JohnDoe
Bryn
BrentonFor Your Consideration (2006) - Trailer Included
July 4th 2007 00:00
Oscars Bitch.
For Your Consideration Poster
Starring:Catherine O’Hara, Eugene Levy, Harry Shearer, Christopher Guest, Stephen Rannazzisi, Parker Posey, Paul Dooley, Jennifer Coolidge, Ricky Gervais, Fred Willard, Sandra Oh
“In every actor there lives a tiger, a pig, an ass, and a nightingale. You never know which ones gunna show up” – Corey Taft
Christopher Guest is an extraordinary talent as a writer (Spinal Tap, The Big Picture), Director (Best In Show, The Mighty Wind, Waiting for Guffman) and Actor (The Princess Bride, Spinal Tap) he has had a career full of enviable qualities.
“Hooray for Hollywood”, his latest comedy satire For Your Consideration observes the insanity that ensues when actors in a small Indie production start getting Oscar buzz.
“You can't throw the baby out with the bathwater because then all you have is a wet, critically injured baby.” – Lane Iverson
Typical Academy fodder, the mock movie “Home for Purim” is about repressed sexuality, set around a holiday family gathering with a dying, domineering matriarch centre stage.
Let’s meet the players. Starring as the mother is the aged former name, Marilyn Hack. (Catherine O’Hara) Remembered for her past role as a blind prostitute she is consumed almost the instant internet awards gossip hits her ears.
“Stop me. How does the film look?. Stop me again, how do I look?” –Marilyn Hack
Ex Weiner ad man Victor Allen Miller (Harry Shearer) plays the father. Believing he has been overlooked for the duration of his lengthy bit part career, a nomination alone would serve as validation.
“I don’t own a television” – Victor Allen Miller
Struggling stand up comic and obvious Sarah Silverman clone Callie Webb (Parker Posey) is trying to break into dramatic acting and the part of the lesbian daughter takes an emotional toll on her nerves.
“Dying is easy. Playing a lesbian is hard.” – Mary Pat Hooligan
From the obtuse director (Christopher Guest), to the ignorant Agents (Eugene Levy) and mistreated writers the fame game pollutes all that answer its call. The news has mindless producers seeing a wider market potential and wanting to change the title of the film. The poster art selection is a case of worst one first.
“What if we do a different holiday around the table, Easter, and just focus on the rabbit?” – Whitney Taylor Brown
As the announcement date looms the cast all go through their own lunacy, trying to accept the possibility of a chance at maybe, perhaps receiving an opportunity to be one of five contenders in the running for a moment in the spotlight.
There are no small films only small press agents
John Doe Says:
Keeping its claws hidden for the most part, this film is not your typical scathing expose tackling or ridiculing the vile underbelly of the dream factory. Instead For Your Consideration has fun with it's folly. It becomes an incisive human comedy about the potential effect abnormal media attention and industry recognition can have on the attention seeking thespian psyche and all the peripherals looking to cash in.
Don’t read me wrong this is not a complex character piece, instead it’s an ensemble that strives for artificial authenticity and achieves it with wit and humour.
Chris Guest is notorious for his screenplays being outlines for each scene only. Containing enough information to let the actors know what has to happen and then letting them bring something unique to each take. The result is a spontaneous mood that dispenses contagious comedy that feels real.
This is not Chris Guest’s best film, but it may be his most accessible as Director. Diverging slightly from the Spinal Tap, Best in Show mockumentary mold that he helped define. There is less planned, clumsy urgency in the cinematography but a static quality to the steadier set ups still lets performance come first.
It is a slender line that marks the success or failure of this type of comedy, like real life, conversations can stagnate and if a performer breaks the illusion it feels like David Hasselhoff tackling Shakespeare.
As expected all the cast (Many Chris Guest regulars) are naturalistic in a theatrical way. While breathing a Hodge-podge of hidden and visible idiosyncrasies of self absorption, they remain sympathetic to the plight of the characters. All ensure this is not just another venture into the extremes of a shallow existence.
Human frailty and neediness play an important part and get as many genuine laughs as the obvious smiles that come from the highs and lows of those struggling for fame in a superficial lexicon.
Catherine O”Hara (After Hours, Heartburn, Beetlejuice, Waiting for Guffman) takes her key role to all possible destinations with fluid skill. There is the farce comedy of her face stretched post-hype embracing surgery. The sad loneliness of yearning to relive her youth or the diva antics within that are subtly revealed with each boost to the ego.
Parker Posey (Dazed and Confused, Doom Generation, Amatuer, Kicking and Screaming, Daytrippers, Waiting For Guffman, Suburbia) and Harry Shearer (The Simpsons, Spinal Tap, A Mighty Wind) also amuse revealing deeper motivations in their parts.
Eugene Levy (A Mighty Wind, Best In Show, Waiting for Guffman) co wrote the script and enjoys the role of a non supportive agent. The rest of the recognisable faces and smaller parts are memorable too.
John Doe sees this film as a double feature alongside David Mamet’s State and Main. It’s an entertaining tryst that remains light because it doesn’t judge those onscreen.
The DVD:
Transfer:1:85:1 Widescreen/5.1 Dolby Digital
Extras:Interviews with cast and crew, Trailer.
Enjoy the trailer by clicking below
Here is a tasty little clip that gives you an idea of the laughs to be had.
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Comment by David
I'd watch this one.
Don deLillo meets Thomas Wolfe on the big screen.
Comment by D. Armenta
The Florida Keys and Everglades
The Black Sheep Chronicles
What constitutes bad manners?
The male mystique
Debate Fan
Always been a big fan of Guest's work, especially Spinal Tap. Thanks for reviewing this--I respect your opinions because our movie tastes are very similar.
Comment by DuskDevi
Rucks and Rolls
Rugby World Cup 2007
I...girlie jock heathen that I am...have not heard of this.
I will definitely take this film into consideration after reading this review.
Hope you're wll buddy.
Dusk
Comment by KylieW
Celebrity Obsession
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
More Tom Wolfe than Dellilo, but both are more scathing in their themes than the film. Still I do think it would tickle you at times.
Because everyone who made the film is in the industry it's more of a case of them having fun with their jobs, which is where the incisive observations come from.
Always good to read your thoughts my friend.
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
As I said in the review its not Chris Guests best film, but you should still get some laughs.
Hi Dusk,
This was only a small release and didn't have much advertising attached.
Now that its released on DVD this week it should find a wider audience.
All is well in the land of Doe, what about in the kingdom of the DuskDevi?
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
If you liked those 2 I think you will probably get something out of this one for sure.
Would love to hear your opinion once you've seen it.
Comment by Cibbuano
20/20 Filmsight
Science News
Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Comment by Lilla
Enviro Warrior
An Extra Ordinary Life
Dream Herald
Indeed, I will make sure I catch this one...these sneak peaks look hillarious.
Lilla