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Bob Byington More at IMDbPro »
2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009
1-20 of 26 items from 2013 « Prev | Next »
Watch an Unseen Movie Starring a Young Louis C.K. and Nick Offerman
17 April 2013 3:15 PM, PDT | Vulture | See recent Vulture news »
Thirteen years ago, Louis C.K. was not a name everyone knew. And even fewer people knew Nick Offerman. This provided them an opportunity to star in extremely indie movies like 2000's Tuna. What's Tuna? A movie written by Adam DeCoster (who by day is a successful Foley artist) and directed by Bob Byington (director of Offerman-featuring movies like Harmony and Me and Somebody Up There Likes Me) about people talking in their cars while driving around Los Angeles. DeCoster put the full film up on YouTube earlier this week. Watch a bleached-blond, fresh-faced Offerman, youngish C.K., and a cast that also features Kevin Corrigan, David Krumholtz, Jon Glaser, and a 4-year-old Angus T. Jones. Just to reiterate, before you complain about the production values, the thing is super-extremely indie. »
- Jesse David Fox
19th Bradford International Film Festival - Somebody Up There Likes Me (2012)
14 April 2013 11:23 PM, PDT | Flickeringmyth | See recent Flickeringmyth news »
Somebody Up There Likes Me, 2012.
Written and Directed by Bob Byington.
Starring Nick Offerman, Jess Weixler and Keith Poulson.
Synopsis:
A comedy about a man, his best friend, and the woman they both adore watching their lives fly by.
Bob Byington’s Somebody Up There Likes Me is the kind of quirky comedy drama that will eschew sense, warmth and reason for the sake of a gag. Think Wes Anderson, minus the very formal visuals. Serious investment in the characters or their plights is near-impossible, because Somebody Up There Likes Me so often is willing to sacrifice it all for a quick, oddball laugh; lead character Max taking flowers from a memorial and gifting them to his ex-wife, for example. And yet, somehow, the film manages to work on an emotional level.
But before I can say ‘take that, Wes Anderson’, it has to be said that Somebody Up There Likes Me »
- Flickering Myth
Somebody Up There Likes Me - Movie Review
12 April 2013 7:15 AM, PDT | Monsters and Critics | See recent Monsters and Critics news »
An easy going family comedy featuring odd people who turn out to be just like us. Emerging director Bob Byington.s drama of family dynamics is almost too easy going for its own good. Slacker Max (Keith Poulson) works at a restaurant with maître d. Sal (Nick Offerman--Ron Swanson on .Parks & Recreation.) and both seem ready to fall asleep at any time. The only thing that keeps the audience from going the same route is Byington.s clever minimalist dialog about searching for something better. The two never succeed completely but they never fail either. In the end, the legacy of fatherhood is preserved in a positive light. Flawed as it is, it represents a spirit of permanence that »
- Ron Wilkinson
Movies This Week: April 5-11, 2013
5 April 2013 12:00 PM, PDT | Slackerwood | See recent Slackerwood news »
Evil Dead. This week, these two words are all that matter to horror fans, as the long-awaited reworking of the cult classic The Evil Dead hits theaters. (Actually, two other words matter just as much: Bruce Campbell. I'm not into horror flicks, but yeah, he is the coolest.)
For the rest of us, there is the homegrown comedy Somebody Up There Likes Me (pictured above). Fellow River City film fans, I beg, urge and implore you to see this terrific Austin movie. Sadly (and unsurprisingly), the Friday night show with director Bob Byington and star Nick Offerman in attendance is sold out. But worry not -- there are plenty of other screenings. You also might like the Slamdance 2012 awardwinning feature Welcome to Pine Hill, screening at 9 pm Monday at Stateside.
True cinephiles won't want to miss this week's Austin Film Society Essential Cinema Plus series, which presents four recent films »
- Don Clinchy
Review: Somebody Up There Likes Me
4 April 2013 12:00 PM, PDT | Slackerwood | See recent Slackerwood news »
I've seen Somebody Up There Likes Me twice now -- once at SXSW 2012 with a lively local-heavy audience, once via screener with no one else but the cat -- and found the movie terribly funny both times. In fact, after I watched it the second time, I restarted the film so I could to see how the beginning tied into the end (it does, so pay attention) ... then had to stop myself from watching it a third time. The movie opens Friday at Violet Crown Cinema and I'm sorely tempted to go.
I liked it a lot, obviously. But I don't know whether you'd like it. Local filmmaker Bob Byington's universe is not for everyone.
Somebody Up There Likes Me is a comedy, but not in a broad sense -- its humor is very specific. I don't mean that it's full of obscure pop-culture references, either, because the movie »
- Jette Kernion
Somebody Up There Likes Me Charms Like Early Wes Anderson
28 March 2013 9:00 PM, PDT | Village Voice | See recent Village Voice news »
At first blush, Bob Byington's Somebody Up There Likes Me goes down like early Wes Anderson: tableaux that pass for scenes, a delicate pointillism in the soundtrack, and a shot at redemption among characters suffering from the unbearable rudderlessness of twee. The plot is fairly Andersonian, too, following the tragically impassive Max (Keith Poulson) as he lapses from one picturesque and well-scored marriage to another over the course of 25 years. The only fixture in Max's life is Sal (Nick Offerman, of Parks & Recreation immortality), a bearded would-be sage who serves alongside Max as a waiter at a steak house. Intermittent animations that recall Richard Linklater's Waking Life demarcate the five-year increments by which Byington works his time-lapse magic. A mag »
Somebody Up There Likes Me Movie Review
23 March 2013 12:48 AM, PDT | ShockYa | See recent ShockYa news »
Title: Somebody Up There Likes Me Director: Bob Byington Starring: Keith Poulson, Nick Offerman, Jess Weixler, Kevin Corrigan, Kate Lyn Sheil, Stephanie Hunt, Marshall Bell, Jonathan Togo, Megan Mullally A delightfully deadpan relationship comedy that plays like a cross between something from Quentin Dupieux and Jared and Jerusha Hess, “Somebody Up There Likes Me” is an imaginative paean to world-weary nonchalance. Directed by Bob Byington, this subversive little treat flirts with absurdism but never tips over into hipster posturing in chronicling a bunch of domestic ennui and professional unhappiness that its characters pretty much seem to all shruggingly accept. After listless waiter Max Youngman (Keith Poulson, looking like a cousin [ Read More ]
The post Somebody Up There Likes Me Movie Review appeared first on Shockya.com. »
- bsimon
Nick Offerman & Zach Galifianakis hit comedy gold in 'Somebody Up There Likes Me' Q&A
18 March 2013 3:39 PM, PDT | Hitfix | See recent Hitfix news »
Note: Tribeca Film has just added an additional week-long run of the film in Los Angeles beginning on March 22 at the Sundance Sunset Cinema (8000 Sunset Blvd). Nick Offerman can add “theater usher” to his official resume. The heavily-mustached “Parks and Recreation” star literally held the door for me as I stepped into a screening of his latest film - writer/director Bob Byington’s indie comedy “Somebody Up There Likes Me” - at the Silent Movie Theater on L.A.’s Fairfax Avenue yesterday evening. Dressed casually in a beanie, jeans and cowboy boots, Offerman was on hand for a post-screening Q&A with special »
- Chris Eggertsen
Nick Offerman, Adam Scott and Alison Brie Get High and Loose in New Indie Promo (Video)
13 March 2013 11:14 AM, PDT | The Hollywood Reporter | See recent The Hollywood Reporter news »
Nick Offerman returned to Reddit on Wednesday, dispensing to his flock many life lessons, woodworking tips, fond recollections and an instant classic viral video. The Parks and Recreation star, who is equal parts sturdy, wise and deadpan, signed on for an Ama (ask me anything) session to promote his new indie film, Somebody Up There Likes Me. In the Bob Byington-directed comedy, Offerman co-stars as the older pal of a waiter named Keith Poulson, who travels through life's ups and downs in an idiosyncratic and detached manner. Offerman, who plays a meat-lover once again in this role,
read more
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- Jordan Zakarin
Somebody Up There Likes Me
11 March 2013 12:36 PM, PDT | Pastemagazine.com | See recent PasteMagazine news »
At first glance, Somebody Up There Likes Me might be mistaken for a debut film from a recent graduate of the Wes Anderson School of Offbeat Filmmaking, but the pedigree of its director is concurrent with that of Anderson. The film, which premiered at last year’s SXSW, is director Bob Byington’s fifth writing/directing effort. His first was 1996’s Shameless, which, ironically enough, is the same year Anderson came along with his debut feature, Bottle Rocket. »
2013 Bradford International Film Festival: Official Film List
11 March 2013 6:50 AM, PDT | Bad Lit | See recent Bad Lit news »
The Bradford International Film Festival is typically an underground-friendly fest. This year appears to be no exception with two very special experimental film retrospectives, as well as a few modern underground-type flicks.
The 19th annual Biff will roll on April 11-21 at several locations around Bradford and Leeds in England, including the National Media Museum, Hebden Bridge Picture House, Hyde Park Picture House and other venues.
Biff is hosting a tribute to Stan Brakhage this year by screening the prolific filmmaker’s magnum opus, Dog Star Man, as well as a selection of his short films, from 1963′s legendary Mothlight to 1994′s Black Ice. There’s also going to be an epic-sized tribute/retrospective of experimental films from Austria, a country with a proud avant-garde filmmaking tradition that’s typically overlooked.
From Austria, Biff is, of course, screening two works from one of the experimental film world’s biggest masters, »
- Mike Everleth
Nick Offerman, 'Somebody Up There Likes Me' Big in Chicago
10 March 2013 12:03 PM, PDT | The Wrap | See recent The Wrap news »
Chicago's Nick Offerman, producer and star of the indie film "Somebody Up There Likes Me," is a local hero, at least at the box office. The bittersweet comedy, written and directed by Bob Byington, stars Offerman, from the NBC TV sitcom "Parks and Recreation," and Keith Poulson as best buddies who fall in love with the same girl, played by Jess Weixler. Also read: Independent Box Office: 'Emperor' Accomplishes Demo Mission Tribeca chose Chicago's 700-seat Music Box Theater to debut the film and – with Chicago native Offerman in attendance at many of »
- Todd Cunningham
Specialty Box Office: 'Somebody Up There' Well Liked Indeed With $38,000 Exclusive Debut
10 March 2013 10:32 AM, PDT | Indiewire | See recent Indiewire news »
Exactly year after debuted at SXSW, Bob Byington's "Somebody Up There Likes Me" scored a huge exclusive debut at Chicago's Music Box Theater. The film -- which stars and was co-produced by Chicago native Nick Offerman -- grossed an estimated $38,495. The 700 seat theater featured multiple sold out shows with Nick Offerman in attendance, delivering the second highest opening weekend in the last 6 years at the theater, trailing only "Sleepwalk With Me", and the third highest since Rentrak began tracking numbers 10 years ago. To put that into further perspective, Tribeca Films current all-time top theatrical grosser -- 2011's "Last Night" -- grossed $98,986 in its run. Clearly this weekend's numbers are difficult to use to predict how the film will expand, but It seems all but certain "Somebody Up There Likes Me" will top "Last Night" by next weekend and become the distributor's first $100,000 grosser. "We all love this film and »
- Peter Knegt
Film Review: Nick Offerman Stars in Episodic ‘Somebody Up There Likes Me’
8 March 2013 2:33 PM, PST | HollywoodChicago.com | See recent HollywoodChicago.com news »
Chicago – At the start, I’ll admit to kind of hating Bob Byington’s truly unusual “Somebody Up There Likes Me,” playing this weekend at the Music Box Theatre in Chicago with local actor and “Parks and Recreation” scene-stealer Nick Offerman in attendance. It’s such a mannered, unique piece that it verges on grating. However, it slowly worked on me with its quirky sensibility to the point that some of it worked. The film never quite comes together enough to get over the sense that it’s a comedy made by people who think they’re too cool to laugh but it comes close.
Rating: 3.0/5.0
The abrasive Max (Keith Poulson) works at a steakhouse with Sal (Offerman) and approaches the world with the kind of deep, hipster detachment that would make Wes Anderson call him pretentious. He kind of bobs and weaves through life, barely registering any sort of »
- adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
Review: 'Somebody Up There Likes Me' A Surprisingly Ambitious Deadpan Charmer
8 March 2013 11:49 AM, PST | The Playlist | See recent The Playlist news »
Bob Byington’s "Somebody Up There Likes Me" is about a guy who doesn’t grow up. In fact, he doesn’t even age over the film’s three-decade span of his life. It may have something to do with a mysterious briefcase, the origins of which are only ever suggested by animated cloud interludes and the ethereal implications of the title itself. But that hardly matters, so long as Max (Keith Poulson) keeps bumbling through marriage, money and mortality. Max is, at first, a disgruntled waiter at a generic steakhouse alongside best friend/only friend Sal (Nick Offerman). Over time, each man will have affections for new girl Lyla (Jess Weixler), but the freshly divorced Max gets there first – in fact, he impulsively proposes to the mealy-mouthed breadstick-muncher not long after they meet and she nonchalantly accepts. Writer-director Byington then takes one of several five-year leaps forward into the narrative. »
- William Goss
Somebody Up There Likes Me
7 March 2013 12:59 PM, PST | The Scorecard Review | See recent Scorecard Review news »
Directed by: Bob Byington
Cast: Keith Pulson, Nick Offerman, Jesse Weixler, Kevin Corrigan
Running Time: 1 hr 16 mins
Rating: Nr
Release Date: March 8, 2013 (Chicago)
Plot: The story of a man (Pulson) and his friend (Offerman through their failed relationships.
Who’S It For?: If you like quirky humor but hesitate when said quirk becomes overly cute, this is the perfect refresh for you. Fans of Nick Offerman should give this one a whirl to see what kind of comedic magic he can pull within a feature-length film. If you simply like funny movies in general, keep this one on your radar.
Overall
In a way that feels similar to a first experience with Rushmore or The Royal Tenenbaums, Bob Byington’s hilarious gem Somebody Up There Likes Me offers a new brand of deadpan humor, as told with a unique vision as well. Often playing »
- Nick Allen
Austin at SXSW 2013: Heather Kafka Times Five
25 February 2013 11:30 AM, PST | Slackerwood | See recent Slackerwood news »
Austin-based actress Heather Kafka shows up in features Pit Stop, The Bounceback, Loves Her Gun, When Angels Sing, and short Black Metal which are all screening at SXSW next month. Let's just say that if you see a film with local ties during the festival, there's about a 75% chance that Kafka will be in it. You might have seen her previously in locally made movies like Lovers of Hate, Saturday Morning Massacre, Slacker 2011 (pictured above) ... and she's the woman trying to buy from the Carl's Jr. kiosk in Idiocracy.
Kafka took some time to talk to us (via email) about working in the friendly Austin film community and taking on roles that her grandma shouldn't see.
Slackerwood: You appear in a number of the films showing at SXSW this year. How did you become involved with these film projects?
Heather Kafka: Sometimes I'm lucky. When I came back »
- Elizabeth Stoddard
Watch: “Somebody Up There Likes Me” Trailer
11 February 2013 8:00 AM, PST | TribecaFilm.com | See recent Tribeca Film news »
Coming to VOD nationwide and digital platforms on March 12, Bob Byington's Somebody Up There Likes Me is an offbeat comedy that delighted audiences at the 2012 SXSW. Heralded by The Hollywood Reporter as 'highly original and delightfully unorthodox...like a Todd Solondz film directed by Wes Anderson,' the film features an all-star indie cast led by Nick Offerman and Keith Poulson. The film skips through 35 years in the life of Max Youngman (Poulson), following him through his courtship and marriage to Lyla (Jess Weixler), also the object of affection for his best friend Sal (Offerman). Never seeming to age, Max and the adults characters closest to him stumble in and out of comically misguided relationships and happenstances that are seamlessly woven together by the animated vignettes provided by Bob Sabiston (A Scanner Darkly). Somebody Up There Likes Me is one smart and quirky satire that opens all kinds of »
Somebody Up There Likes Me Trailer Starring Nick Offerman
1 February 2013 11:10 AM, PST | FilmJunk | See recent FilmJunk news »
Just as this year's SXSW Film Festival line-up has been officially unveiled, a new trailer for one of last year's films has arrived online. Somebody Up There Likes Me stars Nick Offerman (Parks & Recreation) as a man who is caught in a love triangle of sorts with his best friend Max (Keith Poulson) and their co-worker Lyla (Jess Weixler). While the movie received decent reviews, it seems that Offerman's presence and deadpan delivery are the main selling point. Writer / director Bob Byington (Harmony and Me) isn't particularly well-known, but the opening quote of the trailer does promise "a Todd Solondz film directed by Wes Anderson." How can you resist? Somebody Up There Likes Me hits theatres on March 8th; watch the trailer after the jump and see what you think.
For More Daily Movie Goodness, Visit Filmjunk.Com! »
- Sean
Watch: Nick Offerman Keeps It Deadpan In Trailer for SXSW Hit 'Somebody Up There Likes Me' (Video)
1 February 2013 4:51 AM, PST | Indiewire | See recent Indiewire news »
Actor Nick Offerman is best known as the mustachioed boss Rick Swanson on "Parks and Recreation," and in the trailer for "Somebody Up There Likes Me" he sticks to the deadpan, situational comedy he does so well. An existential comedy about the small successes and failures that make up our existence, the film also stars Keith Pulson as his best friend and Jess Weixler as the beautiful girl who comes into their lives. Directed by Austin-based filmmaker Bob Byington ("Harmony and Me"), the film was a breakout hit at SXSW last year and is being distributed by Tribeca Films. Read More: 'Toy's House' Lovebirds Megan Mullally and Nick Offerman On Multi-Cam Vs. Single-Cam Sitcoms and How They Met "Somebody" opens theatrically March 8, 2013 and is available nationwide on VOD starting March 12, 2013. Watch the new trailer below: »
- Zoe Beyer
2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009
1-20 of 26 items from 2013 « Prev | Next »
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