepen the film while making the comedic scenes more rich. The films are never politically correct but all these factors make the film feel more realistic in a sense. They have more to say and easier to identify with then some film that are more general throwing out situations and scenerios more vague that they hope will catch on with the audience. I am all for popcorn mainstream entertainment, but there is something nice once in awhile when you see a movie with a message that manages to entertain also.
It’s nice to see Joel Murray in a leading role a supporting character actor for many years it’s nice to see him get his sue as a lead of a controversial film where he assumes the lead effortlessly.
This film has many targets and hits them for the most part. The film also seems to be more of the voice of the filmmaker making it. His opinions which are understandable are right in a certain way though his reaction and solution for them are definitely his fantasy with this film. Which might be mean spirited but are well put.
I will admit I initially wrote him off when he was a stand-up though I did see his one film that he starred in hot to trot. But after he made the film SHAKES THE CLOWN, a movie I really liked I hoped he would make more films like it and over the years he continued with stand-up comedy though soon he seemed to drop out and soon I began to notice his name as director on Tv-shows. Then he came out with the film Sleeping dogs lie and ever since that film each time a movie he has made comes out I have gone out of my way to see. Thought he film will come of as the complaints of a grumpy old man but it is actually a well thought out social satire of sorts
The ending is enevitable, but there are plenty of surprises along the way.
The main problem most will have with this film is it will be looked at as just a message movie and they won’t be too wrong. Heavy handed as it is. At least the film has the guts to say something and not take it back.
GRADE: A-
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