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GOAT ON FIRE AND SMILING FISH review
Friends, Gentlemen... we have scored.
Ya know, I kinda find it a bit funny to finally see this film during SHOWEST... in LAS VEGAS. It's just odd to see such a dynamic tonal shift from the bright neons and plastic women.... tit bars and roulette wheels... and GOAT ON FIRE AND SMILING FISH.
This isn't the greatest film in the world, but I'll be damned if it isn't real damn good. The film stars a group of actors that you have probably never seen. It's a movie created on a shoestring by two brothers and a best buddy from way back when, up in New York.
In a fun way it reminds of GOOD WILL HUNTING, but without the 'oh too perfect' monologues that we would all like to think we could say, but... oh no. That never happens.
If I had to use one word to describe the film, I'd have to use 'sincere'. This movie has an honest feeling of a turning point in young twentysomething lives... not just of this generation or the last generation... This is the film that Freddie Prinze Jr likes to think he's as good as. This film is the real McCoy. No heavy duty latest hits peppered throughout the soundtrack... Forget that. This film features Bill Henderson (jazz great and a helluva Buckeroo) as not only a major wonderful character, but on the soundtrack singing "Cordouroy Penis" which.... by the way is the name for a penis sheathed in a ribbed condom.
It's easy for jaded types to dismiss this film as being some sort of formulaic romantic comedy... but they really do have their heads firmly lodged in high fiber packed colons. This is the sort of film that just feels effortless in the way it flows and entertains.
The name? What does it mean? Well, I'll tell ya what, I agree... that title smells like a turd if you haven't seen the movie. But approximately 4 minutes in you completely understand the title... and it's a smile that should not be spoiled by anyone.
There's a reason that the film has a champion in Roger Ebert... it's good. It's the fresh wind that I'll get a whiff of on this Vegas Trip. The moment of clarity. Oh... and ya just have to check out the Mail Woman and the Italian Animal Wrangler chick! Oh.. and all the Paul Robeson stuff. Oh... and the nifty Rugby scenes... and the completely natural charm and interaction between Derek Martini and Steven Martini. Their brotherhood and naturally formed chemistry is such a wonderful delight in this movie.
They, along with director Kevin Jordan, wrote a wonderful script that is just sweet, romantic, tragic and beautiful. Jeff Dowd... the dude... has pointed me at two films thus far.... TWO FAMILY HOUSE, which won the audience award at SUNDANCE... and this film which won the 'Discovery Award' in TORONTO. Kevin Jordan is an apprentice of Martin Scorsese and had time at the master's hand while filming KUNDUN. That, and some friendly advice from Scorsese after the first print assembly has certainly made for a very interesting filmmaker.
Now... with just 4 and a half hours to rest before heading to the NEW LINE FUNCTION to catch the first footage from LORD OF THE RINGS.... and listening to the snoring of the 47 year old man... Moriarty. God help me survive the next 3 days. This town is an EVIlllll place! But boy it's fun.
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Just a thought, as the title seems one that would send any distributor into spasmic fits of gut-laughing as he reached for his "trapdoor" button. Still, I am intrigued...
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Mar 07, 2000 7:51:20 AM CST
"Why shouldn't I join the NSA? That's a tough one ..... but I'll
by darth bond
Harry, I'm not sure I still understand what this movie is about, or even what genre it is. And I'll like to defend Will Hunting; The dialogues (mostly the monologues) seemed too perfect, yes (no argument there), but if you think about it, Will IS supposed to be a genius, so of course he talks clearly and perfectly, although Affleck's "no offence but if you're still here when you're forty I'll beat the shit outta you" speech IS too perfect, too 'reel'. The truth though, is that we DO like (and love) those unreal dialogues (i.e: Chasing Amy's "I love you" speech, Clerck's Death Star Theory, A few good men's "you can't handle the truth" statement, etc). CYL
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Hit by mistake there...What I was saying was that you have a point Darth Bond that part of what is fun about movies sometimes is that the people say (and do) things that we never could. But this does sound like an interesting film Harry and I look forward to seeing it.
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I saw Goat on Fire at The Toronto Festival, and it was by far, my favorite movie there. It was beautifully done, and wonderful to watch - very involving.
I was fortunate enough to meet Bill Henderson after - He was *amazing* in the movie.
I gave him a hug. He's a sweet man:)
Go see it if you can! If it gets released, I so will go again. -
Harry mentioned Good Will Hunting in his review, so I'm sure many of you will start dissing that beautiful film like you always do, well, screw you, that film is awesome and, no doubt, the movie that should have won the Oscar against Titanic. Yes, Good Will Hunting is awesome.
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I like the relationships. I mean, each character has his own story. The puppy is a bit too much, but you have to over look things like that in these kinds of films. The way he's *holding* her... it's almost... filthy. I mean, he's about to kiss her and she's pulling away. The way the leg's sort of smashed up against her... Phew... Look how he's filmed the blouse sort of translucent. You can just make out her breasts underneath and it's sort of touching him about here. It's really ... pretty torrid, don't you think? Then of course you have the onlookers peeking at them from behind the doorway like they're all shocked. They wish. Yeah, I must admit, when I see a film like this, I get emotionally... erect.
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After reading this review, I still know next to nothing about the film.
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What the hell is this movie about? I think Harry overdosed on the ether or Moriarty experimented with his brain at the labs while he slept there. And on the subject of the "Good Will Hunting" dialogue...when a person gets emotional enough, it's amazing what comes out of their mouths sometimes. Not always "perfect" but damn near close.
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THIS I couldn't believe. Forbes magazine just put out their annual list of the 100 most powerful and highest-paid entertainers and our own Harry Knowles is #97! Can you believe it?! Congratulations, Harry. You've become the Rocky Balboa of the internet!
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I do not want this talkback to turn into a forum debating the merits of Good Will Hunting, but I do feel it is a film that is unjustly blasted by some just because it became popular. The monologues are indeed too perfect, and a hell of a lot of fun to listen to or say as well. Plus, it was their first script for crying out loud! How many of us could do as good on our first try? If you could do better, by all means submit your work! The studios need ideas BAD! I agree with the above poster who said Good Will Hunting was better than Titanic (I thought a lot of movies were better than Titanic that year, personally), but it did not deserve the Oscar. That award should have gone to L.A. Confidential, hands down. Both good films, though.
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All together now: "Who's a bloated sellout?" See you in Hell.
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That does it, I think I'm going down to Texas to hide in your house and give you the Single White Female treatment. I can easily pass for you, all I need to do is lose 30 pounds and grow a huge red Afro. "Hello, my name is Harry Knowles..." You unbelievably lucky bastard.
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If you actually read what Harry wrote, I don't think he was slamming Good Will Hunting. I think he was just poking fun at the "hyperreal" dialogue which typified the post-Tarantino 90's. It's enjoyable, but you can't call it Cassavettes. And speaking of Cassavettes, if you want realism go watch one of his films. They are interesting to watch, but pretty hard to sit through, and if all movies were like that no one would bother going to the theatre. There are ways to comment and illustrate things about our world, people, and society without having to reproduce the "natural" appearance of anything. The favorite movie moments of people are rarely the ones they've encountered in everyday life. Unless you've happened to let your lover get on board a plane with her Resistance Hero husband in order to help a cause greater than your personal problems. ** As for Harry being #97 on the Entertainment Power list, isn't it a good thing that the little people (contradiction?) are getting a little say around Hollywood? If only the list were ranked according to the result of a pie-eating contest, Harry would be looking down the ladder instead of up.
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There are also such things, folks, as eloquent people. Perhaps in GWH, Affleck's big speech was a tad incongruous in that he wasn't the brightest guy in the world, but in Chasing Amy? I see nothing unreal about that. I talk like that. I know (a few) other people who are able to form thoughts smoothly and add power to their words. Also, given the fact that Will is a *genius*...I see no real cause for surprise at his ability to demonstrate a bit of that intellect. Just 'cause you white men can't jump, don't assume everyone can't.
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Forbes rated the people as "powerful" by how much pull they have in Hollywood, how much publicity they get and some other qualities. Money was in there, but not the the most important criterea. I believe Julia Roberts is No. 1 while George Lucas is below her at No. 4. (Though he may be in the top 3.)
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D.Vegas,
In response to your question, "did Scorsese hep produce?".....No. Although having master Yoda share some of the producing load would have been quite an honor, he did not.
Steven and I used a lot of our own cash and credit cards. And we also got some key favors from film labs after Bill "lobstertrician" Jordan(Kevin's dad)graciously sent variousl lab owners lobster from his lobster dock in Bklyn, NY.
Derick Martini
Actor, writer, producer of
"Goat On Fire....."
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Had the pleasure to hang with these guys in Toronto. Not only did they make a great film, they are some of the coolest guys I've ever met in the biz! I wish them the best of luck!
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About 6 months ago there was an article on this film in the L.A. Times...And boy did it sing its praises almost to the point where I began to question objectivity. However there is one thing that gave me pause. EVERY major studio (Yes kids that includes those idots over a Crapa..ooopps I mean Mirimax
all passed. WHY? Note in both the L.A. times and ACIN are raving but are giving very little on the plot. I'm not saying the flim is bad but I have to question when only a struggling distributor like Strophere took the film. See the dirty little secret is most indie flims that are made REALLY SUCK DONKEY!!!! So when one comes out that has even remote choerence alas praise comes down. I'm not saying that this film is bad, however the amount of indie drek that hits festivals and studios every year a avarge flim can stand head and sholders above the rest. And lets not forget crtics are enmored with the new kid on the block sindrome. They get more intrested about the flimmakers and thier life story than the flim its self. Ill admit i have not nseen this movie and it could be really good but having watched studios like Crapa...ooops I mean Mirimax make up stories and lie about budgets one becomes a bit jaded....If your Mirimax programmed values have been completly offended please send all hate mail to: bankofkev@hotmail.com
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I saw this movie this weekend at the Santa Barbara Film Festival, and I really liked it as well. I met the brothers and the director who made it afterwards and they were very cool and funny. The smiling fish brother sings a song at the end credits called Corduroy Penis, and it really fits the feel of the movie. I asked him to send it to me a CD of it and he called me to make sure my address was right. You don't see movies like this too much. It has a nice feel to it, now that we're out of the brooding angst that so many films and actors fell into in the nineties, it was refreshing to see an independent a true independent with out stars or much money have such heart. The acting as very organic and nothing in the movie is forced at all. There was a short film that showed before it in Santa Barbara, the opening shot of which seemed to cost more than the entire Goat movie. Yeah as Harry said, it's not a masterpiece by any means, but it's a breath of fresh air, and I'm happy to see that the movie is going to be in theatres late summer or fall. Good for them who made it and us who get to see it.
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I saw this film at Ireland's Galway Film fest. For the past three years I've voluntered at the Film Fleadh and I've seen many American films just before there release, this was the first "American Independent" (Bullshit term) but it was the first independent that really struck a chord with everyone at the festival. It simply speaks from the heart and although it doesn't look like it has a huge budget you really don't give shit cause you like the people in the film.
They're just going through their shit and making you laugh.
And the old Clive character is fucking awesome.
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