neumu [ cinematronic ]




	The Independent
	Stephen Kessler Jerry Stiller, Janeane Garofalo, Max Perlich, Ginger Lynn Allen, John Lydon, Ben Stiller, Andy Dick, Anne Meara, Ron Howard, Peter Bogdonovich, Roger Corman, Karen Black 2001		A very funny movie with a quasi-documentary approach to its subject — the fictional king of B-movies, Morty Fineman. Played by the overheated, naturally comic Jerry Stiller, Morty is a compendium of every self-important, scam-juggling, yet prolific Hollywood hack who ever set his fanny into a director's chair and whined about a lack of recognition. Stiller is well matched with Janeane Garofalo, who's doing her dour, cynical thing as Morty's neglected daughter. She's roped back into Morty's life as his business manager when his latest production, "Ms. Kevorkian," is shut down for lack of funds. Her efforts could be for naught, even though Morty's inept assistant (Max Perlich) has found the one film festival in the U.S. that's willing to give Morty a career-energizing tribute. Studded with real film people (e.g. directors Ron Howard, Peter Bogdonovich and Roger Corman) spouting accolades, barbed cameos (e.g. Ben Stiller, Andy Dick, Anne Meara) and, best of all, riotous clips from Morty's bogus oeuvre.