The Independent (2000)

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.

Director:

Stephen Kessler

Writers:

Mike Wilkins, Stephen Kessler

Stars:

Jerry Stiller, Janeane Garofalo, Max Perlich

2 wins.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jerry Stiller	...	Morty Fineman
Janeane Garofalo	...	Paloma Fineman
Max Perlich	...	Ivan
Ted Demme	...	Self
Roger Corman	...	Self
Ron Howard	...	Self
Karen Black	...	Self
Peter Bogdanovich	...	Self
Fred Williamson	...	Self
Nick Cassavetes	...	Self
Paul Logan	...	Son
Stacy Fuson	...	Daughter
Herb Marcus	...	Old Man / Mr. Witz
Julie Strain	...	Ms. Kevorkian
Stephen Kessler	...	Steve

Storyline

Documentary look at Morty Fineman, a prolific maker of schlock independent films, who's down on his luck. Actors, directors, and writers, including Ron Howard and Karen Black, comment on his work, we see clips from some of his 427 titles, and we watch Morty try to get financing for a film about a serial killer. He hires his daughter, Paloma, as his business manager. His A.D., the long-suffering Ivan, stays by his side. Morty owes the bank $10 million from his one blockbuster failure. Can he find the financing, or is it time for Morty to retire. Meanwhile, Ivan hooks Morty up with a new film festival, in Chaparral, Nevada. Is this the ticket to renewal?

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Plot Keywords:

film director | fictional film festival | serial murder | independent filmmaking | musical filmmaking | 

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Taglines:

Morty Fineman. Artist. Visionary. Madman.

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Genres:

Comedy

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language, some violence and sexuality

Did You Know?

Trivia

Richard Paul's last film.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Ted Demme: I think Morty is a visionary.
Roger Corman: I think Morty was and is an artist.
Ron Howard: He's an innovator.
Karen Black: Very persistent. And you have to love him for that.
Peter Bogdanovich: Morty would try things, and then 2 years later someone would copy it and win an Oscar for it.
Fred Williamson: This is the only man that I've ever worked with that I feel I can't take.

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Crazy Credits

The titles of all 427 of Morty Fineman's films are shown along with the end credits.

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Connections

References Malcolm X (1992)

User Reviews

Incredibly Sublime and Hilarious

This film is hilarious, sublime and simply outstanding - a great example of how a very funny film can be made on a low budget. The adventures of Jerry Stiller's character, Morty, are recorded in this "Mocumentary" with nothing but the absolute best of results. Jerry is in almost every frame and he carries the film in a Herculean effort. Getting less respect than Rodney Dangerfield could have ever described, Morty carries on in his own deluded yet unwavering way. Just watching Morty's morning routine was worth the price of the ticket alone. The previous reviewer compared this to a lame SNL sketch - my advice is to watch it again-sober-and watch for the nuances of Stiller's performance (including the unbelievable deadpan reaction he gives to hearing a brutal criticism of his work) instead of the in-your-face gross-out "humor" that passes for amusement in the mainstream farce released by Hollywood over the past 20 years. Super cameos by a wealth of indie and some not-so-indie directors are fabulous. Great stuff.

Details

Official Sites:

"Fineman Films"

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 March 2000 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Independent

Box Office

Gross USA:

$238,431

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$238,431

Company Credits

Production Co:

United Lotus Group

Technical Specs

Runtime:

81 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (Technicolor)