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MrVonAwesome
Reviews
Giuseppe Makes a Movie (2014)
Fantastic Beyond Belief
Giuseppe Makes A Movie is a poetic look inside the mind of an absolute genius in front of and behind the camera. To say Giuseppe Andrews is a master of the $1,000 dollar movie shot in two days would be a disservice to Mr. Andrews and the film community as a whole. An artist that doesn't subscribe to the concept of "No," Andrews is a shining beacon of hope in a vast crowd of self-entitled "would-be-filmmakers" bogging down the trenches of true independent spirit. Director Adam Rifkin managed an impossible feat by capturing Giuseppe's insane process yet managing to find the humanity amid the madness. This is an utterly captivating and heartfelt documentary. Giuseppe Makes A Movie is simply 82 minutes of lightning in a bottle. A must watch for any true cinephile.
Look (2007)
LOOK- the Movie is POWERFUL, CAN NOT BE MISSED!
I've just seen a copy of LOOK over at a friends house and this movie was fantastic! I had this vision in my head of what I thought I was about to see and Adam Rifkin (writer-director) was able to completely blow my expectations. Such a powerful and thought provoking experience. After the end credits started to roll I turned to my girlfriend and said, "This is even more amazing if you think they finished this film, jumped on a plane, and started HOMO ERECTUS". It just goes to show how much range this man has. He can go from "THE DARK BACKWARD", "THE CHASE", "DENIAL", then write "MOUSE HUNT" for the big boys at Dreamworks. He had me caring for certain characters and feeling DIRTY for having thought I liked them, sitting on the edge of my seat waiting for innocent people to be rescued, and feeling heart broken for them not being saved. Then I took a second to realize these kinds of things happen everyday. Children are abducted, innocent people are robbed at gun point and left for dead. The sleazy department store manager (Hayes MacArthur was GENIUS!). The slacker's turn out to be the only two characters I liked from start to finish (Giuseppe Andrews and Miles Dougal are so talented, they always amaze me). I am looking forward to the DVD from Anchor Bay on May 5th, I hope it is chock full of extras that I can study and have all my "how did they.." questions answered. Adam is a true talent to the film community.
Homo Erectus (2007)
National Lampoon's Homo Erectus: Adam Rifkin is a genius
There's been some strong buzz about this film for a while on line thanks to a whole bunch of trailers and funny little videos. I really wanted to check this film out for a host of reasons, not the least of which are Ali Larter (who's hot as Hell), Miles Dougal (Star of many a Giuseppi Andrews epic) and Rifkin, who I've been a fan of since DETROIT ROCK CITY. Having only seen the web trailer and a couple of viral vids I could only hope that it wasn't the type of film that tries to show you so much of the funny gags in the trailer, then while your watching it you're sitting there saying to yourself, "wow I should have just watched the trailer for 88mins".
THIS IS NOT ONE OF THOSE FILMS! From the opening scene, a reference to 2001, to the closing scene, an obvious homage to Buster Keaton, this film delivers! NATIONAL LAMPOON'S STONED AGE is about a prehistoric Einstein named Ishbo whose tribe believes that both his inventions and the fact that he doesn't believe in clubbing women, is completely insane!! Ishbo (Played by Rifkin) is a caveman with some great ideas! Ideas that will help man evolve, but his father Mookoo (David Carradine), brother Thudnik (Hayes Macarthur), and friends Zig & Zog (Giuseppe Andrews and Miles Dougal) just don't understand why he isn't content living the life that the tribe has come to know and love. The film also features Ali Larter, Tom Arnold, Talia Shire, Bill Tyree (another Giuseppi regular), Gary Busey, Ron Jeremy, & Lin Shaye.
Now don't get me wrong, this isn't GODFATHER PART 2, but it's obviously not meant to be. It's just a funny little caveman movie that's smart, silly and really well done. And the cave babes are sexy as hell! From the opening scene with Miles Dougal (Zog) all the way to the very last frame tight on Adam propped up in a neanderthal man display in a history museum, this little film keeps it in 5th gear and doesn't slow down. From clubbing chicks to Mastodon hunts gone awry, Thudnik shows us what it would've been like (more so how easy) to become the Alpha-Male. While Ishbo is busy inventing things like bikes, fishing nets, and pants
his buddies Zig & Zog are busy finding things to smoke their funny grass out of. Meanwhile the love of Ishbo's life Fardart (Ali Larter) is trying to set him up with his lovely cousin, who just so happens to be an ape. Ishbo really can't catch a break, especially the night of his brother's bachelor party before he marries Fardart and he has one to many drinks with his cousin. Ishbo ends up screwing the chimp. Gross! Rifkin said that Woody Allen was a big inspiration to him and you can definitely see the influence. Not in a copy cat way, but the film shows obvious reference to his idol.
The DVD is LOADED with extras like bloopers, deleted scenes, outtakes, music videos, and "old fool raps". Also is the lovingly produced "GAY-vemen" featurette. The disc has a HILARIOUS commentary track, not your standard directors track, but done knowingly poking fun at themselves and each other. All you "dirty caveman" be sure to check out the "STONED AGE PENTHOUSE PHOTO SHOOT" & "STONED AGE MAXIM PHOTO SHOOT". This DVD is sure to become a cult classic and a must have for all DVD collectors.
Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead (2006)
Great Film... by far Troma's best
I had the chance to see this film at the B-Movie celebration in Franklin, Indiana. The film is well worth the wait. If you have a chance to see it on the big screen it is a must! It looked so amazing. The film itself is well written and the musical numbers are just beautiful. The ending will quickly replace Eli Roth's Hostel: Part II as the greatest ending in the history of cinema. I salute Lloyd, Gabe, Kiel and the rest of the Troma team for making the BEST film in Troma's amazing catalog of films. Again, if you get a chance to see this with an audience, DO IT! I drove 5 1/2 hours to see it in Franklin and will drive another 2 hours to see the actual premiere in Milwaukee, WI.
xoxo, Jeremy