You'll find this at your local video store. I heard something about it a long time ago but wasn't chomping at the bit to see it. I rented it thinking, "eh." Well, this movie really surprised me. For any of you who've heard of "HomestarRunner", this is the co-creator's first film. And no, it's nothing like Homestar Runner.
It's about these two naive guys who need jobs and end up getting them at this really sketchy low-rent "music studio". Their "jobs", according to the studio, are to go on the road and scout for talent. They're told if they find someone who makes a hit, they'll be set for life, getting royalties forever. Excited, they hardly pay attention to the rules. Namely, every person they sign, they ask for $3000 from, in order to "help start their career". And of course, they try and sign every single person, whether they're good or not.
It's heartbreaking watching as they gradually realize they're scam artists, but the movie's strength is its acting, in particular the sleazy bosses and most notably, the co-lead, a black guy I have never seen before. But I swear to you, this guy's performance is oscar-caliber. He's not stricken with cancer. He hasn't lost his wife. He isn't drilling for oil or plauged with mulitple personalities. He's just a guy trying to live. And so while it doesn't fit the Academy's critieria for what an "oscar performance" should be, he unequivocably convinces you he *is* this desperate salesman. There is a scene late in the movie where his co-worker tells him what they're doing to these people isn't "fair". He takes that and goes on this 2 minute tirade about how when he was on the streets, nobody cared about being "fair" to him, and I swear, that scene would hold up to every single one of this year's Oscar nominee's best scenes, and yes, that includes Daniel Day Lewis. And with this budget, I bet you he didn't have 20 takes to do it, either.
Anyway, if you can't tell, I liked this movie. Check it out. Small films like this deserve our attention if they're going to keep getting made.
minor gripe: the other lead is a little bland, but he's just good enough so you don't notice.
It's about these two naive guys who need jobs and end up getting them at this really sketchy low-rent "music studio". Their "jobs", according to the studio, are to go on the road and scout for talent. They're told if they find someone who makes a hit, they'll be set for life, getting royalties forever. Excited, they hardly pay attention to the rules. Namely, every person they sign, they ask for $3000 from, in order to "help start their career". And of course, they try and sign every single person, whether they're good or not.
It's heartbreaking watching as they gradually realize they're scam artists, but the movie's strength is its acting, in particular the sleazy bosses and most notably, the co-lead, a black guy I have never seen before. But I swear to you, this guy's performance is oscar-caliber. He's not stricken with cancer. He hasn't lost his wife. He isn't drilling for oil or plauged with mulitple personalities. He's just a guy trying to live. And so while it doesn't fit the Academy's critieria for what an "oscar performance" should be, he unequivocably convinces you he *is* this desperate salesman. There is a scene late in the movie where his co-worker tells him what they're doing to these people isn't "fair". He takes that and goes on this 2 minute tirade about how when he was on the streets, nobody cared about being "fair" to him, and I swear, that scene would hold up to every single one of this year's Oscar nominee's best scenes, and yes, that includes Daniel Day Lewis. And with this budget, I bet you he didn't have 20 takes to do it, either.
Anyway, if you can't tell, I liked this movie. Check it out. Small films like this deserve our attention if they're going to keep getting made.
minor gripe: the other lead is a little bland, but he's just good enough so you don't notice.
