Genres

Visitors Review

2013-05-18 04:07:46

A great cast produces a genuine movie

This film is about what happens when people set out to do one thing & end up someplace completely different. It isn't a sex farce at all, it's about people & what happens when they start out to do something together & being together takes over. There's some great fun in this film & lots of wonderful revelations as each character gets his or her moment to shine. It's not an amazing movie, but it does have it's moments.

2013-05-17 13:18:31

Surprisingly sweet, and a lot of fun

Jeff Bridges plays a down-on-his-luck divorcee who teams up with a group of quirky friends to make an amateur porno film. It's a goofy concept, to be certain, but somehow it works. The performances are very funny -- Ted Danson, Joe Pantoliano, Patric Fugit and Tim Blake Nelson are all top-notch here -- and while there really aren't any surprises, that somehow works with the concept as presented. The film gets a little metafictional toward the end, but it's done in such a way that it isn't very distracting or off-putting. While this will never be a classic, "The Amateurs" is at least fun.

Jeff Beachnau 2013-05-15 09:19:17

Hilarious film about friend trying to make an innocent local porno

This movie was hilarious. Jeff Bridges plays Andy, a divorced guyvisiting his son on his birthday. His ex-wife married a really richguy, and Andy's worried that his son won't appreciate him anymorebecause he doesn't have as much money. So he comes up with an idea tomake a bunch of money, make a local porno film with all of the townpeople involved.The set up isn't so great, but the film is filled with so many actorsand a lot of great comedy, it doesn't really matter. And when I say somany actors, I mean it, everyone in the film is a recognizable face.Jeff Bridges, Joe Pantoliano, Patrick Fugit, Tim Blake Nelson, WilliamFichtner, Ted Danson, and those are just the main characters. TedDanson is hysterical playing the gay guy in the group who poorly triesto hide the fact that he's gay. And if anyone ever wanted to see TedDanson naked, this is the film for you. Joe Pantoliano also does agreat job in the film playing Some Idiot (yes, that's his character'sname) the writer/director of the porno.It's a great movie, very funny with a lot of great quotes. I just wishthe ending could have been expanded a bit more, but oh well. Look outfor this one.

lovelifecn2 2013-05-14 20:24:43

A brilliant and subtle movie.

A brilliant and subtle movie. If you like quick mind candy and overdone special effects you will not enjoy this film. However if you likehuman stories with endearing comedy you will love this film. JoePantoliano totally sacrificed his tough guy image that he developed inthe Sopranos in order to clearly and humorously depict a quirkycharacter in the film. Ted Danson did the same; totally destroying thatsuave smooth Cheers persona that he has been maintaining for so manyyears. WARNING: People who want the actors stuck in a box don't go andsee this film. It is a brilliant fast moving witty depiction of thedreams that so many of us have, but few have the courage to fulfill.

2013-05-06 21:06:46

Confessions of a "Charm" Junkie

I confess -- I'll watch ANYTHING that has Billy Fichtner in it. I also confess to having a real soft-spot for films and plays that are charming - "charm" is a much under-rated quality. We seem to get a lot of "manipulative" and "cloying," but we rarely get to see anyting "charming." This film is charming. It's also clever.Another review compared it to British film and I concur -- it shares its tone with such sweet Brit films as "Millions" and the light comedies that came out of Ealing after WWII.Is this a "great" film? Will it go down in the annals of film history? Probably not -- but does it have to? Can't it just be a "good watch"? I found it pleasurable just watching a great cast coalesce into a great ensemble -- celebrity actors working in tandem with non-celebrities for the good of the story.And, of course, it has Billy Fichtner.

2013-05-06 12:49:53

A quirky film with an excellent cast

This review is from: The Amateurs [Blu-ray] (Blu-ray) I can't quite put this up at the 5 star level, but it's awfully close.Big props to the cast here as they really do a great job here and seem perfectly cast for the roles each is asked to play.Lead actor Jeff Bridges puts on a great performance as a man (Andy Sargentee) that is looking for his one big break, but unfortunately has failed at everything he's ever tried. Early on we find that he lost his wife because he's just not able to be responsible and can't take care of his family because of his lack of steady income. His son's birthday comes up and he goes to the store to buy a gift for him only to realize he just can't afford the one he feels is right. Real embarassment kicks in when he goes to his wife's new home and finds that it isn't just a big home, it's a complete mansion.From that embarassment springs inspiration as Andy sits deep in thought in the town bar. Eventually he's inspired to make a porn movie with the help and support of his friends, a cast of some of the weirdest and wildest characters you'd ever find assembled.This film isn't a continuous laugh fest, but it is very entertaining. Some parts would seem predictable, but the story does a good job of planting timely distractions and diversions along the way that keep things very fresh.While the movie is about the making of a porn film, the nudity in the film is fairly tasteful and there is no sex really shown in the film. There are however sexual references, sex toys and discussion of porn movies is prevalent so this isn't a film for the easily disturbed.Well worth a purchase and priced at a fair level.

2013-05-05 05:25:15

Extremely entertaining!!

"I'm a trier, not a doer." This is a great movie that I laughed almost all the way through. Its unfortunate that movies like this don't play to larger audiences. There's nothing new here in terms of a story of a father who proves to himself that he can accomplish things and be a good dad because he really is a good person. Just a really good movie.

2013-05-04 19:22:28

This movie gives hope to starry eyed dreamers.

I have to disagree with the main review under the description I think the movie is very funny and you can't beat a good happy ending like this movie offers. Plus there are people out there maybe not as down as the character Andy Sargente but it is a inspiration that us dreamers can pull it off and we can have our moment.

Brian Wright 2013-04-17 20:48:14

Worthy effort: ~ The Big Lebowski Lite

To me this film seems to require a certain viewing environment toproperly appreciate, i.e. it's probably not a family movie, even forthe Osbournes of the world. What I mean is it will be embarrassing fromthe language standpoint if you're watching it with a person who's ageneration or two one way or the other. The main characters are Boomerage, living in a small town with not too many opportunities forfulfillment, much less greatness. But they don't need great, they haveone another and a solid conviction their de facto leader Andy Sargenteewill come up with an idea one day that will get them out of their rut. ...For my complete review of this movie and for other movie and bookreviews, please visit my site TheCoffeeCoaster.com.Brian Wright Copyright 2008

gigasteve 2013-04-17 04:47:24

An entertaining adult comedy

I just got back tonight from an early screening of a new movie withJeff Bridges called The Amateurs at Penn State. The movie wasoriginally meant to be screened last month, with an appearance byco-star Joe Pantoliano. Joey Pants did come (his daughter is a studenthere), but technical difficulties plagued the screening twenty minutesin. Joe was very apologetic and stayed to answer questions for a whileand in the meantime they set up another screening for tonight. No Joetonight (he's apparently filming a new pilot for CBS about waterfrontcrime), but the movie did work so I can tell you what it's all about.Jeff Bridges stars as a recent divorcée who is down on his luck in asmall town. Looking for a way to make it big and have the means tospoil his son, he decides to make a porn movie. He does this with thehelp of his supportive friends, including Pantoliano, Ted Danson,William Fichtner, Tim Blake Nelson and Patrick Fugit. Their film willbe distinctive because it will be made by and feature talent from theirown small town. Now I know this entire plot sounds kind of corny but itis well executed – everyone laughed pretty hard throughout.Besides having a great cast, what makes this movie different is that itis a sex comedy for and by adults. This may be a tough sell, but I cansay that at least half of tonight's audience was definitely professorsand community members, rather than students. Though there is littlenudity or hard language, this is an R-movie because of its frankdiscussion of sex. It's funny because these guys are trying to berespectful by replacing words for genitalia with other appropriate, butridiculous terms.As I mentioned, the cast was great and everyone was prefect for theirrole. Pantoliano plays the appropriately named writer-director of theproduction, Some Idiot. Danson plays a gay friend who tries too hard athiding his sexual orientation, making for some very funny and awkwardmoments. Fichtner does a really good job with making a fairly plaincharacter entertaining and fun to watch. Bridges plays a loser in thevein of "The Dude", except he's got it together a little more and is alittle cleaner cut. About half of Bridges performance is voice-over aswell, which was done fairly well. My biggest complaint would be thattheir female characters receive very little screen time and areunderdeveloped. The cut we saw really underused Lauren Graham and JudyGreer.The film was written and directed by Michael Traeger, whose mostnotable previous credit was writing the script of MTV's Dead Man onCampus (ouch). The script was really funny and the direction wassuitable, though not very special. Based on what Joe said at the firstscreening, it sounds like they will only be changing the opening of thefilm – so the cut I saw was pretty close to finished. I believe it willbe hitting theaters late spring/early summer. All in all it was anentertaining little indie comedy and its worth checking out for a goodlaugh.

kathleen_o 2013-04-12 00:48:09

Funny Romp

We just viewed this movie at the Waterfront Film Festival. Thestoryline is amusing. The characters are a mix of endearing quirkysorts. The characters are likable and the writer's don't cheat theaudience. The plot itself is just plain funny. In small town America,can you imagine how odd it would be, if the town decided to make a pornfilm. Lots of laugh-out-loud scenes, as they fumble thru the plans toget the porno underway. Think of your neighborhood or town, and thechallenge of finding the right man/woman to act in the film. Hilarious!Not sure when this will be released to the public, or where, but Irecommend it. If you'd like an entertaining, light-hearted, enjoyablefilm ... this is it.

NixonCarmichael 2013-04-11 10:49:12

Easily the most beautifully psychopathic film I could possibly imagine.

This is obviously a film clever enough to be one of those films thatonly is spontaneously re-vived once every decade. In it, MichaelTraegor simultaneously reverse engineers every possible aspect ofmiddle-American life, the blue-printed entirety of the movie industryitself, all while managing to maintain the mere existence ofpornography as the central whirligig. Without giving away any spoilers,just picture The Amateurs as a bizarro version of The Big Lebowski fromsome completely warped and bizarre alternate universe. Jeff Bridgesstars an über-fantastic version of The Dude and is surrounded by anensemble cast slightly more idiosyncratic henchmen. Watch this filmonly if you're prepared to spend the next 72 hours compelled tomeditate harder than a Zen Master Arahat.~J.

2013-04-05 00:22:06

Feelin' Good About Porn

This review is from: The Amateurs (DVD) This is one of those small, quiet, warm, funny movies that surprises you so much you may never forget it. The acting is great, of course, and Jeff Bridges and Ted Danson and the rest of the cast all seem to have agreed that they would have at least as much fun as anyone watching the movie.

itamarscomix 2013-04-04 15:34:37

Shockingly bad

The real mystery of The Moguls is how so many incredibly talentedactors agreed to take part - I'm guessing they lost some kind of bet.First rate character actors Jeff Bridges, William Fichtner, JoePantoliano, Patrick Fugit and John Hawkes and TV mainstays Ted Dansonand Lauren Graham all try, but their characters are such flat clichésthat it's painful to watch. They're clearly having a good time doingit, but what about us?The film seems to make an attempt at an American version of The FullMonty and Calendar Girls, but instead it turns out to be something farless insightful or funny than Zack and Miri Make a Porno. The Mogulslacks in both humor and drama, trying to be heartwarming by showing ushow loving and beautiful small-town America can be, but it mainlyportrays its men as bumbling idiots. A framing device that makesabsolutely no sense doesn't help either. The 1.5 stars are for somedecent acting, especially from Danson and Pantoliano playing bravelyagainst type, but it's not enough to drag the film out of the sewer. Itjust made me sadder that so many talented people wasted their time likethat.

jts0405 2013-03-31 00:24:11

Not Bad at All

I didn't know what to think at first when I put it into the DVD player.But once it was started it really turned out to be a decent movie. JeffBridges always seems to get the strangest roles (like The Dude in theBig Lebowski) but somehow he always comes through with an excellentperformance. We saw many other notable actors such as Ted Danson,William Fitchner and Tim Blake Nelson. The cast was put together welland the story was original and worthy of checking out. It had it's oneliners and funny moments, but the story also brought good moral intothe end. I really would recommend for all fans of Jeff Bridges' work tocheck it out sometime. It wasn't a really strong hyped movie, but heyit was all and all decent, because of the story that it had to it. Thismovie to me deserves a total of 8/10 stars. Basically because itentertained me.

davefromnoho 2013-03-30 08:11:32

Do you really want to waste your time on this film?

OK where do I start or do I?? I got in invitation to see a prescreeningof this film and I would have to say I would be very embarrassed to bepart of it. The writing was horrible. It had a GREAT CAST and tried todo the very best they could with the material but it was NOTbelievable. There were probably 2 times that I laughed. I like JeffBridges as an actor but I didn't feel him to be real. I felt like hewas reading his lines, just no feeling whatsoever, it was like, HERE IAM, FILM ME, HOPEFULLY I CAN REMEMBER MY WORDS AND FORGIVE ME WHEN ISTUMBLE MY WORDS. I have gone to several prescreenings and I am verygenerous when I comes to grading a film but this film really wasted mytime. The concept of film is interesting and would have worked but itdidn't for me. Also I like Ted Danson but I don't think this role isfor him, he tried too hard to prove that he could do thischaracter--just didn't work out. If this film goes to the screen I willbe very surprised. I hope they don't waste a lot of money advertisingthis movie because I can see 2 weeks tops at the theater and you willnever hear of it again til it comes out on CABLE. I keep an open mindbut 10 minutes into this film I knew this film was not going to be goodbut was hoping to prove me wrong but it just didn't. So if you 2 hoursto kill and some money to blow--by all means this film might be foryou.

Ana_Banana 2013-03-24 23:47:32

A rather good draft of a better movie

Watchable for its atmosphere of calmness and innocence. The plot ispromising, the cast fabulous, but what is missing then? Of course, thefilm has some situation humor and the acting is good enough, but all inall it seems like they still had something more to "squeeze" out of it.It looks like a draft, a good one, but still a draft. Simple is good,but at the right time and amount. Some moments and characters wereskipped over too quickly, the off voice and music were a bit too much,and since there were no blatant dialog jokes, the overall pace shouldhave been slower in order to underline the comic situations morethrough acting.

2013-03-24 09:07:11

the amazon.com review is WRONG

This review is from: The Amateurs (DVD) i seriously don't get how hollywood blockbusters with their contrived plots and dusty old jokes get glowing reviews but stuff like this gets panned for not enough character development of the peripheral characters. give me a BREAK. this is a great movie- great cast, great script and inspirational w/o hitting the cheese factor too hard. i really don't say it lightly bc i'm picky as hell.for anyone looking for the inspiration to achieve the impossible, this is your movie. this, and 'my date with drew.' WATCH IT AND BE CONVINCED.

jimakros 2013-03-19 07:33:04

unfunny movie with wasted good cast

Bridges has nothing to do but hang out at this bar with a bunch ofweird friends.A couple of his friends are called Moe and Ron and asthey always show up together everybody calls them Moron.Pantoliano'scharacter is called Some Idiot because nobody bothered with his name.This is the kind of humor in this movie.If one finds this funny thenits a funny movie,if not then it can safely be called a bomb. It lookslike the kind of movie Bridges himself came up with and called a few ofhis friends to be in it,much like the character he plays in themovie.The idea about producing a porn flick has been beaten to death,icant believe they used it.I saw this on disc one afternoon i hadnothing better to do so i laughed at a couple scenes but most of it wasboring. Had i gone to the movies for this i probably would be asking mymoney back.

2013-03-19 02:57:54

This Movie is HORRIBLE

Big cast. Big Names. Big pile of dung. This movie gets 5 Piles on the 'STINKY DOO DOO' meter.