6.5 | / 10 |
Users | 3.0 | |
Reviewer | 2.5 | |
Overall | 2.6 |
Once upon a time, Buck Howard spent his days in the limelight. His mind-boggling feats as a mentalist extraordinaire - not to be confused with those of a mere magician - earned him a marquee act in Vegas and 61 appearances on Johnny Carson's Tonight Show. In his own humble opinion, his talents go far beyond simple sleight of hand - he can read minds and hypnotize not just a single soul but an entire room of people! But nowadays, it's clear to everyone but Buck that his act has lost its luster; he performs in faded community centers and hasn't sold out a theater in years. Yet, with a hearty handshake and a trademark "I love this town!" Buck Howard perseveres, confident in his own celebrity, convinced his comeback is imminent. He just needs a new road manager and personal assistant. As it turns out, recent law school drop-out and unemployed, would-be writer Troy Gable needs a job and a purpose. Working for the pompous, has-been mentalist fills the former requirement, but how it satisfies the latter is questionable, especially to his father, who still assumes Troy is in law school. Nonetheless, with the aid of a fiery publicist and a bold stroke of fate, Buck surprisingly lands back into the American consciousness, taking Troy along for the ride of his life. As the coveted spotlight again shines on the great Buck Howard, Buck becomes the unlikeliest of teachers as Troy learns a few tricks he couldn't possibly have picked up in law school.
Starring: John Malkovich, Colin Hanks, Emily Blunt, Ricky Jay, Steve ZahnComedy | 100% |
Drama | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
English: Dolby Digital 5.1
English, Spanish
25GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region free
Movie | 2.5 | |
Video | 2.5 | |
Audio | 3.0 | |
Extras | 1.5 | |
Overall | 2.5 |
Fame is a fickle mistress. Just when you think you’ve got it made, she dumps you for somebody new, someone more talented, more beautiful, or more relevant. When Andy Warhol predicted that everyone would have 15 minutes of it, he never mentioned what would happen after that brief quarter hour was up. Some former celebrities vanish silently, prompting VH1 and other cultural documentarians to ask, “Where are they now?” Others fight desperately against the tide that pulls them into obscurity, taking b-list gigs on reality shows or resorting to infamy, fame’s drugged-up and self-destructive cousin. There’s also a third group of has-beens; those who keep steadfastly working—sometimes toiling in strait-to-video purgatory—and trying daily to jump-start their stalled renown. After all, Hollywood loves a good comeback story, and recent years have seen Mickey Rourke, Robert Downey Jr. and others make triumphant returns to the public consciousness. The Great Buck Howard is, in one sense, a film about waning celebrity and the delusions that often accompany it. And while it pokes fun at the washed-up and strung-out, it carries the deeper, inspirational message that it’s important to keep on doing what you love, even if nobody else respects you for it.
The Great Buck Howard
Don't get your hopes up when you see Badlands and Silence of the Lambs cinematographer Tak Fujimoto's name attached to The Great Buck Howard. The film's 1080p, AVC-encoded transfer, presented in 1.85:1, is purely second-rate, with a dull and noisy image that rarely impresses. In fact, I'll start by saying that the only part of the film that looks really good is Buck's orange suit jacket, as the color really pops and the individual lines of stitching are readily visible. The rest of the film is often problematic. While I usually like a little grain in film- based transfers—it's a natural part of the celluloid process after all—The Great Buck Howard looks overly grainy, at times going so far as to obscure detail and become a distraction. Wishy- washy black levels certainly don't help matters, frequently giving the image a grey, detail crushing cast, especially during darker indoor scenes. Daylight sequences fare better, with more stable contrast, accurate skin tones, and better color rendition, but the film never exhibits the clarity or depth that you'd find in bigger budget Blu-ray outings.
While The Great Buck Howard's audio quality is somewhat better than its video, that's really not saying much, and the film's DTS-HD MA 5.1 track is merely adequate, providing a listenable experience that's low on immersion and decidedly thin. Surround use is limited to the score and a few ambient effects—like audience applause—and I can't recall any discrete effects or overt audio design. Dynamics too are unmemorable, as the instrumental score lacks low-end, leaving all of the film's audio in a substantial but uninteresting mid-to-high range. Voices, however, are rendered clearly and faithfully, and as Buck Howard is a talky comedy, I wasn't expecting much more than the front-heavy, dialogue-driven track that the film presents.
Commentary by Writer/Director Sean McGinly and Actor Colin Hanks
Hanks is occasionally insightful, and McGinly is at his most interesting when talking about his
real-life experiences with "The Amazing Kreskin," but this track is hardly a must-listen, lapsing
occasionally into prolonged silence. The two get along well enough together, but the conversation
is never more than mildly engaging.
Deleted Scenes (SD, 3:02)
There are three deleted scenes, the funniest of which features Buck talking about the internet—
which he has newly discovered.
Extended Scenes (SD, 9:44)
This is an extended look at the Martha Stewart, Regis and Kelly, Daily Show, Late Night with
Conan O'Brien, and TRL sequences.
Outtakes (SD, 3:39)
This isn't a gag reel, per se, but a few different takes of the "I crap Jay Leno" dinner sequence,
and the backstage scene with Tom Arnold.
Behind the Scenes (SD, 9:35)
Featuring interviews with the director, producer, and key cast members, this segment includes
expected levels of congratulatory back patting, but there are a few nice moments as well. Director
Sean McGinly discusses the autobiographical elements of the script, Colin Hanks talks about his
character, and Malkovich dissects Buck's act.
HDNet: A Look at The Great Buck Howard (SD, 4:27)
This promotional piece for HDNet offers nothing new, even recycling some of the interview
material from the "Behind the Scenes" segment.
The Amazing Kreskin (SD, 5:47)
The inspiration for Buck Howard's character talks about how the film differs from his own life,
discusses his relationship with director Sean McGinly, and speculates on how the film might be
received.
The only thing great about The Great Buck Howard is the desperate, comic depth of John Malkovich's performance. While the film has some funny moments, the hilarity is offset by the inherent dullness of Colin Hanks' character and some follow-your-dreams pep talks that prove a little too cloying. With a mediocre story, a below average audio/visual presentation, and a lean selection of extras, The Great Buck Howard is a decent rental if you've already seen everything else your local video store has to offer.
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