The Independent (2000)

User Rating:

6.1/10   

Director:

Stephen Kessler

Writers:

Stephen Kessler (writer)
Mike Wilkins (writer)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

A notorious B-movie director tries for a comeback by seeking out the film rights to the life story of a serial killer who wants his biography film to be a musical.

Plot Keywords:

Director | Serial Killer | B Movie | Herpes | Legalized Prostitution

Awards:

2 wins

Cast

Jerry Stiller	...	Morty Fineman
Janeane Garofalo	...	Paloma Fineman
Max Perlich	...	Ivan
Ted Demme	...	Himself
Roger Corman	...	Himself
Ron Howard	...	Himself
Karen Black	...	Herself
Peter Bogdanovich	...	Himself
Fred Williamson	...	Himself
Nick Cassavetes	...	Himself
Paul Logan	...	Son
Stacy Fuson	...	Daughter
Herb Marcus	...	Old Man / Mr. Witz
Julie Strain	...	Ms. Kevorkian
Stephen Kessler	...	Steve

MPAA:

Rated R for language, some violence and sexuality.

Runtime:

95 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Australia:M | USA:R

Company:

United Lotus Group

Movie Connections:

Spoofs Det sjunde inseglet (1957)

Funny, but room for improvement.

The only criticism I'd make about this film is that the documentary angle wasn't played up to its entirety. There're shots in the film that just don't gybe with documentary film making. An example are some of the lockdown shots, where edited footage of two people having a conversation (a conversation that is supposed captured by a single camera) is shown. It just doesn't wash. And the film suffers because of it. Documentary crews either setup interviews or follow their subjects around. The intercut sequences harken too much to traditional film making. Documentaries have long takes of jittery or mildly shaken hand held shots. Documentaries do not contain lockdown car shots, dolly shots, or other complicated camera moves. It just doesn't happen: It's not what documentary film making is all about. And yet "The Independent" has all of these things.

If the actors had just been allowed to act in front of the camera, possibly ad lib in a long master, then this film would've been much more than what it ultimately became, and would've achieved its goal with sterling aplomb. As it is now it's an attempt at making a mocumentary. Fairly succesful, good, funny, but ultimately a few points shy of a comic masterpiece.

Otherwise it's actually a funny film. Anybody who's worked on any kind of independent production will tell you that this film hits pretty close to home. Artistic license is taken with over the top situations and performances, but the film manages to capture the general feel of how the indy-film maker works, and does so in a comic vein. Stiller plays the exploitation film maker who denies his more base nature, stating that he's an artiste commenting on society, and not a director of hack T&A/slasher/blacksploitation/biker or whatever exploitation genre that he's actually known for.

If you enjoyed "This is Spinal Tap," "Jackie Brown," or "Drop Dead Gorgeous," then you'll warm to this film. Take note of the rating; it's not a comedy for kids.