Hey folks, Harry here with Quint. Last I saw of Quint, he'd just rigged a basketball match for his bookies, won, and decided to try to get killed on the wrong side of town, only to wind up with a gaping face wound. But does that stop him from filing a report? Not for a second. Here the boy is... bleeding gaping cheek-hole and all... So read up about a film that simply must get distributed in theaters around the country. I got a call today from Mars Callahan thanking me for the review I gave this film and he told me he's started getting a lot of calls.... All I can say is this... If you're a distributor, don't ask for a screener... Watch this movie with an audience... Then you'll see what the movie is. It's a hit. Here's Quint...
Ahoy, squirts. 'Tis I, the mile-high crusty ol' seaman, Quint, currently writing from seat 12D on an American Airlines Super 80 plane, about 33,000 feet above what looks to be Arizona. That's right, I've finally escaped Las Vegas, not without injury I fear. Sure, I got to see some great films, attended some fantastic parties and met the coolest people, but I also learned how to play Craps and Three Card Poker, which, unfortunately, has just about cleaned out my barnacle-crusted wallet.
I can't complain, though. It was a blast and I got to see Dustin Hoffman deal a hand of Blackjack during the celebrity Blackjack tournament. Not bad, eh? I also got to see classics such as Lenny and Hard Eight for the first time at this fest, not to mention some awesome indies, like G (which I'll be getting a review out for soon) and 24 Hour Party People (review on its way) and the below film.
Poolhall Junkies. Now, there was no way in hell I was going to miss this film. God him/herself could have come down and told me it was the worst piece of shit movie ever made and I still would have gone anyway. A pool shark film starring Christopher Walken, Rod Steiger and Chazz Palmintari? You bet your sweet ass I'm gonna be first in line.
So it came about that I saw the film on its second showing. Wow... wowie wow-wow-wow. What a movie! It's not a terribly complicated film, but it's an amazingly entertaining one. You have the above mentioned seasoned vets giving it their all and perfectly complimenting the up and coming "young Hollywood" such as co-writer/director/star Mars Callahan, Michael Rosenbaum (Lex from Smallville), Anson Mount(erm... ::cough::crossroads::cough::) and even little Ricky Schroeder.
That's right, I said Ricky "Don't mention Silver Spoons or I'll kill you" Schroeder kicks ass in this movie. What happened to him?!? Remember he used to be that cute little kid on TV? It looks like he fell face first into a tub full of sandpaper! He's grizzly and tough lookin' now! Christopher Walken is, as usual, his incredible, amazing, fantastically fucked up self. God Bless Christopher Walken. I'm so happy to finally see him again in a film that is on par with what he brings to the table. Walken's always good in whatever film he's in, but as of recent most of the movies he's been in have sucked balls. Big, hairy, green and wrinkled balls. Joe Dirt anyone?
But never fear, fellow Walken fanatics! He's surrounded by great people in a great story again! He has a speech that'll make you cream your pants... Matter of fact, he has two trademark Walken badass speech moments, one about lions and another about him being a millionaire. So, we have Walken and Ricky "Call me Ricky again and I'll have your head" Schroder kicking ass, what about the unknowns?
Like I said above, these are the up and comers. Expect them to be the stars of tomorrow. Mars Callahan has proven himself a gifted director with this film. Apparently his last film was taken away and edited by someone else, so this is his first honest to God trial as a filmmaker and as an audience member, I say he passed with flying colors. There are some new filmmaking tricks in the movie, the trendy speeding up/slowing down of time, but for the most part it's an old fashioned kind of film that lets the script and the actors carry the movie.
Basically, it's about this kid who at one point could have been the best legit pool player around, but instead ended up a hustler, going from poolhall to poolhall, scamming people out of their money. Of course, the talent is there and the passion for playing pool is overflowing, but the hand life dealt him didn't allow for the opportunity to prove himself on the tournament circuit. His girlfriend wants him out of the dirty scam business, but pool is where his talent lies... it's all he knows... but he loves her.
So, you have that conflict. You also have his love/hate relationship with father-figure Chazz Palmintari, a huge sleazeball and a master at pool hustling. You have the little brother to big brother worship coming from Michael Rosenbaum and his friends.
Will you get to see the movie? I sure as hell hope so. It's a movie I think studios would be stupid to pass up. It has a great cast and if marketed with half a brain could make some serious bank. It's a feel good movie. It's a fun movie. I believe Harry stated in his review that 10 years ago this film would have been snapped up by Miramax so fast, it'd probably be out on video already. What happened? Maybe if Freddie Prinze Jr. was in it... Mars did tell me that he's turned down every direct to video offer to hold out for a theatrical deal. I commend him. He knows he has a quality movie and is fighting for it. That combination of balls and quality filmmaking doesn't pop up too often anymore. I wish him luck.
Looks like we're about to land, so I better get going. I'll keep my ear to the tracks on this one for you squirts. I did get a chance to interview co-writer/director/star Mars Callahan and Michael Rosenbaum during the fest, so keep an eye out for those interviews in the next few days. I also have many more CineVegas reviews to catch up on. I'll be back soon with all that good stuff. Until that day, this is Quint bidding you all a fond farewell and adieu.
-Quint
email: Amazing Larry, you can pick the glass shards from my colon you sack of Freddie Prinze Jr!
