Hey folks, Harry here with something of interest. Tonight here in Austin I'm hosting a screening of MADE... so far I've seen two reviews, this one and another that ran on the site ages ago... Both loved the film. This one says it is funnier than SWINGERS... Now I know what that makes you instantly want to say... (BULLSHIT) but listen up for a sec. Artisan is so confident in MADE that 2 and a half months out from their debut date... They are screening this film at college campuses all over the country. Showing it to Critics.... Why? Because they need and want to get the word out... before all the summer hype machines kick into gear.... They want people to know about MADE. People asked me why I was excited about screening this film for an audience early... it's because this is the exact sort of film sites like AICN should go that extra mile for. A film that doesn't have the covers of every entertainment mag in the store.... The one that has to work hard to get any ink at all amongst the $70 million and $140 million Studio Flicks with $30 million dollar ad campaigns. And all they want is for people to see the film and say what they saw.... Nanook... well here's what Nanook saw....

Hey Harry, long time reader, first time reviewer. You can call me Nanook of the North.

I went to the Embarcadero Center in San Francisco tonight to see an advanced screening of Made, the new Jon Favreau-Vince Vaughn film. All I can say is, funnier than Swingers. I know it's sacreligious, but I think it's the truth.

The story revolved around Bobby, played by Favreau, who is an amateur boxer. He promised everyone around him that if he didn't have a winning record after 11 fights, he would quit and take a job with the Mob boss who is sponsoring him. Great choice, huh? Anyway, since childhood, Bobby has been taking responsibility for Ricky, played by Vince Vaughn (in one of the funniest, most obnoxious performances that I have ever seen). Ricky is basically a complete fuckup. Bobby has to vouch for Ricky, to keep him on the payroll of the mob. Believe me when I say that Ricky is the dumbest human being alive.

I don't want to give too much in the way of spoilers, but there is a great cameo by Dustin Diamond (if you don't know who he is, then too bad for you). It is one of the funniest moments of cinema that I have ever seen. Favreau is on target to be a great independent director. His writing, as in Swingers, is flawless, and the whole film is shot handheld, which gives it a great look. Favreau was there afterwards for a question and answer session, and he was brutally honest about some of the bad films he has been in (ahem, REPLACEMENTS! cough) and had some great insight about independent filmmaking today. The film is great, and after you see Made, sneak into Planet of the Apes. Made deserves the money.

Nanook of the North OUT!