Three Businessmen

After Walker and Straight To Hell were mercilessly savaged by film critics in 1987, the creator of Repo Man and Sid & Nancy seemed to have fallen off the face of the earth, at least to Americans. Fortunately for all of us, Alex Cox did continue to make movies, even if they were basically unseen on this side of the Atlantic.

And, just as fortunately, those movies continued to be as creative as the films that made him famous. Three Businessmen is a charming, thoroughly original movie about two men who meet in a hotel dining room. They talk awhile, but when service appears not to be forthcoming, they set out into the streets of Liverpool in search of dinner. And they talk. And that's about it.

Out of this slim premise, Cox and Tod Davies have fashioned a brilliant and memorable film. It never fails to capture your interest -- either intellectually or visually -- and as soon as it was over, I wanted to watch it again (not unlike my reaction when I first saw Repo Man, oh these many years ago).

This is definitely one to check out if you want something a little "off the beaten track" but not too self-consciously artsy.

Alex Cox says this picture isn't "Repo Man," and he's right. It's a neatly constructed and unashamedly intelligent little masterpiece that transports his career to a new plateau of excellence and maturity. Unpretentious and uncompromising, it's sure to be an instant classic.

Two businessmen meet in an abandoned restaurant of the old rococo hotel their staying and decide to take a walk in order to find booze and food. One is English and the other one is American but their surnames are similar if translated… They start walking in the streets of Liverpool, often stopping in bars and restaurants but never being able to put a bite in their mouth. They are continually talking about society and politics and economy. Sometimes they get along with each other, sometimes they don't. Anyway, from a point on, their walk takes a surrealistic turn…

Alex Cox obviously directed this movie just to keep busy. The screenplay feels written by some smart-ass looser who thinks he is Samuel Beckett. Subtlety is nowhere to be found. The cinematography is atrocious. It's a film full of pretense. Cox thinks he makes an important social statement when in fact his view is banal and childish. He tries to experiment, but he fails, not only because he has produced an ugly film, but because he doesn't understand that experimental cinema is meant to take the art a step further. It's not meant to be used as a cheesy effect. Well, he doesn't seem to understand the substance of experimentation just like he didn't seem to understand the substance behind cult when he made Repo Man. He thinks he's above that stuff and he can easily use them to do whatever he wants. That's the reason why he never gets into the whole thing. Experimentation though, is not easy. It requires true vision, not some pretentious need to just differ. It also requires knowledge of the medium and while Cox has that knowledge, he uses it just to prove that he can do it too.

But to be fair, there are moments where the whole joke seems to work and actually provoke some laughs (mostly because of the performances). The scene, in which the two businessmen meet while waiting for the waiter in the restaurant, is well shot (and terribly light) and is maybe the only proof that Cox is a good director.

Alex Cox is one of Britain's best kept secrets, and this is one of his best movies. In fact I'd probably say it ties with 'Repo Man' as his most consistent and entertaining. 'Three Businessmen' is an absurdist fable that shares some of 'Repo Man's surreal humour. As Cox's production company hints Bunuel is a good reference point, as are the odd stories of Flann O'Brien, Kobo Abe or John Sladek.

The idea is simple - two businessmen, one American, played by Cox regular Miguel Sandoval ('Get Shorty', 'Blow'), and one Englishman (Cox himself) meet in the deserted dining room of an expensive hotel in Liverpool. They chat while waiting for service, and when it looks like that isn't forthcoming, they go on a quest for food. Finding the kitchen deserted, and likewise the rest of the hotel, they venture outside to look for somewhere to eat. And so their "adventure" begins.

They walk, talk, agree, disagree, irritate and bond with each other while never quite getting the meal they desire. Things never go to plan, they get sidetracked, misled, confused, and go up various dead ends and strange situations. While still thinking they remain in Liverpool they end up traveling around the world. A plot description doesn't do this movie justice, the real story is in the telling.

'Three Businessmen' (and yes, there is a third one, eventually) is a wonderfully inventive movie that held me until its unexpected twist ending. It's a real gem, and my admiration for Alex Cox grows with every movie of his I see. He is a true original and we need more film makers like him!

A dialogue heavy film that rarely switches pace is perfect for late night viewing when something more kinetic seems inappropriate. It's never less than interesting and well played by the leads and occasionally reminded my of Lost in Translation, with it's meandering scenes of isolation and mutual foreboding.

Tod Davies has created here something very similar to Richar Linklater's Before Sunset. I'm dropping names here because it seems this film has seen a very limited audience so anyone not sure of seeing it, if you enjoyed the ones I've mentioned above, you'll like this.

The humour is delicate and fleeting and usually works pretty well but luckily there's much more to enjoy here than a few laughs. It's a peculiar little film following two men in 'Liverpool' searching for a place to eat and seemingly never achieving their aim. I suppose it has to be seen. Recommended certainly.