The Naked Man (II) (1999) User Reviews

A thin line

[ajmpro · 4/10 · 22 May 2004]

When I saw this movie, I was on the one hand overwhelmed and on the other hand very disappointed. It is a tragic and in some parts surrealistic comedy that is standing close to Bertolt Brecht's theater dramas and his V-effect and the German Dadaism-Artists. It may be considered as a sequel or even as a conclusion of other Coen - movies OR as just a big piece of humbug. I myself was thinking between these two aspects for a long time. And I came to the conclusion that everybody has to decide for himself. The thing that was really fascinating were the characters: real types - to speak in the traditional language of drama - not complex protagonists made me think about the sense of this movie. And to come back to the title of this comment: It is really a thin line between a very complex piece of film-artwork and rubbish. Decide for yourselves!

I like it but its more of a mixed bag than i had remembered it being.

[mbs · 6/10 · 4 January 2018]

Good but not great movie bears a lot of the hallmarks of a Coen Bros movie, particularly in the movie's tone which is semi comedic, semi serious. I can't really explain it, but the film really moves and feels like a Coen Bros film...but without the luster or shiny glossy veneer that the Coen Bros usually put on their films--No Country For Old Men aside. Michael Rappaport's character even seems to be right on the same wavelength as other leading characters in several of the brothers other films such as Tim Robbins in The Hudsucker Proxy or Brad Pitt's in Burn After Reading. All three kind of share this kind of dimly, upbeat world view that can't be shaken despite all the crap that keeps getting thrown at them by everyone around them....that is until they're completely shaken and their spirits completely crushed only to be reborn anew, which also happened to be the character arcs of the main characters in both The Hudsucker Proxy and Burn After Reading so this all tracks. In re-watching this movie tonight for the first time in a good decade plus, the real chief flaw in it is how underwritten, or i guess underwhelming Michael Jeter's villain is here. My memory of the movie had a more flamboyant villain and Jeter's character doesn't seem to be quite present enough to make as big an impression as he should in order to be the big bad guy that Rappaport must defeat. John Caroll Lynch fares a bit better as the Elvis like henchman, but his character also doesn't get much definition--but at least he gets some sequences in which he gets to properly snarl and be villainous, but without much by way of character definition, its hard to really care about either of the two bad guys here which kind of takes some of the sting out of the movie. I did really enjoy Rappaport's performance tho. He's not always so well regarded as an actor by people I know despite having been quite good in a fair number of films over the years, and between this and his excellent lead role in the film "Special" he's someone who honestly may be overlooked as an actor. The movie would not work at all if you didn't buy his shifts from happy go lucky to despondent to vindictive but he nails the role...and frankly his speech in the ring on "the evils of a crooked spine" should be better known in general. All that said, there are some serious flaws in here, but its worth a look especially if you're a fan of either wrestling gimmicks or Rappaport or just want a look at what a Coen Brothers movie would look and sound like without either brother at the helm.

Poor film that's a vehicle for Ethan Cohen.

[rochfordsimon · 4/10 · 23 January 2021]

Very meh. Weak comedy and cringey. BUT, if you like purposely made bad films, you'll like this. Cringey but laced with good intentions. Its alternative comedy.

Coen brothers-lite

[Eviljomr · 2 January 2000]

Of course, this isn't a Coen brothers film, but it does have a strong connection to their films with Ethan Coen contributing to the script (but not producing) and with the Coen's storyboard artist J. Todd Anderson directing and also co-writing. As to be expected, it's not as good as a full Coen brothers effort, but worth a look for anyone who is a fan of the Coens (as I am).

That said, it's not a great movie. It does have a pretty funny central concept, but to me, it never seemed to completely get off the ground. J. Todd Anderson directs the film in a similar style to Joel Coen, but he isn't near as good as writing funny dialog. There is some stuff here that people with a weird sense of humor (like me) will appreciate, but mostly the film is meandering and pointless.

Definately not on the same level as the Coen brothers' classics, but worth seeing for anyone who likes the Coens, or weird comedies in general.

This Movie Has AN AGENDA

[clivereginald2 · 1/10 · 10 June 2014]

I didn't think this film had any particular motives until I saw the "Aww Pharmacist Dad, drugs aren't the answer, you can just heal people by adjusting their spine!" scene. That's when I knew we were in it deep.

I have been to 3 separate chiropractors in my life (2 the wacko kind, like the Naked Man, who claim that all sorts of emotional and physical illnesses can be fixed by spinal adjustments- not medically possible) and luckily 1 who knew that, well, a chiropractor is simply there to help you with SPINE PROBLEMS. Not to fix your cruelty and rage, not to restore health to other body parts, but simply to IMPROVE THE BACK.

If you think I'm on a high horse you're right, but frankly, it's only in opposition to what the movie would have you believe. The truth is that A. chiropractors do not go to medical school and are not in any conventional sense 'doctors' and B. there is no evidence that chiropracty can solve non-spine-related issues. Oh, and C. this movie is bad. Not so bad it's funny, or so bad it's good, just BAD.

Well a lot of nothing happened and some stuff went unexplained

[party pat · 3/10 · 12 September 2001]

When I saw the trailer for this movie, I thought this was going to be a comedy about underground wreseling. Man was I wrong. I found this movie in the comedy section, but I did not witness any comedy, just a lot of unneccessary and drawn out seens. There also was not much wreseling going on. I don't know how you make a seen where a man wearing a suit with his organs drawn on beats up a biker boring. This movie beat all the odds though. By shear numbers alone that seen should have been at least mildly entertaining, somehow though it was not. The only saving grace is Racheal Leigh Cook's character. Not really the character but how she was dressed. Its a sad production when a movie must credit a characters lack of clothing as its only high point. This had pretty respectable actors in it to. Do actors read the scripts before they take parts? I really can not write any thing else about this movie for I do not wish to recall my viewing of it.

It had promise

[cabanamandan · 1/10 · 13 June 2001]

I rented this movie with promise and anticipation.

I put it in and enjoyed the 1st ten minutes of it.

But then whenever Stix entered and murdered the family, the plot just died and kept going down with it.

Some parts were somewhat funny, nothing that would make me bust a gut (no pun intended)

I did enjoy the wrestling scenes, except when he started going crazy on all the wrestlers, it was kinda corney.

This movie had my eyelids going down.

Out of five stars prolly 1 1/2

It had a good start to it and then the bottom dropped out on it. Had potential...keyword...HAD

A true oddity, worthy of liberation from Blockbuster...

[Antman · 7/10 · 9 January 2000]

I admit it - the reference to Ethan Coen on the sleeve of this straight-to-video oddity secured a rental. I wasn't disappointed.

The Naked Man bears all the hallmarks of a Coen-penned script - albeit from the more fantasy oriented side of their cadre (see also The Hudsucker Proxy and the Sam Raimi directed Crimewave). Also, the very first sound you hear is a man screaming - another Coen favourite.

This is not to detract from J. Todd Anderson's direction. The whole production has a surreal air. He places events in a small town in middle America, but it doesn't seem out of place. You never forget this is supposed to be a fantasy.

Look out for it next time you're in Blockbuster. If you don't expect something as masterly as The Big Lebowski or The Hudsucker Proxy, you'll love it. A lo-fi Coens flick, if you will.

DON'T

[cheitman23 · 1/10 · 26 March 2001]

This is not funny or ironic. It's not even amusingly absurd. It's awful. I had to fast-forward through the last ten minutes. Blue Velvet is one of my five favorite movies, and I barely finished this. Proof positive that I will try and watch anything with Rachael Leigh Cook at least once. NO STAR

More left turns than the Indianapolis 500

[Benjy · 8/10 · 8 August 2000]

I rented this movie for two reasons, first and foremost because the box contained the 'C' word. No not that 'C' word, the other one.... Coen, Ethan Coen. One half of the duo which brought us the Big Lebowsi, Fargo and the Hudsucker Proxy and even though he only has a co-writing credit (along with director J. Todd Anderson)it's easy to see his influence. The second reason was the excellent Michael Rapaport, who you may or more likely not, recognise from True Romance and Beautiful Girls. He's in fine form here as a Chiropractor who sidelines as rather odd looking Wrestler who wears a suit that looks like he's had his skin removed. SPOILERS***** When his family of chemists are massacred by the local pharmaceutical mafia head, Sticks Verona he loses the plot (although Coen and Anderson don't) and becomes a wrestling super hero using his Chiropractic skills to disable his enemies. One ridiculous plot twist after another follows as the Naked Man seeks his horrible revenge on the quadraplegic Sticks Verona. He's not an evil man, he just has back problems. This is not a great movie, it's a good movie. It is though, always entertaining and thoroughly bizarre!

Feel the Marshmallow

[dogwater-1 · 8/10 · 26 April 2014]

Was unaware of this, and believe me as much as I love movies, I feel no shame about that. However, this is a must-see for those of us who crave escape into silliness occasionally. The Naked Man is the wrestling moniker of a mild mannered chiropractor with a brutal, but golden touch played by Michael Rappaport, Brooklyn's answer to Gary Busey. All he seeks in life is reunion with his father, a stern pharmacist and believer in pills, and to be a provider to his "best girl" and soon-to-be-born son. However, chilling tragedy strikes in a hilarious Ethan Coen way which sends our back stretcher on a wild mission of revenge in his wrestling persona aided by Delores, a biker babe liberally pierced. Their targets are Sticks Verona, a drug kingpin played by an always funny Michael Jeter, and his driver of the huge semi that he lives in, an Elvis clone who lives on peanut butter sandwiches with bacon. Also, the jewel in the cast, a chain smoking detective wearing a six month shirt and a raincoat that even Columbo would Goodwill, is played by that unique actor Joe Grifasi. There is a long, dialogue-free, classic scene of the beginning of his day that is a gem. Half a load on will get you through the awful parts to the good stuff which is inspired. Shameless fun.

Why was this not released

[dpsam · 6 February 2001]

This movie is more than just a film co-written by Ethan Coen (of the Coen brother fame). And if your expecting a Coen brother movie, its different but it does have some familiar ties to films made by the Coen brothers. What else would you expect from Director J.T Anderson who has been the storyboard artist on almost all of the Coen brothers projects, and J.T's characters are every bit as interesting as any created by his co-writer and his brother. This movie lives on the dynamics between its characters, and of course great photography by Jeff Barklage. (I think every Coen brother film has had great photography that pushes the story and the characters.) But enough about Coens. This is a fun film and a good film, and I cannot understand why OCTOBER and UNIVERSAL did not release this sucker.

Great movie at 2:00 in the morning!

[heller-18 · 10/10 · 29 January 2007]

I had to ask after seeing this one, "Who was he (Coen) writing this for? Chiropractors who love World Federation Wrestling?" I loved it because I am a Chiropractor who loves World Federation Wrestling and cult films so I bought many copies and sent them out to the other 12 people I know who are in the same category. You've got to love it. The first 5 minutes of the chiropractor's office experience are exquisitely filmed, and he sure loves his job! His patient has the primal experience that many of us chiropractic freaks enjoyed when we had our first (second, and third.....) treatment.

Michael Rappaport is always wonderful and I would love to see more of him. The plot goes a little wild but his speech in the ring is right on!

Tongue-In-Cheek Funny -- Laugh Out Loud Humor!!

[womenfly · 8/10 · 11 November 1999]

This movie is great. I have rented it a couple of times now and find something new each time. It is HILARIOUS!! The acting is firmly tongue in cheek and well done. My favorite character of all is the police detective -- I'd love to see a movie just about him (hint-hint Mr. Anderson). I haven't laughed out loud at a movie in a long time. Bravo!

The "Big Lebowski" of wrestling chiropractor movies!!

[unclesatan · 17 November 2002]

Quirky? You bet. This surreal tale of a man torn between two worlds is populated with supporting characters from both sides of the rainbow. The dialogue, the pacing, even the camera angles scream "Sit up straight for an evening of romance, revenge, and spinal integrity."

Gotta love those bizarre comedies

[Sachiel · 25 August 1999]

One half of the Coen Brothers has co-written one of the weirdest and most intelligent comedies I've ever had the pleasure of viewing. Underrated actor, Michael Rappaport excellently portrays the inscrutable chiropractor/wrestler of which the title refers. The Naked Man features wonderfully quirky performances, equally quirky dialogue and a storyline just strange enough to keep anyone interested. Fans of David Lynch or John Waters, don't miss this!

Rave Review - Hilarious & well directed comedy

[DadGuy · 1 September 1999]

The director has, on a low budget, created a tight script, with beautiful timing. Rapaport plays a pro wrestler (whose persona is "The Naked Man")/chiropractor who is thrust into responding to an attempted gangland takeover of his small town. Wonderfully acted from the chain smoking cynical cops, to the paraplegic gangster, to his Elvis impersonating enforcer, and finally to the biker girlfriend follower. All the little bits were perfect and the movie was a hilarious comedy.

Stupid

[RoboGarrett · 23 May 2020]

I mean, just look at the poster and you'll see exactly what to expect from this movie. It's done cheap and without much care, and Michael Rapaport is flying around like a moron, thinking he's very funny. This is a stupid, stupid movie.