Ahoy... man. El Quinterino here, man. Now, I find the statement that this film is just as good as or better than THE BIG LEBOWSKI to be some strong words. I don't think it's possible to top THE BIG LEBOWSKI, personally, but I'm pulling for the below reviewer to be right. If he isn't... well, this aggression will not stand, man! The writer/director of THE MOGULS is a man by the name of Michael Traeger, who is best known for writing DEAD MAN ON CAMPUS, which certainly isn't a BARTON FINK or RAISING ARIZONA. But I have to give him credit for the cast. Jeff Bridges, Tim Blake Nelson, Joey Pants, Patrick Fugit, Lauren "Fuck Me Santa" Graham and more. We'll see. In the meantime I'll just throw on Creedence and check up on a couple "leads." Enjoy the review!
The funniest film i've seen in AGES (unless you count Shaun of the Dead)
Tonight, my girlfriend and I went to see a screening (the kind where the credits and audio aren't right, the editing isn't perfect, and you have to fill out cards with comments of the film for future edits, etc...) in Culver City.
The film was called "The Moguls" (it could change perhaps, and as we thought it would be a drama on Turner, Rupert Murdoch, or Howard Hughes, perhaps it shall). Anyway, it starred Jeff Bridges, and I thought it was as good or better than the Big Lebowski (even after a second viewing -when I began to appreciate that film).
Basically it's about a nice guy who has never gotten a break in life (a familair concept) who gets this crazy idea to make a PORNO film and gets all his friends and this entire small town involved!! A funny concept, and it's executed amazingly well. No big special effects, but definatly a "see it in the theatre with a bunch of friends" kinda thing. Jeff Bridges does great narration over the events, in a slacker "dude" kinda way, but more matured and self depricating. This couldn't have worked without good script, good cast, and good characters. And it truly delivers.
On the "bad" side, Virginia and I both agreed it had a "Hollywood ending", but it bothered her more. For me, I grew to love the characters enough that I was already hoping,and expecting a "Hollywood Ending". A matter of taste, but we're talking about the last 6 minutes of the film here. I even predicted the sorta "twist" at the end, but I was actually HAPPY it happened for sake of the people involved. We both LOVED it, and laughed out loud!
When I think of Funny Films, I think of "Man Bites Dog", "Bad Taste", "After Hours", "Meet The Parents", "Big Deal On Madonna Street", "Bringing Up Baby", "The Loved One", "Sgt. Bilko" -the TV SHOW, "American Movie", "Spinal Tap", "Still Crazy", and "It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World"...If you have the same taste as me, and even if you don't, check out this film when it comes out! The few "Hollywood" elements are outweiged by real comedy, GREAT character development, and some perverse "John Waters" elemets. I'm even going to reccomend it to my mom and grandma, as well as all my degenerate friends!
(by the way, I have NOTHING to do with this movie. It just ruled!! As does your website...even tho I think the design sucks! : P )
Mike Desert
