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| Images Courtesy of Giant Pictures |
Mockumentaries
are one of the most solid genres of comedy films. Awkwardness and
idiosyncrasies are the tools of the trade and in Sam Pezzullo and
Christopher Bouckoms' hilarious feature film The Premiere, they are
married in a delightfully mad romance of self-centered egos, disastrous
productions, and small-town crime. Featuring a perfectly ridiculous
central performance (one of the best of the year), a unique potpourri of Sag
Harbor locals, and genuinely humorous moments of comedic timing, this is one of
the most memorable comedies of the year.
Sam is a
failed theater producer who decides that it is his life’s dream to create a
stage play based on 1996's slasher film Scream, a task that is a fool's
errand. In the wake of the failure, Sam decides to create a documentary
on the failed production. Bouckoms and Pezzullo's script will
immediately conjure memories of Curb Your Enthusiasm and to a certain
point, Best in Show. The story
within the story is a nice touch, and while having screen Scream is not
a perquisite, it does help some of the jokes land better. Pezzullo stars
as Sam and his ability to portray one of the most annoying, egotistical, and
out of touch people in existence is a near miracle. The entire premise
hinges on this performance and Pezzullo does not disappoint.
Kristen
Curcie gives a stalwart supporting turn as Sam's assistant, whose conclusive
scene immediately conjures the avatar of Aubrey Plaza. This is a story about
failed dreams and small-town eccentricities, and Curcie is a standout in both
avenues. Michaael Candelori's cinematography has an uncomfortable
stillness during a lot of the dialogue and this only helps to ratchet up the
cringe factor. Particularly during the final act, as things begin to come
together (fall apart) the viewer is captured, helplessly within Candelori's
cinematic grasp and forced to watch the trainwreck as it unfolds and the result
is a one of the most laugh out loud comeuppances in recent memory.
Now available
for digital rental, The Premiere is an intelligent peek into the world
of self-absorbed artists. On the surface, a story about chasing dreams
and making them real masks a selfish undercurrent filled with strange local
personas and a protagonist (?) with an embarrassingly large sense of self.
Smart dialogue and Pezzullo's absolute commitment to the material
elevate what could have been a forgettable indie into an unforgettable and fun
comedy film that deserves to be revisited.
--Kyle
Jonathan