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The Independent (2000)
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Overview
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Plot:
A notorious B-movie director tries for a comeback by seeking out the film rights to the life story of a serial killer who wants his biography film to be a musical. full summary | add synopsis
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Awards:
2 wins
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(7 articles)
2009 Gotham Awards Announce Career Tributes
(From MovieWeb. 23 September 2009, 11:40 AM, PDT)
Twilight Saga Daily Dosage - 08/31/09
(From ScreenStar. 31 August 2009, 10:54 PM, PDT)
(From MovieWeb. 23 September 2009, 11:40 AM, PDT)
Twilight Saga Daily Dosage - 08/31/09
(From ScreenStar. 31 August 2009, 10:54 PM, PDT)
User Comments:
Funny, but room for improvement.
more (25 total)
Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only) | Jerry Stiller | ... | Morty Fineman |
 | Janeane Garofalo | ... | Paloma Fineman |
 | Max Perlich | ... | Ivan |
 | Ted Demme | ... | Himself |
 | Roger Corman | ... | Himself |
 | Ron Howard | ... | Himself |
| Karen Black | ... | Herself |
 | Peter Bogdanovich | ... | Himself |
| Fred Williamson | ... | Himself |
 | Nick Cassavetes | ... | Himself |
 | Paul Logan | ... | Son |
| Stacy Fuson | ... | Daughter |
| Herb Marcus | ... | Old Man / Mr. Witz |
| Julie Strain | ... | Ms. Kevorkian |
| Stephen Kessler | ... | Steve |
Additional Details
MPAA:
Rated R for language, some violence and sexuality.
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Runtime:
95 min
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Color (Technicolor)
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Chapter Headings, an unofficial version:more
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The only criticism I'd make about this film is that the documentary angle wasn't played up to its entirety. There're shots in the film that just don't gybe with documentary film making. An example are some of the lockdown shots, where edited footage of two people having a conversation (a conversation that is supposed captured by a single camera) is shown. It just doesn't wash. And the film suffers because of it. Documentary crews either setup interviews or follow their subjects around. The intercut sequences harken too much to traditional film making. Documentaries have long takes of jittery or mildly shaken hand held shots. Documentaries do not contain lockdown car shots, dolly shots, or other complicated camera moves. It just doesn't happen: It's not what documentary film making is all about. And yet "The Independent" has all of these things.
If the actors had just been allowed to act in front of the camera, possibly ad lib in a long master, then this film would've been much more than what it ultimately became, and would've achieved its goal with sterling aplomb. As it is now it's an attempt at making a mocumentary. Fairly succesful, good, funny, but ultimately a few points shy of a comic masterpiece.
Otherwise it's actually a funny film. Anybody who's worked on any kind of independent production will tell you that this film hits pretty close to home. Artistic license is taken with over the top situations and performances, but the film manages to capture the general feel of how the indy-film maker works, and does so in a comic vein. Stiller plays the exploitation film maker who denies his more base nature, stating that he's an artiste commenting on society, and not a director of hack T&A/slasher/blacksploitation/biker or whatever exploitation genre that he's actually known for.
If you enjoyed "This is Spinal Tap," "Jackie Brown," or "Drop Dead Gorgeous," then you'll warm to this film. Take note of the rating; it's not a comedy for kids.