IMDb RATING
6.6/10
1.4K
YOUR RATING
When two friends tape-recorded the fights of their violently noisy neighbors, they accidentally created one of the world's first 'viral' pop-culture sensations.When two friends tape-recorded the fights of their violently noisy neighbors, they accidentally created one of the world's first 'viral' pop-culture sensations.When two friends tape-recorded the fights of their violently noisy neighbors, they accidentally created one of the world's first 'viral' pop-culture sensations.
- Awards
- 6 nominations
Eddie Lee Sausage
- Self
- (as Eddie, 'Eddie Lee Sausage')
Mitch Deprey
- Mitchell D
- (as Mitch, 'Mitchell D')
Robert Mothersbaugh
- Self - DEVO
- (as Bob Mothersbaugh)
Henry S. Rosenthal
- Self - Film Producer
- (as Henry Rosenthal, Henry S. Rosenthal)
Mark Gunderson
- Self - Radio Host - The Sound of Plaid
- (as Trademark G, Mark Gunderson aka Trademark G)
Christy Brand
- Self
- (as Frillypants, Christy Brand aka Frillypants)
Doug Levy
- Self - Obsessive Fan
- (as Doug Levy, Douglas Levy)
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaFirst feature to be made and released from the South Australian Film Corporation's FilmLab initiative.
- Crazy creditsArchival Material "Bale Out! Christian Bale Remix! Acoustic Version" by EWKUTB
- ConnectionsFeatures Shut Yer Dirty Little Mouth (2001)
- SoundtracksToo Drunk To Dream
Written by S. Merritt
Performed by The Magnetic Fields
Licensed courtesy of Warner Music Australia Pty Ltd
© Gay and Loud Music / Notting Hill Music Ltd.
Administered by Universal Music Publishing Pty Ltd
Featured review
From director Mathew Bate comes the stunningly well put-together documentary "Shut up, Little Man: An Audio Misadventure." It tells the complete story behind the infamous audio tapes that have been circulating around the globe for around 20 years. For those unfamiliar, the tapes are real-life recordings done by two college graduates of their drunken, next-door neighbor's violent, profane and often hilarious verbal (and occasionally physical, as is implied) brawls. They were essentially a viral sensation long before the age of the internet took over, and circulated throughout the US. (and eventually the globe)
This documentary, as mentioned in the subject line, feels like two different documentaries on a common subject, "smooshed" together. The first half of the film follows the two guys, who in the late 80's made the initial recordings and helped facilitate their distribution. It follows their stories, and how the audio grew beyond expectations, spawning everything from comics, to small plays and even eventually a film.
The second half of the film is a more comprehensive look at the two main subjects of the audio- Ray and Eddie, a homophobic violent drunk, and his gay and equally as drunk roommate. It pieces together their story and we are eventually able to learn more and more about them, and their relationship as friends/roommates/enemies.
The film is presented in a very interesting way, and the method by which the production team chooses to develop the subjects is fascinating and very cool. Lots of cool visuals, stock footage set to the audio, and other visual tricks give the documentary a level of eye-candy, and there is rampant humor throughout. If you've seen the fabulous documentary "Winnebago Man", you will know the sort of thing to expect, because the latter half of the film is in much the same vein.
It's also interesting seeing "Eddie Lee Sausage" and "Mitchell D", the two men who made the recordings, and how their lives have been affected by it, both for the better and for the worse. Some scenes focusing on the morality and exploitive nature of the audio and the "art" it inspired are exceedingly though-provoking.
That being said, the film does get a little lost at times. Some scenes focusing on "fans" of the audio feel out of place and don't add much to the story, there is some redundancy in how the film keeps coming back to the same themes over and over again (but not in a clean, poetic way, but in a forced, contrived way), and it does drag at times.
However, that being said, it's still a fundamentally solid and extremely fun documentary, and I'd highly recommend it. I give it an 8 out of 10.
This documentary, as mentioned in the subject line, feels like two different documentaries on a common subject, "smooshed" together. The first half of the film follows the two guys, who in the late 80's made the initial recordings and helped facilitate their distribution. It follows their stories, and how the audio grew beyond expectations, spawning everything from comics, to small plays and even eventually a film.
The second half of the film is a more comprehensive look at the two main subjects of the audio- Ray and Eddie, a homophobic violent drunk, and his gay and equally as drunk roommate. It pieces together their story and we are eventually able to learn more and more about them, and their relationship as friends/roommates/enemies.
The film is presented in a very interesting way, and the method by which the production team chooses to develop the subjects is fascinating and very cool. Lots of cool visuals, stock footage set to the audio, and other visual tricks give the documentary a level of eye-candy, and there is rampant humor throughout. If you've seen the fabulous documentary "Winnebago Man", you will know the sort of thing to expect, because the latter half of the film is in much the same vein.
It's also interesting seeing "Eddie Lee Sausage" and "Mitchell D", the two men who made the recordings, and how their lives have been affected by it, both for the better and for the worse. Some scenes focusing on the morality and exploitive nature of the audio and the "art" it inspired are exceedingly though-provoking.
That being said, the film does get a little lost at times. Some scenes focusing on "fans" of the audio feel out of place and don't add much to the story, there is some redundancy in how the film keeps coming back to the same themes over and over again (but not in a clean, poetic way, but in a forced, contrived way), and it does drag at times.
However, that being said, it's still a fundamentally solid and extremely fun documentary, and I'd highly recommend it. I give it an 8 out of 10.
- TedStixonAKAMaximumMadness
- Mar 24, 2012
- Permalink
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Official sites
- Language
- Also known as
- Shut Up Little Man!
- Filming locations
- The Castro District, San Francisco, California, USA(Multiple exterior shots.)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Gross US & Canada
- $23,901
- Gross worldwide
- $23,901
- Runtime1 hour 30 minutes
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