I'm in the process of writing up my own review of FREE ENTERPRISE, a film that all of you will enjoy. For some... INSANE reason this film has not yet been acquired. Even though... well it's a wonderful film, with a very high chance at grabbing a fantastic audience... It still is faced with a festival life. WHAT IS WRONG? Well.... Ya know, sometimes (often times) those that run the distribution companies haven't a clue what they are doing, and it makes me wish I was in their business just so films like this one and MAN OF THE CENTURY and ABILENE weren't left out on the sidewalk upon some sort of symbolic cardboard box with a tin film can saying "Will entertain the shit out of you for Food!" William Shatner is brilliant in this movie, best performance since I can't even remember when. Here's the review...
Last night I had my first of what I hope will be many viewings of the Instant Classic... FREE ENTERPRISE. It was the second night of the Newport Beach Film Festival and we were treated to a beautiful print of the film and a brief but entertaining Q&A with writer-creators Rob Burnett and Mark Altman. I found a review and a half on AICN, but if you have not yet experienced this one yourself... well, you've been a little remiss.
I chime in merely because these guys still do not have a distribution deal in place yet, despite having hit most if not all of the potential outlets. If ever there was a film in need of some grassroots support and positive word-of-mouth, it is "Free Enterprise". The problem seems to be that these various companies somehow don't "get it"-- and that is a crime beyond just being unbelievable.
Sure, on the surface this film appears to be somewhat esoteric... but the beauty is that it goes so much further than that. The filmmakers have tapped into the cultural zeitgeist and fashioned an incredibly intelligent and extremely hilarious creation in the witty vein of Woody Allen in his prime. Perhaps I'm gushing a bit here, but I have been able to think of little else since seeing this movie. This is no mere independent feature, this is a highly professional and polished piece of referential art... tailor-made for those who enjoy the sci-fi genre for more than simply its eye-candy.
I won't delve into the plot here, as that is both accessible and overly detailed on their website www.freeent.com -- but essentially it chronicles the romantic and life adventures of thinly-veiled alter-egos of the guys behind the film (imaginatively named Rob and Mark) and the effect of both Captain James Kirk and real life's William Shatner on their world. Suffice it to say... he rocks it!
To borrow some phrases, "It is everything you imagined. It is everything you dreamed. It is nothing you expect." It exceeds its promise and delivers a literate spin on the essence of life as many of us know it, wrapped up in one of the funniest packages we've seen in quite a while. Certainly others have cracked-open the vaults of pop culture before, but here we see that potential realized in wonderful detail.
The entire audience was vocally delighted, and I know for a fact that not all were even fans of Star Trek or its various progeny. The bottom line is that it all rings true. The characters, the situations, even the whimsical imaginings. The result is a film of pleasing substance and above all else-- absolute hilarity. Beyond that, it goes quite a long way too in justifying our very existence. Even outsiders will begin to understand.
FREE ENTERPRISE is immensely satisfying. Those who have seen it can attest. Those who haven't should make it a priority. On the road to a theatrical deal it will certainly be making the rounds, and new initiates (much like this one) will not be able to contain themselves in praising it. But praise is not enough. Somewhere out there is a distributor with savvy enough to bring this work to the world at large. Maybe they read AICN, maybe they've already seen the movie but weren't bold enough to go the distance. In any case, we all must do our share to ensure that it doesn't go directly to video and DVD.
While we will each enjoy it in those formats for years to come, it deserves more-- it deserves exhibition and all that goes with it. We cannot let this one slip through the cracks. Maybe the days of letter-writing campaigns are gone, maybe not. But if enough of us put this out and spread the word, inevitably "Free Enterprise" will get its due-- and collectively, we will all be rewarded with that one thing that Hollywood stabs away at but all-too-frequently misses in providing us-- genuine entertainment.
The human adventure IS just beginning...
