The Woman Chaser

THE WOMAN CHASER (2000) *** Patrick Warburton gives a deadpan perfect turn as a scruple-less used car salesman in this

pitch perfect valentine to B movies and does so with great elan in

adapting pulp fiction author Charles Willeford's novel of noir to

fruition. Warburton's Richard Hudson is a sleaze with barely a

conscience yet defines his purpose in life of expressing himself by

directing a genre film he's written that ultimately mirrors his own

path of self-destruction. Blackly funny with incredible production

design and black & white cinematography that captures all-too-well the dank world of LA circa 1950s with its cocktail

lounge décor and sleek looking cars and costumes. Indie

filmmaker Robinson Devor makes an impressive debut with some

clever commentary on the duplicitous nature of Hollywood.

I first heard of Charles Willeford when Miami Blues came out. I read that book & found it fantastic. I thought the movie of Miami Blues was a minor masterpiece. I began to work backwards in Willeford's novels & got to this one which I found, like much of his earliest work, very bizarre. A used car salesman who dances a ballet with his mother. This film has captured that quality perfectly, treating it with utmost respect & love & lots of very well-tempered humor. Every detail of this film works perfectly, the acting, lighting, music, quality of sound, even, or especially, the perfect pitch of B-movie voices. Less lethal than Jim Thompson, less schematic than James M. Cain, more resourceful than David Goodis, Charles Willeford now has had two well-deserved minor film masterpieces made of his work.

If you saw The Woman Chaser at the NY Film Fest or Sundance, take a second look. I saw it at SXSW in Austin, Tx this last Sunday night and I loved it. You've probably seen the reviews from previous film fests, but the version that played in Austin is not what the reviewers in NY or at Sundance saw. It was outstanding! I have not seen any version but this one, but from other reviews I know what at least one of the cuts was (good decision, by the way). I happen to really like a good bad guy and Warburton made a GREAT bad guy. Just see it. You'll understand. Oh, and if you're reading this Joe, it was great to see you! And yeah, I'm waiting for the director's cut DVD to come out...

The only truly original film I've seen this year, The Woman Chaser takes its cue from its psycho-pulp origins and steeps itself in a brilliantly mordant mise-en-scene. Each shot bursts with ideas and mood, and Patrick Warburton is wonderful. The film is hilarious, and far enough off-center to truly appeal to those who get it. Those who like it will love it, and those who dislike it should probably look a little closer. Somehow simultaneously endearing, shocking and gritty, it's an insider's view of insanity, with all its delightfully f***ed-up characters painted affectionately by the director and his actors. Insightful and funny on the dregs of human behavior and in many ways a multi-layered riff on the nature of movies themselves - this is the one American film I would recommend over any other this year.

Just saw 35 films at Sundance and hands down, this film stands out while most of the others are just a blur. Patrick Warburton plays "The Director" (the author's original title for the story)and he plays it to deadpan perfection. Shot in color and then transferred to a high contrast black and white title stock, paints this film in a lush visual treat. Plot and dialog holds true to the original 60's pulp and creates a harsh charm that is both parody and innovative filmmaking. Looking forward to seeing this one again as soon as it is released.