Freaky Deaky (2012)

Set in 1974, a pair of '60s radicals rely on their bomb-making skills on their way to becoming capitalists.

Director:

Charles Matthau

Writers:

Elmore Leonard (novel), Charles Matthau (adaptation)

Stars:

Billy Burke, Christian Slater, Crispin Glover

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Billy Burke	...	Chris Mankowski
Christian Slater	...	Skip Gibbs
Crispin Glover	...	Woody Ricks
Michael Jai White	...	Donnell Lewis
Roger Bart	...	Jerry Baker
Breanne Racano Ferrara	...	Robin Abbott (as Breanne Racano)
Sabina Gadecki	...	Greta Wyatt
Andy Dick	...	Mark Ricks
Gloria Hendry	...	Sgt. Maureen Downey
Page Kennedy	...	Booker
Leonard Robinson	...	Juicy Mouth
Bill Duke	...	Wendell Robinson
Carol Herman	...	Cosmetics Lady
Mark Saul	...	Kenny
Charles Matthau	...	Groovy Director

Storyline

He used to be on the bomb squad, but it's not until he transfers out that Chris Mankowski really begins juggling with dynamite. Rape and revenge are just the tip of the iceberg in a twisty tale that brings Detroit denizens to life - and occasional death - in all their seedy glory, circa 1974.

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Plot Keywords:

car bomb | cleavage | scantily clad female | mini dress | upskirt | 

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Taglines:

Crime is such a trippy thing.

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language, some sexual content and drug use

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 April 2012 (USA)

Also Known As:

Interesy i ekscesy

Filming Locations:

Detroit, Michigan, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$6,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

The Matthau Company, Final Cut Productions (II)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Did You Know?

Trivia

Director Charles Mathau's father Walter Mathau's films are seen advertised outside cinemas several times during the film, including the 1974 The Front Page and The Taking of Pelham 123.

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Goofs

In the parking garage with Juicy and his gang, Mankowski pulls out his six shot revolver and shoots shoots a total of eight times before finally emptying the shells to reload.

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Soundtracks

Funky Dollar Bill
Written by George Clinton, Raymond David, Eddie Hazel
Performed by Funkadelic

User Reviews

Amateurish and spot off on almost everything

I wanted to like this film. I love Elmore Leonard novels, and loved Get Shorty, 52 Pickup, Get Straight and Jackie Brown (Rum Punch). In the hands of a master like Tarantino, Elmore Leonard's complex and fast-paced plots, with numerous characters throwing witty street banter around, really shine.

Unfortunately, Charles Mattheau isn't up to the task, and characters are miscast, pacing is awful, even the score is wrong in so many places. This film often comes off as a bad TV tongue-in-cheek crime show, complete with dramatic musical flourishes when the camera zooms in on the sexy legs of actresses Sabina Gadeki and Breanne Racano. (Their legs and other beautiful body parts are the best things about these mediocre actresses, in my opinion). The explosion scenes are evidence of a severe shortage in the sfx budget as well as the actor budget.

Even the usually outstanding Crispin Glover as the spacey drunken rich guy Woody Ricks is tepid, either overacting scenes or underacting them. Everything seems out of sync in this film.

Perhaps I'm holding it up to too high of a standard with the aforementioned Leonard film adaptations. But it is what it is...and cool 70's sets and apparel (the novel was set in the 60s), witty Leonard dialog and clever plot apparently weren't enough for director Mattheau to pull this off. I have to believe Elmore Leonard is supremely disappointed in this effort, since as I recall he labeled this his favorite novel. One can only hope that someday a director like Tarantino remakes this film the right way, and captures the crazy 60's vibe from the novel.