FOLK HERO & FUNNY GUY
Jeff Grace’s FOLK HERO & FUNNY GUY is a buddy road comedy that forces both halves of the duo to reexamine their life choices and see exactly where they are heading. Lifelong friends Paul (Alex Karpovsky) and Jason (Wyatt Russell) are both artists – Jason is doing well as a successful folk singer, while Paul is still struggling to pay his dues as a stand-up comedian. Paul’s long-term relationship has recently fallen apart and his comedy seems a bit stale, Jason sets up a tour to allow the two of them to travel the country, experience life on the road, perform and perhaps allow Paul to find his voice again.
Along the way, they meet Bryn (Meredith Hagnar), a young folk singer at the start of her career. There is instant chemistry within the group, and Jason invites Bryn to come along on tour and open for them. The interactions with Bryn showcase one of the main problems within the guys’ relationship that has gone unmentioned for years. Paul is more cautious and reserved in taking action, be it with a girl, professionally, artistically, whatever. Jason, with his charm and confidence, never really has to work too hard at anything. So as they both seem to have an interest in Bryn, we get to see these personalities surface and come into play in their interactions with her and with one another, bringing to light a lot of unspoken issues that have been growing for years.
The dynamic between the characters is interesting because Jason and Paul are at two completely different points in their trajectory to stardom. Jason is well-established. He has a record label, has done multiple tours, has connections and friends within the music industry and is doing quite well. He has the luxury of being able to focus on his life solely through the creative eye and thus, floats through everything. Paul, on the other hand, hasn’t sky rocketed like his friend. He is still eking out performances at open mic nights, constantly on the prowl for new material, is always referencing his notes on stage and lacks the confidence and comfort that come from being a little further along and successful. He recently quit his job in advertising to try to focus on his comedy full time, but it hasn’t really had the outcome that he had hoped. At this point in the story, he is questioning every move that brought him to this place. Though lifelong friends, they are unable to see the world through the same perspective because their experiences have been so different. Their dreams of artistic stardom haven’t exactly unfolded the way that they planned, and this has caused conflict, both between them and internally.
As smooth as Jason’s life seems to be, it is not without its own troubles. He has begun pining for a woman (Melanie Lynskey) with whom he has previously had a series of one night stands whenever he happened to pass through town on a tour. Now, he feels their connection may go beyond the physical and she might actually be the girl of his dreams. He cooks up a plan to meet up with her to make this a reality, but it’s not as easy as he had hoped it would be. Lynskey is incredible. She is only onscreen for a single scene, but in that time, she breaks Jason open and reveals to us exactly how his life has progressed and who he is under all the swagger and the good natured advice.
The film has a great cast, some revealing and hilarious moments (David Cross manages to steal the movie with about a minute of screen time), but it struggles to come together as a cohesive story. Pacing issues and a handful of mismanaged scenes add a few bumps to the proceedings and ultimately deflate the experience a bit, but there’s a lot to like here - particularly in the performances from Russell and Karpovsky. They sell not only the relationship between the characters, but the issues and the self-doubts that go unacknowledged within it. FOLK HERO & FUNNY GUY struggles with a few problems that keep it from greatness, but is still an entertaining look at friendship and success.
KEDI
KEDI is perhaps one of the happiest, most feel good movies you are likely to see. The film is a documentary showcasing the many cats who live on and roam the streets of Istanbul, and have come to be as much a part of the city and culture as the architecture, history, shops and people who live there.
Directed by Ceyda Torun, the film follows several of Istanbul’s prominent feline residents in their daily routines, showing us their stops, their favorite haunts, people they have ingratiated themselves to, and the amazing sense of character they bring to their neighborhoods. These cats have no permanent home. No owners to speak of, yet they are well cared for and looked out for by the human population of the city. Torun interviews some of the many residents and business owners who interact with some of these cats on a daily basis and we get to learn how exactly the cats came into their lives, about their personalities, preferences, and what they have added to the city. The place they have carved out for themselves in the hearts and lives of the people they find themselves surrounded by.
Cats have roamed the streets of Istanbul for hundreds of years, and are a part of the city. They all have their preferred spots for food, entertainment, companionship and the like, and the human population has learned to live around them. They are a part of the culture, and as Torun demonstrates with her many subjects, a welcome one at that. We hear from multiple people about how specific cats have simply wandered into their shops and restaurants have become an important part of their lives. The cats are free to come and go as they please, adopting their own families and individuals and routines.
The people featured in this film explain how their relationship with the street cats is a bit of a symbiosis. Often, the animals have come into their lives in a difficult moment and have remained constant and welcome companions ever since. The people maintain a sense of gratitude for that, and care for the cats in return. These cats have been adopted into families and businesses in a completely unofficial capacity, yet continue to live according to their own terms.
The film is a very light, entertaining and heart touching documentary. As animal lovers will attest, being in a cat’s presence is immensely calming, and lifts your mood almost immediately. The same is true with following along and observing their daily adventures. This film is an instant de-stressor, and tons of fun to watch.
