Highball

I love Noah Baumbach's other films, even Mr. Jealousy, and I've always been a big fan of Dean Wareham (and Luna), so I wondered why I'd never even heard about this particular film until so many years after it was released. I'm assuming that Mr. Baumbach tried to keep people from seeing it, because I went to see so many indie films back in the 90s, I wondered how I'd managed to miss it.

Watching Highball made me really appreciate things I normally take for granted in other films...things like direction, cinematography, lighting, editing, set design, acting, etc. There is so much more that goes into filmmaking besides hiring a group of actors to stand in front of a camera and read from a script. A mediocre script.

Maybe had they hired someone like Parker Posey to star in it, or just given Chris Eigeman a bigger role, the whole thing would have come together. But probably not.

I could talk about what's wrong with this movie but the most important thing is I laughed out loud several times. That makes it worth the time I spent watching it and I would do it again. Oh yes, don't expect there to be any point to what is going on - there is none.

I just watched this film and I was amazed at what an effect It had on me. It was very funny and weird, but most of all it was true. The writing was sharp and often hilarious, but the performances are what really pull it off. I often say that Chris Eigeman steals any movie he is in, but it doesn't happen in this movie. All the actors hit the right mark to create something that is rare in current independant films. No one in this film over or under acts. If you love dialogue driven comedies with some fine nuanced perfomances (ie Whit Stillman, kicking & screaming) you'll enjoy this flick.

A small group of friends attend three different parties spread months apart. Some funny bits, some funny gags, but the film feels incomplete. I choose to attribute the good parts to Noah Baumbach, not out of liking his other work, as I have yet to see his "Kicking and Screaming" film (heard nothing but good things though), but rather because I REALLY want "The Life Aquatic" to be great. And I pin the blame of the bad scenes on the shoulders of Christopher Reed, because..well because the man made "The Sixth Man" 'nuff said. The acting is good all around though. Kudos to that.

My Grade:C+

Where i saw it: Showtime

That Ernie Fusco! What a character! He makes such funny films! HIGHBALL is no exception. I love this witty, underlit, six-day wonder so much! If you've seen any of Fusco's other films, then you know what you're in for. Just one question, who the heck is Noah Baumbach? See this movie. It'll make you want to be a big lizard next Halloween.