Bandwagon

I was very lucky to catch this film with a couple of friends at the Newport Beach Movie Festival on my last trip to the states.

How good is it? It's great. It is one of the few movies that really made me laugh, although some people find it offensive. Emma Caulfield achieves, with honors, to portray a hilariously exaggerated version of herself in a successful attempt to mock the do gooder image that Hollywood artists try to sell. You don't have to be biased to enjoy this film because Emma's character in this movie is nothing like her "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" character.

If I get any luckier the film will come to Puerto Rico's next movie festival, or it may even be for sale some day. Oh, well, that's wishful thinking. But honestly, if you get the chance to see it don't hesitate, you won't regret it. It's a gem.

This movie was very, very funny. It bordered on offensive, stirring up ideas about political correctness, but you were laughing too hard to realize it. Emma Caulfield's portrayal of a very self-absorbed, and not very self-aware hollywood actress makes you almost feel sorry for her, when things are unfolding in front of her face that she just doesn't quite catch. Karri Bowman's "Tubie" is perfectly ridiculous.

At a first glace, "Bandwagon" might seem a bit offensive to the casual viewer. It's a satirical documentary ("mockumentary") that deals with issues other movies might be afraid to delve into.

The writing is fantastic because it's smart comedy. It's not just funny for the sake of being funny; it simultaneously makes you think about people and situations. Just watch Emma Caulfield mock herself and try not to burst into laughter! I dare you.

I can't wait to see this movie again!

Emma Caulfield plays a fictionalized version of herself, using "Emma Caulfield's" desire for some career-advancing PR as her motive for trying to launch the acting career of another young woman, who appears to be mentally handicapped. This plot provides the means for making fun of the Hollywood community's do-gooder instinct, a target that's deserved a good swift quick for a long time.

Anyone who enjoys the movies made by Christopher Guest and his troupe (Waiting For Guffman, Best in Show, A Mighty Wind) will like Bandwagon. This movie uses the same approach as Guest's, in that each scene has a basic point it must get across, but beyond that everything is improvised by the actors. This requires smart, quick, empathetic performers to succeed and fortunately the entire cast meets that requirement. In the two main roles, Caulfield and Karri Bowman are especially good. (The latter also wrote the story and directed.)

I was fortunate enough to see this movie at the Newport Beach Film Festival. Caulfield and Bowman appeared to answer questions afterward, which is where I learned about how they went about making the movie's individual scenes. I've heard elsewhere that it wasn't accepted at the Sundance Festival, which probably makes it less likely that it will get distribution beyond some of the other film festivals. If we (and the movie) are lucky, it'll turn up on cable on IFC or The Sundance Channel eventually. I hope so because it deserves a wider audience.

How great was this movie? Really great! A work of art! It's smart, witty, funny, addictive, and just brilliantly put together. You don't have to be biased to like this movie as it's made to make you think and laugh and it nails both targets with hit points.

I guarentee if you see this movie, you'll laugh your ass off and think about each points this movie goes over just how great everyone involved in it is. Emma's beginning topic, which will, later in the film, change, is just a very smart part, as well as funny.

I'll leave you with a quote: 'I think.. I think I did something really bad.'