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The Strange Case of The Amateurs
by Richard Horgan |
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11/14/2007 at 11:53:23 PM |
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It’s not often that a movie scheduled for theatrical release in the thick of Oscar’s favorite month, December, has been out on DVD for a year and a half beforehand. But that’s the case with the 2005 comedy The Moguls, available on DVD in the UK since July 2006 and opening in limited release here as The Amateurs on December 7th, 2007.
In some ways, it’s a miracle that this Jeff Bridges lark is seeing the light of U.S. theatrical day at all. Credit this unlikely development to the power of The Big Lebowski, the 1998 Coen brothers goof that has grown into a veritable cult film behemoth. For The Amateurs, dubbed by some as The Little Lebowski, is also about a loveable loser (Bridges as Andy Sargentee), his loveable loser pals and their pursuit of a hair-brained scheme, in this case the making of a low-budget porno using townsfolk in front of - and behind - the camera.
The curio factor for this film is high, beginning with the fact that there is a racially tinged subplot involving three African American men, one of whom is played by Isaiah Washington. That’s right, the same Isaiah Washington who would go on to have a celebrated confrontation on the set of Grey’s Anatomy. Here, as Homer, he’s one of three would-be porn film stars who takes none too kindly to being demeaned on set (ahem).
But that’s just the tip of the TV iceberg. There’s Lauren Graham (Gilmore Girls) in a small role as a former Playboy pictured gal now working the baseball diamond five-and-dime kiosk; Ted Danson (Damages) gesticulating wildly as Andy’s closeted homosexual pal Moose; Joe Pantoliano (The Sopranos) as the X-rated production’s nebbish writer-director; Jeanne Tripplehorn (Big Love) as Andy’s ex-wife; Glenne Headley (Monk) as the town’s Miss Lonely-hearts; and Brad Garrett (’Til Death) as Wally. And if that whole small screen schmorgasbord isn’t weird enough for you, there’s Patrick Fugit of Almost Famous fame as Andy’s right-hand man.
Even though there are many earlier reviews to choose from, the movie’s official U.S. website has only a ‘Coming Soon’ teaser at press time in its reviews section, hedging its bets for a better critical reception stateside (the film has been modified somewhat since then as well). The Guardian found The Moguls to be “a lame comedy that raises only a few facetious groans,” while the BBC suggested that “the great Jeff Bridges has rarely been worse.”
But this is the kind of film that hinges entirely on expectations. Should viewers in Los Angeles and Dallas beginning December 7th, and in Minneapolis and Seattle starting December 14th, be looking for late season Oscar worthy fare, they’re going to be in for some serious disappointment. But if they’re in the mood for “a little Lebowski,” this could be just the break from Christmas shopping that they’re looking for.
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