Authors Anonymous

Writers, aspiring authors, and journalists seem to get flack no matter where they turn in an increasingly math and science driven world that, while undoubtedly improving the life and sanctity of humanity through unforeseeable technological and scientific innovations, still inherently neglects the humanity and the eccentric qualities that the aforementioned groups of people work to establish within nearly everything they do. In such times, where opportunities for jumpstarting their writing projects have been given more accessibility but, in return, less professional credibility, we logically turn to other writers to discuss this problem or, ambitiously enough, seek out films to help us deal with the common struggles of a writer, to which Ellie Kanner's Authors Anonymous seemed like a solid bet for a film attempting to profile a group of aspiring writers.

Authors Anonymous never really establishes whether or not it wants to be a practical account of a group of goofy writers whose ultimate goals are to get published and become recognized for what they do or if it the film wants to be a broadly done satire profiling the common caricatures of writers. I have a feeling the film leans more towards the second category than the first, however, that only makes my ongoing review even harsher, for the film not only squanders opportunities and commentary with this approach, when it should be overflowing with them, but also greatly diminishes the resonance this film could have with writers everywhere, myself included.

The film has a plethora of great stars, all of whom I hope to see in better films as soon as possible. The film revolves around a group of aspiring/struggling writers, whom gather at their authors anonymous meeting - although they openly state their names, which defeats the purpose of the group's name, yet I digress - to discuss their stories and their ambitions, while giving and receiving personal feedback. The group is run by Henry Obert (American Pie's Chris Klein), an amiable pizza delivery man and carpet cleaner, who is suffering from a wretched case of writer's block and disillusioned by his monotonous existence all the more. That is until he meets Hannah Rinaldi (The Big Bang Theory's Kaley Cuoco), a woefully dim but cheery and attractive writer who, while never reading a book in her life, let alone naming a famous author, manages to score a publishing deal for the book she wrote. Once she manages to become a regular at the authors anonymous (but not really) meetings, she is quickly envied by the other authors in the group, including the uptight David Kelleher (Jonathan Banks), the do-nothing William Bruce (Jonathan Bennett), and the annoyingly delusional but incomparably ambitious John K. Butzin (Dennis Farina), who aspires to one-up everyone in the group by looking to get his novel published and made into a movie, directed by Clint Eastwood, to disastrous results.

The way I see it, each author is supposed to represent a different kind of author we encounter or read about. While Henry is optimistic, he's also burdened by the inability to capture his thoughts adequately on the page, while Hannah is the kind of person who's ignorance and lack of any real fundamental knowledge of the field are neglected by others and, of course, she walks away with a publishing deal. Meanwhile you have David, who carries a tape recorder along with him to voice his spur-of-the-moment ideas, however, never actually using them, William, who is simply in it for the ride, talking a lot but never actually writing, and John, the writer who deludes himself by saying all is going well and on the up-and-up for his writing career when it's anything but.

Yet, writer David Congalton doesn't really acknowledge or dive into the purpose of these caricatures, making them lumber through tiresome setups with every scene, allowing their same flawed personality traits to be seen. This does nothing more than erect a tired, one-note joke where we become so caught up in the character's naivety and inherent stupidity that we don't care anymore. We came to see a version of ourselves, but all we get are the broadstrokes of actual human beings that exercise in that odd cinematic void where complete and total stupidity is passed off as reality. Not to mention, the film is also shot like a reality show, ironically adding realism to the one film this year that has about as much realism as Transformers: Age of Extinction.

Authors Anonymous bears some positives amidst a whirlwind of issues. The cast is always watchable and committed to their roles, regardless of how obnoxious or undercooked they are, the film bears the kind of original setups that you're interested in, even on a small note, just to see where they end up, and the film isn't without certain moments of humor. However, Authors Anonymous, like a muddled adventure book, lacks an identity or a resonance with broadly-drawn satire or attempts at a comedy authors can relate to, never identifying with either and unfortunately failing if classified as both.

Starring: Chris Klein, Kaley Cuoco, Johnathan Banks, Johnathan Bennett, and Dennis Farina. Directed by: Ellie Kanner.

Definitely a very "meta" film, considering that an untalented but successful actress (Kaley Cuoco) plays an untalented but successful writer. (One of the other characters likes her, but it is not made clear why!)

I think a lot of my disappointment comes from the total lack of a comeuppance for the know-nothing lead character, which for some reason I was expecting, like a punch line to a joke. The other thing that was lacking that could have made the lead character more interesting and likable was some personal growth. There is simply very little for the viewer to root for or even care about in this movie.

The premise was appealing, which is why I watched the movie, but it really failed to entertain and I actually just ended up feeling upset and angry that I had wasted time and money on this poorly made movie.

I had to rewatch this because I barley remember this movie, that being said, I like this film didn't love it but liked it, the movie starts of really interesting, I liked the way it was film like a documentary, something different in quite a while, Kaley Cuocco though omg she is so fine to see in here, is nice seeing her in something else besides The Big Bang Theory. She was really good in here, as well for the rest of the actors, the movie develops really good and the Awkard moments were shot really good, and the comedy was deliver on time to make you laugh at the right time, it's a really joyful film, very solid comedy, and a really good ending that satisfied me at the end, So for that being said I give " Authors Anonymous " a solid C-. One last thing guys I like the other actress in here Teri Polo she played her character really good and some of her deliveries was just on point, the comedy in here was on point.

I wasn't sure whether or not to give this one a go considering the current low rating (which was 4.4 when I wrote this review) but I must say I'm glad I did.

It's not the most amazing movie of all time or anything but it kept me entertained throughout it's running-time.

It feels like it was heavily inspired by the TV-series 'Modern Family' and Christopher Guest's filmography with a fake documentary approach having the characters talk straight to the camera occasionally about their lives and the other characters etc.

If you want to get technical some angles could simply not have been captured the way they were in the movie by a documentary-crew, with for instance multiple- angle close ups of characters sitting opposed to each other at a table but no camera-man in sight in any of the shots, but it doesn't take you out of the movie or anything.

As far as the movie goes it had a lot of funny moments with a stellar cast (good to see Chris Klein again) and even though the plot is hard to describe as it's not really a plot-based movie but merely about some odd characters with hopes of becoming successful writers (some odder than others) it does entertain and that's all I wanted from the movie.

Having been in several small writers groups in different Nevada and California locations I found it true to life in that a non-writer controls the group. The one problem I had with the film was the screenwriters identifying a Vanity Press indicating Roaring Lion as a Print-On=Demand. Nothing could be farther from the truth. I have found POD to be quite rewarding and not nearly as expensive as depicted in the film.

I do believe that all three writers landed publishing contracts not because of what was written, but who they knew. I am sure that is the way it works in Hollywood and I understand it working in the print world as well.

There were some chuckles, but as I found it too true to life in the writers group segments, I couldn't give it higher than 4 stars. For someone who has never experienced the writers groups BS they may find it extremely funny.

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