I Like Killing Flies (2004)

This bitingly funny comedy follows a prickly, profanity-prone man seeking to preserve his dream; it dishes up bites of wisdom along the way, ultimately serving both a hilarious trip and a charming slice of New York history.

Director:

Matt Mahurin

Stars:

Michael Fishman, John A. Papa, Eve Shopsin

1 nomination.

Cast

Credited cast:
Michael Fishman	...	Self
John A. Papa	...	Self
Eve Shopsin	...	Self
Kenny Shopsin	...	Self
Calvin Trillin	...	Self

Storyline

A flavorful snack of a documentary (Entertainment Weekly), I LIKE KILLING FLIES is a hearty tribute to the quick-witted, cantankerous chef whose Greenwich Village restaurant, Shopsin s, has become a New York legend. With more than 900 items on its menu, all made from scratch in a tiny kitchen humming with improvised Rube Goldberg-like contraptions, Shopsin s has long been a quirky gem of New York food culture. But the fame belongs to the chef of Kenny Shopsin himself--a raffish cook enforcing his own rules, presiding over patrons, and famously claiming that customers have to first prove that they re OK to feed. Now, after occupying the same city corner for over three decades, the eatery loses its lease--and Kenny, his wife, and their children must find a new place to set up shop. Directed by Matt Mahurin, this bitingly funny comedy follows a prickly, profanity-prone man seeking to preserve his dream; it dishes up bites of wisdom along the way, ultimately serving both a hilarious trip ...

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Plot Keywords:

eatery | claim in title | manhattan new york city | greenwich village manhattan new york city | restaurant | 

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Genres:

Documentary

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for pervasive language

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

January 2004 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Greenwich Village, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$5,487, 30 July 2006

Gross USA:

$16,214

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$16,214

Company Credits

Production Co:

Mortal Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

80 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Quotes

Kenny Shopsin: The first duty of everybody in life is to realize that they're a piece of shit. Selfish and self-centered and not very good. You're willing to sacrifice 20 thousand people in another country just so you can go to a Wings concert. You sacrifice the lives of a hundred thousand Chinese female babies just so you can rent this f'ing camera and do your stupid art project. No problem! You're a piece of shit. Once you realize you're a piece of shit it's not so hard to take. Because then you don't have ...

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Connections

References Woman in the Dunes (1964)

User Reviews

Reality is better than fiction

I saw this movie the other night and was completely delighted by it. What passes for funny in most movies these days is usually recycled drivel that is apparent way before the punchline comes. Kenny Shopsin made me laugh at things I couldn't have imagined might come out of a human being's mouth-- and the best part is that a beat or two after you stop laughing, you realize how oddly thoughtful, intelligent and even tragic he is.

For what it's worth, the night I went, the director was there to talk about the movies afterwords and he came across as a very good guy who deserves to have people see his movie so he can go on making more like it. Also, if you take the advice of one of the other reviewers and visit Shopsin's while you're in Manhattan, don't tell him you're there because of the movie-- he'll throw you out.