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The Amateurs
Directed by: Michael Traeger
Starring: Jeff Bridges
Genre:
Comedy
Run Time: 96
min.
Release Date:
December 2007
On The Web:
Official
Site
Teaser:
Movie Trailer
Reviewed by
Byron Merritt |
THE AMATEURS is one
of those surprisingly good films that you’ve never heard of. Some of
that is often due to a limited release. Or perhaps to a change in the
name of the film. Or perhaps it’s loaded with unknown actors. Well two
out of three of those are correct.
The Amateurs received a limited release here in the States in
late 2007. It played for only a few weeks at my local indie theater
before vanishing, so I never got a chance to check it out. But it laid
in the back of my mind because of something that intrigued me...
The name of the film was originally entitled THE MOGULS, and
trying to find it under its current name (The Amateurs) could
present problems for some DVD viewers. If this is the case, try looking
it up under both names and see what you can find.
If you find such actors as Jeff Bridges (IRON
MAN), Tim Blake Nelson (FIDO), Ted Danson, William
Fichtner (THE DARK KNIGHT), Patrick Fugit (WRISTCUTTERS), John Hawkes
(AMERICAN GANGSTER), Brad William Henke (NORTH COUNTRY), Glenne Headly
(THE NAMESAKE), Lauren Graham (EVAN ALMIGHTY), and Judy Greer
(ELIZABETHTOWN) in your selection, then you’ve found the correct film; a
surprising number of well-knowns dot this movie.
Even more surprising is the film’s plot: a township that comes together
to put out a pornographic movie, and all the trouble they have getting
the production going, the actors/actresses assigned, and why each of
them is doing it. Now before you click off and say, “I don’t want to see
a movie about making a porno!” just hang around for a minute, okay? It
is and isn’t about that. So let’s start from the beginning...
Andy (Jeff Bridges) is having a bad year. His wife has left him. His son
is living with his wife’s new husband in their mansion-on-the-corner.
And Andy wants to impress his son and to make him feel that he has a
father who cares very much for him. But he’s an out-of-work loser whose
every plan always dissipates. But one bar-drinking day, Andy comes up
with the idea of making a porno in his little town of Butterfield Face,
but doing it with the cast and support of those in town.
Men — obviously — flock to the project. Emmett (Patrick Fugit) runs the
local video store and loves filming on his digital camera, so he is
assigned as the “cinematographer.” And others fall into various roles as
director, producers, and even “the guy who stands around and watches”
(William Fichtner as Otis). But finding the ladies if tougher. They have
no options at first but scouring fast food chains, mattress sellers and
the local strip club soon turn up some interesting options.
Then there’s the script, which is talked about in such laid back terms
that I found myself howling with laughter (“Now we need the lesbian
scene ...but I don’t know any lesbians. Do you?” and “We need the
obligatory black guys on white girl scene. Anybody know any black
guys?”) The flat faces and matter-of-fact comments during these scenes
made it seem like they could be ordering a book at a local bookstore
rather than talking about intimate sex acts.
Of course, disaster strikes the film and all seems lost ...until Andy
(Bridges) finds out that he’s got a back-up plan and pulls magic out of
his ...well ...we’ll say hat.
The real theme of the movie, though, isn’t about making a porno; it’s
about love between a father and son, and what one father is willing to
do in order to make his son proud of him. And it didn’t take a porno.
Confused? Good. Check out this film and revel in it. It’s good. It’s
surprisingly good.
(back to top) |
Image from The Amateurs
DVD cost: $12.86
Purchase:
Tower.com
Film Review Stew
Favorite? No.
Stew Poo-Poo? No.
Newsworthy:
Many of the characters
(Andy, Barney, Helen, Otis, Floyd, Emmett, Thelma, and Clara) are named
after characters from The Andy Griffith Show (1960).
Movie Quote: "We're
going to be the first town to ban together and make an adult film."
Other Actors/Actresses
from The Amateurs
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