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Your Gateway to Music and More from a Christian Perspective Slow down as you approach the gate, and have your change ready.... |
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Your Gateway to Music and More from a Christian Perspective Slow down as you approach the gate, and have your change ready.... |
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The Independent Stars: Jerry Stiller, Janeane Garofalo, Max Perlich, Ginger Lynn Allen, Anne Meara, Fred Dryer and Owen Bush Director: Stephen Kessler Scriptwriter: Mike Wilkens and Stephen Kessler Music: Ben Vaughn Arrow Films Running Length: 90 minutes Rating: R What is a schlockmeister? Someone who cranks out films by the barrel. The Independent follows the career of one, Morty Fineman (Jerry Stiller from television's Seinfeld) with daughter Paloma (Janeane Garofalo from Mystery Men). A sampling of titles from the hundreds of Morty’s films includes Draft Dodger Meets Psycho Vet, Kung Funk: The Funky Fu, The Sad Forehead in My Mirror, Dracula Lambada, That's President Draft Dodger to You! and his latest, Ms. Kevorkian. Despite the volume, this independent moviemaker just manages to keep his financial head above water. Alas, Morty has the last bank extension he can maneuver and the bank wants to buy his film collection---by the pound. What to do? Get famous. In the nick of time, the High Desert Film Festival in Chaparral, Nevada comes with an invitation to honor Morty for his work. The Independent pokes fun at small-time moviemakers, film festivals, bit players, bankers, show biz wannabe's and people on the fringe of the industry. Real life directors such as Ron Howard, Roger Corman, Peter Bogdanovich and Karen Black add to the humor by commenting on Fineman's “career.” Jerry Stiller plays Morty Fineman as a man one inch away from total sleazedom. He has an angle for everything. Garofalo's Paloma loves her father and works overtime to keep him honest. Long-suffering apprentice Ivan (Max Perlich from television's Homicide) will do anything for Morty and that includes bending the law a few times. The rest of the cast reads like a who's who of Hollywood. The Independent joins a list of films that jab at the movie industry. Remember The Player and Wag the Dog? With precise comedic timing, the cast of The Independent turns out an independent film certainly better than most. I don't know who other than Jerry Stiller could have portrayed Morty, the man you hate to love. Garofalo pulls back a bit and this is better for the role as she plays straight man to Stiller. It is Perlich who steals his scenes as the chump who hangs around for a smile from his idea of a top moviemaker, Morty Fineman. Copyright 2002 Marie Asner 1/6/2002
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