Matt's Chance

You may have noticed out of 26 reviewers for "Matt's Chance", nobody has reviewed more than 1 movie on IMDb. Not that this necessarily makes their opinions less valid (I mean hey, even Tibetan monks who are only allowed to watch 1 movie in their entire life have the right to post on IMDb?) But if you're like me, you might smell some review padding at work.

Well rest assured I'm a real person, not involved with this production in any way, not dating any of the cast or crew, with nothing better to do with my life than review some 500+ movies on IMDb, so you can trust that this review is legit.

"Matt's Chance" is a quirky, dark comedy which which is 1/4 love story, 1/4 revenge story, 1/4 crime story, 1/4 fantasy, and 100% original. It begins mundanely enough: a loser is in a bar whining to his buddy about some chick, and the film proceeds in flashback form as he tells his bud the story. From there it picks up speed, it ropes us in with foreshadowing of some epic disaster to come, and the vibe becomes increasingly surreal, building momentum and suspension of disbelief until the astonishing ending which requires your disbelief to be not only suspended but beaten senseless like a piñata.

Some people may hate it for that very reason, but if you like movies that run you over like a garbage truck, challenging you to grasp unconventional situations and even more unconventional morality, then this is for you.

Without ruining anything, I'll say it's an adventure of one man embarking on a journey of revenge. Not quite sure of how to proceed, he encounters bizarre characters along the way (Lee Majors as the silent barber, Gary Busey as the hilariously cynical pawn shop owner, Margot Kidder as a sexagenarian stripper "he only keeps me around because I look enough like a man to get his rocks off" haha). These characters each appear for 1 scene and are seen no more, as if they're chapters out of an Alice in Wonderland nightmare: a caterpillar, a mad hatter, a duchess.

Other characters are more established but equally bizarre: his best friend the priest who raps on the toilet in his spare time, and a charmingly disturbed individual known as Gabor who reminded me very much of John Turturro's sleazy character in "The Big Lebowski" except this guy was much more likable.

Plot aside, this is an odd morality tale for the 21st century. It definitely ain't your grandfather's morality tale. So be prepared for anything. The wacky twist at the end really makes you think hard. In that respect it reminded me of the disturbing dark comedy with Rainn Wilson & Ellen Page called "Super" which challenges us to see the moral difference between a superhero and psycho vigilante... if there is indeed a difference. Neither of these films is to be taken at face value, and the satire is so thick you can't help but be amused at how the director is playing with us.

Stylistically, the humor is subtle & snappy with funny characterizations (excellently acted all around). The awkward "tough guy" match between Gary Busey & Bill Sorice ("Gabor") had me howling. Comedy-wise it's similar to the obscure gems "Circus Maximus" and "Bunny Whipped". If you haven't heard of those, think of "Pulp Fiction" on a caffeine high. That is: offbeat, deadpan humor but at a faster pace. If you're in the mood for something like you've never seen, give "Matt's Chance" a chance.

I had the opportunity to see this film recently and wasn't sure what to expect. Very funny at times and also has some unexpected twists. The film does have a dark side and covers a lot of subject matter, but in a comical way.

Furlong turns in a solid performance and Gary Busey and Bill Sorice provide excellent supporting roles. Margot Kidder's cameo is worth the price of admission. The entire cast is excellent and the story is very original.

Overall a very well done independent film and a very promising director. I can't wait to see what Mr. Gyeney does next.

I saw Matt's Chance at the VIFF, in Las Vegas. I was initially intrigued with the cast of the movie and wanting to check it out. Some of the cast includes Edward Furlong, Gary Busey, Margot Kidder, and Lee Majors. Recognizable faces for sure from many different diverse backgrounds and many years of experience. In what is a "very" dark, intense and edgy comedy about Furlong and his girlfriend, a cast of strange characters, and maybe even more in the humor found in the introspection, continually bouncing from reality to unreality. Somehow, all is cleverly pulled together and harnessed by a definite up-and-coming talent, in Director, Nicholas Gyeney.

With Edward Furlong in his best work to date, Furlong, naturally rides this dark and edgy vibe right out of the gate. He really finds the right right track and pulls you in and stays on course. Gary Busey, is in his natural habitat as the pawn shop owner. Margot Kidder (Louis Lane- Superman) appears out of the fog and does a very intriguing elderly stripper ... that is not routine. Lee Majors (the Six Million Dollar Man- are you kidding me!) as the Barber, and ... Brandy Kopp, plays the beautiful girlfriend to warm things up. Bill Sorice nails the mob boss and Edward Michael Scott plays the rival, Tyler Swift ... not to be confused with Taylor Swift.

I really believe we are going to see some great things from this fast, up-and-coming director, Nicholas Gyeney. On top of the cast doing a solid performances, Gyeney, does a masterful job of bringing it all together. Keep your eye on this guy.

After spending a day watching films at a local film festival in my home town, it was refreshing to see an independent film with real actors, a real director, an real charm!

Matt's Chance is a quirky offbeat dark comedy with some very interesting and intense scenes, and is driven by its slew of odd character . Edward Furlong brings his classic slacker style of comedic performance to the film. It's possibly Furlong's best work in over a decade. The characters are fresh and do a great job of pulling off the humor that goes along with a dark comedy like this. I especially liked Bill Sorice as the mob boss character, he almost had the feel of a crazy Andy Garcia, and was a breath of fresh air to the Russian stereotypical gangster we see in independent films today. Lee Majors delivers some great lines as the advice giving Barber. You can't go wrong for an independent film with an icon like Lee Majors. Gary Busey, is casted perfectly for this offbeat character driven comedy, an makes a nice cameo as a pawn shop owner giving life lessons. Margret Kidder, "Louis Lane from Superman" makes an amazing cameo as an aging stripper that is a must see for any fan boy or girl out there. Edi Zanidache is spot on as the gangster wannabe best friend, an adds the perfect amount of charm thru out the film!

All in all it's a fun ride and a great independent movie from a promising director. I highly recommend this film to people who loved Martin Scorsese's "After Hours"! If you have ever fell for the wit and charm that Mr. Furlong can produce in such films as "Pecker" or "Detroit Rock City" seek this film out Immediately!

I like this movie! It's not your typical movie with the same old story line. I thought was shot fantastic I was taken back by the use of vibrant colors and the cinematography was fantastic!

I found humor in one scene in particular that I won't mention but I actually thought Eddie Furlong was the perfect character choice...his dry sense of humor was clearly evident.

I have to say my favorite character is Gabor he actually kept things going throughout the film and I couldn't wait to see what he was going to do next.

It was good to see all the actors from back in the day and the priest was something else...lol.

This is not for your average unimaginative viewer you definitely have to think outside the box and expand your mind on this one to keep up.