Description
Prior to THE GREAT BUCK HOWARD, writer-director Sean McGinly helmed TWO DAYS, a film that deals with themes of show-business failure. McGinly treads similar territory here, but whereas DAYS mixed dark comedy and tense drama in the internal struggle of a man who merely thinks hes a failed entertainer, BUCK is a gentle charmer about a bona-fide washed-up star.
When sensible but jaded law student Troy Gabel (Colin Hanks) decides that school isnt for him, he takes off without telling his father (Tom Hanks, whose presence underscores how many mannerisms he and his real-life son have in common) and looks for the job that will get him a proverbial foot in the door of the entertainment industry. In the blink of an eye, Troy finds himself as road manager for the Great Buck Howard (John Malkovich), an aging mentalist in the tradition of the Amazing Kreskin. He may be a corny relic with an act full of piano interludes and lo-fi theatrics, but hes also pretty entertaining and genuinely impressive, especially his signature bit in which he locates his own hidden payment. Hes prone to throwing prima-donna fits and blathering on about his 61 appearances on THE TONIGHT SHOW while he regularly performs to half-full rooms; but every time he screams "I love this town!" to the audiences of Wausau, Wisconsin, and Bakersfield, California, it becomes increasingly apparent that he means it. Buck is the best showcase for Malkovichs hilarious eccentricities since BEING JOHN MALKOVICH. But seen through the eyes of McGinlys semi-autobiographical Troy and a perceptive publicist named Valerie (Emily Blunt), hes more than just a caricature: his brief, hipster-irony-propelled resurgence as a national celebrity and the movies lighthearted satirization of Hollywood suggest hes the kitschy, infantile heart of every entertainer.
USA Today:
03/20/2009 "[S]weetly nostalgic and gently satiric....What renders it worth watching are three key performances. John Malkovich is pitch-perfect as the egomaniacal, vaudeville-style magician..."New York Times:
03/20/2009 "[A]n agreeable show business satire with a warm heart....John Malkovich exaggerates the familiar mannerisms of this self-described professional mentalist to create a barbed but affectionate portrait of a second-string trouper struggling for a comeback."Box Office:
03/20/2009 3 stars out of 5 — "Buck is the type of 'take it and run with it' part that brings out the best in Malkovich....Blunt adds further star power to the film's terrific cast..."Entertainment Weekly:
03/27/2009 "THE GREAT BUCK HOWARD gives the loopy John Malkovich the showcase he deserves....[The film] is in love with kitsch, the backwaters of showbiz, and true magic. It's a wee charmer..." — Grade: A-Chicago Sun-Times:
03/18/2009 3.5 stars out of 4 — "Colin Hanks is affecting....No one else could have played Buck better than Malkovich....The film is funny and perceptive..."Premiere:
03/19/2009 3.5 stars out of 4 — "Malkovich is just right for the role of the quirky mentalist....The pacing and direction of the film match up perfectly with Malkovich's performance."
CAST
| John Malkovich | American Actor/Producer |
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| Colin Hanks | American actor, THE HOUSE BUNNY |
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| Tom Hanks | Oscar-winning actor/director/producer |
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| Emily Blunt | British actress, MY SUMMER OF LOVE (2005) |
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| Steve Zahn | Actor |
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| Griffin Dunne | American Actor/Producer |
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| Ricky Jay | Actor/"House Of Games" |
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CREW
| Screenwriter | Sean McGinly (Writer, SONIC IMPACT (not BUTCHER BOY)) |
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| Director of Photography | Tak Fujimoto |
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| Composer | Blake Neely (Music, THE WEDDING DATE (2005)) |
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| Producer | Tom Hanks (Oscar-winning actor/director/producer) |
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| Producer | Gary Goetzman |
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Video: Color
Original release:
90 min
, English (Original)
Weight factor: 1 item(s)
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| Area |
Runtime |
Box |
| USA |
90 min |
(normal) |
| Rating |
PG (MPAA) (for some language including suggestive remarks, and a drug reference)
for some language including suggestive remarks, and a drug reference |
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Catalog #: 3031864
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UPC: 876964001922 |
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Distributor NotesBuck Howard (John Malkovich), a mentalist extraordinaire, used to spend his days in the limelight. But nowadays, it’s clear to everyone but Buck that his act has lost its luster. Yet, Buck is convinced his comeback is imminent. With the help of his new personal assistant, a recent law school drop-out and would-be writer Troy (Colin Hanks) and a fiery publicist (Emily Blunt), Buck surprisingly lands back in the American consciousness, taking Troy along for the ride of his life.
Release NotesDVD Features: Region [unknown] Keep Case Widescreen - 1.85 Audio: Dolby Digital 2.0, Dolby Digital 5.1 - English Subtitles - Spanish Additional Release Material: Deleted Scenes Outtakes Behind the Scenes Making Of: 1. Making of THE GREAT BUCK HOWARD Audio Commentary: 1. Sean McGinly, Director; Colin Hanks, Actor Featurette: 1. The Amazing Kreskin 2. HDNet: A Look at The Great Buck Howard
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