Unter falschem Namen

I came across this movie on late night TV while channel surfing. Even though I missed the first 5 - 10 minutes I soon became so engrossed I watched it right through to the end - and enjoyed it enormously. It's an unusual plot - but a one that leaves you with a good feeling - about life and the simple things that really matter - love, truth, friendship and being real. Jeff Goldblum has played in a few offbeat movies and is convincing as a middle-aged middle class successful insurance salesman who suddenly realizes his life is boring and meaningless. The realization is triggered by a traumatic event he witnesses and is unwittingly part of. The rest of the film is about how he reacts to that realization and the people he meets along the way. A number of the minor characters are interesting as well. I particularly enjoyed the retired boxer. Well worth watching at any time of the day. Too good to be a late night movie rerun.

Let me start by saying that this story line is completely insane! It is not unbelievable, nor is it immature. It is temporarily insane.

Suffering OCD from a trauma, John (Goldblum) begins demonstrating classic "searching" behavior. He investigates and finally insinuates himself into a situation which is absurd, in a vainglorious attempt to atone for a wrong which he did not commit.

Honestly, while the story itself was oddly compelling, the key element this work features is the versatility of Goldblum as an actor. He shows a depth and range here which his characters are not usually afforded.

I felt that this was one of the best performances of his career!

I cannot wait to see what he does next!

It rates a 9.4/10 on the "B Scale" from...

the Fiend :.

"Augie Rose" tells of a life insurance salesman (Goldblum) who assists a dying deli clerk (Augie Rose) after a stickup gone bad. Caught in the shootout, the near death experience for the Goldblum character awakens something in him which sets in motion some very peculiar events. This drama-lite production is obviously staged and too theatrical to taken for realism. However, the story is sufficiently intriguing and quirky to hold interest as it wends it way to a conclusion well worth waiting for. A fun little movie with good chemistry between Goldblum and Heche. Kudos to Kabak for this gem.

I just viewed this film last night on Cinemax and I kept telling myself "This is not supposed to be this good". I loved this film. ...And whoever recommended that if you like this film, you'd like "American Beauty" were right on the mark. The two films are totally different, but they both deal with what happens when certain events serve as a pivotal point for major changes in the lives of two men who need to be jump started. I'm not a big Jeff Goldblum fan, but I really believe this is one of the best things he's ever done and I admire him for taking a role in a film that probably won't get very much attention. Great story and I really loved Anne Heche also. Wonderful experience. Like "American Beauty" as you watch this and the plots gets more and more complex you actually marvel in where you're being taken.

Jeff Goldblum is known for his quirky characters and his off kilter delivery. Once again his quirkiness works in this small gem of a movie. Having no expectations, I was pleasantly surprised by this tale of mistaken identity and rebirth. Jeff Goldblum plays John Nolan, an insurance executive in Armani suits and a rather nice car. His life seems to be idyllic, if not a bit stalled, when a bottle of wine and a bullet change everything. Nolan finds himself drawn to the life and death of a store clerk until he slowly begins to assume the man's life. Why would a successful business man want to step into the shoes of an ex-con? Goldblum's performance makes this life change subltly understandable. Anne Heche, craziness aside, has always been a fine actress and she is great here as the ex-con's pen pal. Sweet and naive she believes in this man and her capriciousness is contagious. She leaves her small town life to live with a man she's never met, but he's not the man she thinks he is. Check this one out for yourself.