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Back Shelf Beauties
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Just Write Faithful WaffleMovies.com readers know that it is very difficult for a movie to become a hit, especially a film made by an independent studio. Unfortunately, that means great movies fall through the cracks and don't get the recognition and audience they deserve because the studio didn't have a big advertising budget or couldn't get a distribution deal. For every surprise smash film like Blair Witch Project, there are hundreds of others that never break through. This week's selection is a great example. Just Write is a great movie with an interesting history, so read the entire review to learn about the making of the movie and my discussion with one of the producers. Jeremy Piven stars as Harold, the driver at his family's financially troubled Hollywood trolley tour business. Harold is a romantic at heart and lover of movies who wishes to meet a woman who is looking for more than a man with the perfect car and a big fat bank account. In Hollywood, this is a monumental task. Harold decides to visit his friend Danny (Jeffrey Sams), a bartender at a trendy Hollywood watering hole. At the bar, he meets Amanda Clark (Sherilyn Fenn), the up-and-coming star that everyone is talking about. Amanda is about to be named the co-star in a film with Brad Pitt, but has reservations. She doesn't like the script or the portrayal of her character. After Harold misrepresents himself as a famous screenwriter with a powerful agent, she asks him to read the script and give his "professional" opinion. When Amanda hears that he shares the same reservations, she asks him to rewrite the script. Can Harold fix the script and get the girl of his dreams? Many of you may be groaning because you feel this is a formulaic romantic comedy with predictable plot twists. If that's how you feel, then I feel sorry that you will miss out on a very funny and engaging movie. It is formulaic, but the formula works as well as the secret recipe for Coca-Cola or McDonald's secret sauce. Just Write is a fun movie that stands out in a sea of drivel. Let those other movies have all the sex and violence, this one has heart. Jeremy Piven is one of the most charismatic actors in Hollywood, but he never gets his due. You may be familiar with his roles in PCU and the TV show Ellen, but Piven is a great romantic lead. He is an "Everyman" struggling to find true love in a society filled with vacuous fools searching for the elusive trophy wife or husband. In many ways, Piven is the guy you want to be your friend. He deftly portrays his character's desire to have more out of life and his frustrations with failure. It is a shame that Piven can't get a fair shake. His cancelled ABC television program, Cupid, was one of the most original programs of the last season, but it was never given a chance to build an audience. Hopefully, FOX or WB, two networks that know how to allow a quality program to grow, will pick it up and give it new life. Jeffrey Sams is another Cupid refugee that shines. Sams is very hip and knows how to slyly deliver his funny lines. Once again, he is a regular guy that you would want to invite to your home to have a beer and watch a football game. He worked very hard to promote the film, and proved that he is a class act as well as a quality thespian. Writer Stan Williamson deserves kudos for a solid and comical script. It is a wonderful satire of Hollywood's emptiness. One of the delightful aspects of the movie is the way everyone acts as if they have seen Harold's movies and love his work. The praise is handed out reflexively because everyone wants to get on Harold's good side. After praising him, each person then tries to pitch his new script idea to Harold. Some of these pitches will leave you rolling on the floor with laughter. After speaking with executive producer Jim Kreutzer, I love this movie even more. Just Write is the little movie that could. It was financed by seven Wisconsin dentists who wanted to make a quality movie they could be proud of. They put an advertisement in the Hollywood Reporter soliciting scripts and, after receiving over 500 works, chose Williamson's romantic comedy due to its positive nature and uplifting message. After choosing a script, the production was set into motion. According to Kreutzer, many Hollywood stars wanted to participate in the project. With only $1.2 Million spend, the stars of the film had to take drastic pay cuts. Thanks to their dedication and sacrifice, the movie was made in just 19 days, and within the tight budget. Unfortunately, there wasn't more money available to advertise the film and distribute it widely. A major studio expressed interest in releasing it straight to video, but the producers stuck to their guns. The movie opened in several markets, including Milwaukee and Dallas-Ft. Worth, where the per-screen average rivaled any major studio film. Just Write was the winner of several film festivals, including the prestigious Santa Barbara Film Festival. It had success overseas, became a feature movie on airline flights across America, and will be on cable in November. Just Write was one of the earliest works by Wind Chill productions. I look forward to their future movies. If the big studios could produce quality films like Just Write, many people like me would go to theater more often. Just Write is a perfect example of the type of movie WaffleMovies.com wants to bring to you. Take a chance. Just because the movie didn't star Tom Cruise and didn't make $100 Million at the box office shouldn't disqualify it as a great work. Rent Just Write and enjoy an old fashioned Hollywood fairy tale. Just Write: A- Director: Andrew Gallerani Writer: Stan Williamson Cast Jeremy Piven …………………………………….. Harold Sherilyn Fenn …………………………………….. Amanda JoBeth Williams ………………………………….. Sidney Jeffrey Sams ………………………………………Danny Alex Rocco ………………………………………. Harold's Dad Costas Mandylor …………………………………. Rich Wallace Shawn ……………………………………Arthur Blake
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