Directed by
Jonathan Parker
Writers
Catherine DiNapoli Writer
Jonathan Parker Writer
Producers
Catherine DiNapoli ... producer
Paul Jarrett ... line producer
Matt Luber ... producer
Lorna Nowve ... associate producer
Andreas Olavarria ... producer
Cast - in credits order
Adam Goldberg ... Adrian Jacobs
Marley Shelton ... Madeleine Gray
Eion Bailey ... Josh Jacobs
Lucy Punch ... The Clarinet
Vinnie Jones ... Ray Barko
Zak Orth ... Porter Canby
Ptolemy Slocum ... Monroe
Michael Panes ... Grant
Svetlana Efremova ... Russian Singer
Marceline Hugot ... Corporate Art Buyer
Janet Carroll ... Helen Finkelstein
Ben Hammer ... Morton Cabot
David Beach ... Critic at Morton Cabot's Concert
David Cale ... Critic at Adrian's Concert
Dean Wareham ... Critic at Adrian's Concert
Kelly Deadmon ... Socialite at Art Dinner
Marla Sucharetza ... Socialite at Art Dinner
Carole Schweid ... Mother
Stan Carp ... Father
Ray DeMattis ... Restaurant Manager
Michael Hauschild ... Adrian's Fan
Frank Holliday ... Security Guard
Lawson White ... Seth
Other credited cast listed alphabetically
Franco Bulaon ... Art Patron
Gina Gabrielli ... Ray's Girl
Rest of cast
Kevin Cannon ... Lead Video Star (uncredited)
Justin Doescher ... Arguing Boyfriend (uncredited)
Original Music: David Lang
Cinematographer: Svetlana Cvetko
Editor: Keiko Deguchi
Distributor: Screen Media Films ((USA, DVD, Bluray)
By my last count, there were no less than forty four reviews of (UNTITLED) available to be read. So I am going to dispense with a synopsis of this indie film and instead talk about why you should see it and probably why you haven’t.
Rarely does a film come along now a day that is properly developed. From story to script, casting to acting talent, not to mention production design, cinematography, and sound and editing, indie filmmakers large and small no longer take the time to learn or study their craft, but march willy-nilly into the film making fray content just to be able to say they made the movie. For their part, major studios frequently do no better; only their motivations are different. Then along comes (UNTITLED).
Using the art and music world as a backdrop, (UNTITLED) asks, no insists, that we look at ourselves and our society for the vapid, commercial, superficial, ridiculous state it is in, in much the same way that Ondi Timoner’s documentary WE LIVE IN PUBLIC (2009) did. And it does it with humor and pathos that would have made any Ancient Greek proud. The writers ask us to do as Samuel Becket did in his play, Waiting for Godot, “THINK!”
So why haven’t you heard of this film? Good question. Nearly all of its reviews, in the US and abroad,were remarkably positive. I even watched it twice before writing this review. Well for one thing, it suffers its title. While apropos, it doesn’t convey a sense if drama or humor that makes one want to watch it. Better it might have been called “Vanity Cases” or even “No You Shut Up”(an inside joke from the film that you will have to see to understand). These titles might have created more curiosity with a wider, younger, audience accustomed to sound bites with which to make a buying decision.
Perhaps you haven’t seen this film because it didn’t make waves on the major festival circuit. That is because it wasn’t shown at them. Why the lead distributor, Samuel Goldwyn Company choose not to do that is beyond me. This incredibly well done surprise of a film would have drawn raves at Sundance, Tribeca, Cannes or Venice. Then it would have justified more marketing dollars and exhibitors would have clamored to show it.
Perhaps it is because film is no longer the medium that is the conduit for mass public thought. Controversial, thought provoking content is now the province of HBO, Showtime and other “water cooler” cable channels. Hard questions are dealt with in the privacy of our living rooms, not in thedarkness of the theater with strangers; nor the coffee shop afterwards. Americans don’t want to think about what they think about. They want to be distracted from the reality of their lives and the decline of
their empire. This was never truer than in 2009 and 2010 when (UNTITLED) came out.
So, for those of you who want to laugh and THINK; run, don’t walk, to your nearest online retailer and buy, not rent, a copy of this five star wunderkind. And Comcast NBC/Universal, if you’re listening, take a look before Showtime or Oprah does. This is probably the foundation story for your next big hit television comedy. God knows you could use one!
Five Stars.
Adam Goldberg ... Adrian Jacobs
Marley Shelton ... Madeleine Gray
Eion Bailey ... Josh Jacobs
Lucy Punch ... The Clarinet
Vinnie Jones ... Ray Barko
Zak Orth ... Porter Canby
Ptolemy Slocum ... Monroe
Michael Panes ... Grant
Svetlana Efremova ... Russian Singer
Marceline Hugot ... Corporate Art Buyer
Janet Carroll ... Helen Finkelstein
Ben Hammer ... Morton Cabot
David Beach ... Critic at Morton Cabot's Concert
David Cale ... Critic at Adrian's Concert
Dean Wareham ... Critic at Adrian's Concert
Kelly Deadmon ... Socialite at Art Dinner
Marla Sucharetza ... Socialite at Art Dinner
Carole Schweid ... Mother
Stan Carp ... Father
Ray DeMattis ... Restaurant Manager
Michael Hauschild ... Adrian's Fan
Frank Holliday ... Security Guard
Lawson White ... Seth
Other credited cast listed alphabetically
Franco Bulaon ... Art Patron
Gina Gabrielli ... Ray's Girl
Rest of cast
Kevin Cannon ... Lead Video Star (uncredited)
Justin Doescher ... Arguing Boyfriend (uncredited)
Original Music: David Lang
Cinematographer: Svetlana Cvetko
Editor: Keiko Deguchi
Distributor: Screen Media Films ((USA, DVD, Bluray)
By my last count, there were no less than forty four reviews of (UNTITLED) available to be read. So I am going to dispense with a synopsis of this indie film and instead talk about why you should see it and probably why you haven’t.
Rarely does a film come along now a day that is properly developed. From story to script, casting to acting talent, not to mention production design, cinematography, and sound and editing, indie filmmakers large and small no longer take the time to learn or study their craft, but march willy-nilly into the film making fray content just to be able to say they made the movie. For their part, major studios frequently do no better; only their motivations are different. Then along comes (UNTITLED).
Using the art and music world as a backdrop, (UNTITLED) asks, no insists, that we look at ourselves and our society for the vapid, commercial, superficial, ridiculous state it is in, in much the same way that Ondi Timoner’s documentary WE LIVE IN PUBLIC (2009) did. And it does it with humor and pathos that would have made any Ancient Greek proud. The writers ask us to do as Samuel Becket did in his play, Waiting for Godot, “THINK!”
So why haven’t you heard of this film? Good question. Nearly all of its reviews, in the US and abroad,were remarkably positive. I even watched it twice before writing this review. Well for one thing, it suffers its title. While apropos, it doesn’t convey a sense if drama or humor that makes one want to watch it. Better it might have been called “Vanity Cases” or even “No You Shut Up”(an inside joke from the film that you will have to see to understand). These titles might have created more curiosity with a wider, younger, audience accustomed to sound bites with which to make a buying decision.
Perhaps you haven’t seen this film because it didn’t make waves on the major festival circuit. That is because it wasn’t shown at them. Why the lead distributor, Samuel Goldwyn Company choose not to do that is beyond me. This incredibly well done surprise of a film would have drawn raves at Sundance, Tribeca, Cannes or Venice. Then it would have justified more marketing dollars and exhibitors would have clamored to show it.
Perhaps it is because film is no longer the medium that is the conduit for mass public thought. Controversial, thought provoking content is now the province of HBO, Showtime and other “water cooler” cable channels. Hard questions are dealt with in the privacy of our living rooms, not in thedarkness of the theater with strangers; nor the coffee shop afterwards. Americans don’t want to think about what they think about. They want to be distracted from the reality of their lives and the decline of
their empire. This was never truer than in 2009 and 2010 when (UNTITLED) came out.
So, for those of you who want to laugh and THINK; run, don’t walk, to your nearest online retailer and buy, not rent, a copy of this five star wunderkind. And Comcast NBC/Universal, if you’re listening, take a look before Showtime or Oprah does. This is probably the foundation story for your next big hit television comedy. God knows you could use one!
Five Stars.
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