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Nice Guys Sleep Alone Not much going on in the realm of new videos this week (Romeo Must Die for karate fans, Whatever It Takes for teeny-bopper sludge fans), so I wanted to take a moment to recognize a recent video release that you may be tempted to overlook while in your local video store, but will regret passing it up if you do. Nice Guys Sleep Alone is not an autobiography about your favorite video reviewer, so any resemblance to persons dead or alive are strictly coincidental and a sad reminder of the life I lead. Instead, Nice Guys Sleep Alone is a fun, whimsical, even a little ironic look at trying to fall in love in these crazy, cynical times we live in. Sean O'Bryan plays Carter - a really nice, sweet, caring, gentlemanly schoolteacher. As the movie opens, he is going on yet another date, bringing flowers, arriving on time and taking the lady to a fine restaurant. As soon as he drops her off, however, his date breaks the painful news to Carter - she just wants to be friends. Ouch! Unfortunately, Carter has heard this song one too many times, and is finally fed up with it. Across town, the new veterinarian, Maggie (Sybil Temchen), is trying to find a nice, sweet, caring, gentlemanly guy, but has found a drunkard, selfish, arrogant rich guy instead. He won't leave her alone and all of her friends just don't understand why she can't overlook his boorishness and enjoy his money. Will Maggie and Carter find each other? Can they keep from screwing it up? I am sure you have seen this story a million times before, but this film is a little different. First, you are going to like O'Bryan and Temchen. How many times have you gone to a romantic comedy and just hated one of the characters so much that you hoped they didn't find true love with each other? Second, instead of becoming a sad sack, O'Bryan makes Carter a regular guy with frustrations, disappointment and even a little anger. Anyone who has been on a cold streak like Carter knows the feelings well. Writer/director Stu Pollard fills the movie with enough zaniness to keep it from becoming a boring, teardrop filled 90 minutes. I especially enjoyed the running gag featuring a "relationship lawyer" and all the testimonials from those he helped. Blake Steury as Pat becomes the best friend we all need during these stress filled mating rituals who tries to provide advice, but only makes the situation worse. If you like randy humor, you'll enjoy also the field trip to the stud farm. Nice Guys Sleep Alone is part of First Rites - a showcase for new, underfunded voices in American film. Every month, First Rites brings new, independent films from first-time directors to theaters and Hollywood Video stores all around the country. Pollard is a great example of the type of fine, talented director who should receive the program's help. Pollard, a graduate of DC's Georgetown University, moved to Hollywood and quickly found himself making commercials until he got this chance to make Nice Guys Sleep Alone with a paltry budget of $1 million. Just to put it in perspective, making a movie for $1 Million is like trying to throw a wedding with a budget of 10 bucks. I amazed that the film has such a slick, professional look to it. That is a credit to the director and crew. Their extraordinary work was recognized as Best of the Fest at the Rhode Island International Film Festival and won a Silver Audience Award at the Las Vegas International Film Festival. Take a chance on something different this weekend. Rent Nice Guys Sleep Alone!!!!!!!! Grade: A Funny story The film was shot in and around Louisville, Kentucky. If some of the sets look familiar, that's because Michael Mann, Russell Crowe and Al Pacino made most of The Insider in Louisville as well. While the two films hired many of the same extras, their experiences were much different. In an interview with the Courier Journal of Louisville, Kentucky, Louisville psychotherapist Barry Royalty, who was in both movies said his time on Nice Guys Sleep Alone was more enjoyable. He thought Pollard was much more fun, whereas Michael Mann was nasty and required them to do many takes of simple scenes. According to Royalty, he had to shoot a scene, where he walks down the street, a total of 37 times. I think he should get a stunt double for that. Directed and written by Stu Pollard Cast Sean O'Bryan ………………. Carter Blake Steury ………………... Pat Sybil Temchen ……………….Maggie Vanessa Marcil ………………Erin William Sanderson …………... Rufus Copyright 2000 - WaffleMovies.com |
