Father Geek here with our man Capone's look at a wonderful little flick I was treated to over a month ago, also with the stars in attendance. That night in Austin, Texas was pure bliss and it would have been even without Vince and John... and Ralphie! Like the new Kevin Smith flick the humor may not be everyone's cup of tea, but for those that have that type taste... its going to kick their asses... hard...

Now here's Capone direct from his steel shuttered Southside stronghold...

Hey, Capone in Chicago here, fresh from a very special treat last night. Not only did I get to screen the truly wonderful film MADE tonight, but stars Vince Vaughn and John Favreau (who also wrote and directed) were on hand to introduce the movie and talk briefly about coming home to the Chicago area, where both hail from.

I'm not sure what I thought MADE would be like, perhaps an updating of my own rise to power. I knew better than to think it would be a SWINGERS sequel, but I certainly didn't expect something this rich and layered. What I was most bowled over by was Vaughn's performance as Ricky, a character so perfectly flawed that it defies description. He is a professional shit-stirrer, who always manages to screw up every encounter that can't afford to go wrong. He's a bit like DeNiro's Johnny Boy in MEAN STREETS and Pesci's Tommy in GOODFELLAS but without the violent tendencies. In Steinbeck terms, he is Lennie to Favreau's George. And like those two characters , you know that when Ricky enters the room, a situation will take a turn for the worse.

Favreau is Bobby, a guy trying to get a boxing career of the ground (unsuccessfully). Vaughn is his best friend. There's a history (possibly dating back to childhood) between these two that keeps them together, Bobby looking out for Ricky, but we never quite learn what happened in their past. That's one of the many beautiful qualities of Favreau simple yet though-provoking script. He doesn't give you all the information about these two, but the clues are there and I guarantee everyone who sees this film will interpret them differently. Ricky clearly saved Bobby's butt at some point in time before we got involved but the details are never revealed. Nor do they really matter.

In addition to the boxing, Bobby acts as a bodyguard for his stripper girlfriend (Favreau's co-star from the recent LOVE & SEX, Famke Janssen) when she works bachelor parties. After getting a little to protective with one bachelor, Bobby is given a chance to make good with a local mob figure (Peter Falk) who runs the stripping operation. For whatever reason, Bobby feels compelled to drag Ricky into the mob action with him. As if on cue, Ricky immediately launches into broken mob speak to impress Falk; Falk is not impressed. There is a sequence right after this with Ricky and Bobby in the first-class cabin of a TWA flight, where Ricky in ruthlessly annoying to a flight attendant. I will never forget this scene as long as I live, and I now have a newfound respect for the patience of flight attendants.

The story follows the two L.A.-based newly made men to New York, where they are given instructions on where to go and who to meet through a bizarre series of pager messages and phone calls. Eventually they end up in the dangerous hands of Ruiz, played by Sean "Puff Daddy" "Puffy" "P Diddy" Combs, who is actually very convincing as a money launderer who, probably more so than any other character in the film, takes the wind out of Ricky's posing sails. Vincent (Big Pussy) Pastore is also on hand playing against type as a largely silent limo driver who shuttles the two misfits across NYC, casting a judging and watchful eye.

Favreau's direction is kept sweet and simple, to the point where the film almost feels like an amateur production. But that doesn't matter; the actors are so passionate about the material that they could have sold this things as a stage play. The end result is a spectacular work that made me care so much about what happens to these guys. You never quite know what's around the corner for these two, but it's usually a safe bet that Ricky will be there to mess things up. And as I watch the way Bobby sits there watching and listening to Ricky torpedo every opportunity that comes their way, I wonder to myself how long I would have gone before abandoning someone like Ricky. But that kind of thinking is what makes their relationship so critical. There is a glue there that is unknown but still powerful. In it's own small way, MADE is one of the better pieces of filmmaking I've seen this year.

Capone (capone@aintitcoolmail.com)

See my collected reviews at www.buffalospeedway.net, just click on Steve@theMovies