News

It’s impossible to overstate the importance of “Saturday Night Live” on American entertainment. Not only has the show introduced the world to some of the greatest comedic performers of their time, but it’s also been responsible for some of the most iconic sketches and musical performances of the last 50 years. And these documentaries capture the magic of these electric moments.

Given how long “SNL” has been around, it’s surprising how few documentaries about the series there are. What’s even more surprising is how many of those documentaries have been lost in the era of streaming. For example, Kenneth Bowser’s “Saturday Night Live” saga, which included deep dives into the ’80s, ’90s and 2000s, isn’t available to stream anywhere, nor is James Franco’s “Saturday Night”. Even ancillary “SNL” documentaries have been lost to time such as the Andy Kaufman-focused “I’m From Hollywood” or “Who Is Chris Rock?...

Behind-the-scenes documentary 40 Years of Rocky: The Birth of a Classic will enter the digital on-demand ring on June 9.

Virgil Films & Entertainment is releasing the film. It is directed by Derek Wayne Johnson, who profiled the director of Rocky in his 2017 film John G. Avildsen: King of the Underdogs. Avildsen, who died in 2017, captured his own 8mm footage during pre-production and shooting of his 1976 Best Picture Oscar winner. It forms the basis of the new documentary, which is narrated by screenwriter and star Sylvester Stallone.

Lloyd Kaufman, who would go on to run Troma Entertainment, home of B-movies like The Toxic Avenger, also shot some of the footage seen in the new documentary during his stint as Rocky‘s production manager. Kaufman’s footage has never previously been seen, Virgil says. The footage shows makeup tests, boxing choreography sessions and other moments involving Stallone and co-stars Carl Weathers and Talia Shire.

“If you loved him the way we did, you would say, well, why him and not us?” Tyrese Gibson says in the official trailer for Adrian Buitenhuis’ documentary “I Am Paul Walker.” The emotional look at the life of the late actor is debuting on Paramount Network next month, and the trailer below guarantees every viewer is going to need a box of tissues.

“I Am Paul Walker” features new interviews with Walker’s family members, friends, and film collaborators. The late actor’s siblings all make appearances in the trailer speaking fondly of their childhood memories with Walker, while “The Fast and the Furious” director Rob Cohen is seen saying Walker’s film star persona was far from the man those who knew him well loved.

Walker was killed in a tragic car accident in 2013. The Porsche Walker was sitting in lost control and burst into flames after crashing into a concrete lamp post.

Image Source: Getty / George Pimentel The world lost something special when comedian and actor Chris Farley passed away in 1997 at the age of 33. In addition to being a huge part of Saturday Night Live's golden years in the '90s, Chris also starred in classic movies like Tommy Boy and Black Sheep. But as bright of a light as he was for other people, Chris battled dark demons in his personal life, including drug and alcohol addiction. A few months before his death, Chris, who had gone to rehab 17 times to try to kick his bad habits, relapsed. "I want to live fast and die young," he told one of his friends. And to the heartbreak of his many fans, that's exactly what happened. RelatedIn Memoriam: 46 Stars We've Lost This Year On Dec. 18, 1997, Chris was found dead in his Chicago apartment from an overdose of cocaine and morphine after...

Heath Ledger was one of his generation's brightest young actors. An immense and generous talent who burst upon the Hollywood scene, he quickly rose to the heights of fame before his tragic death. Critically-acclaimed filmmaker Derik Murray, Network Entertainment, and Spike TV present the definitive look at the life and work of this unforgettable actor and artist in I Am Heath Ledger. Spike TV has debuted the first trailer for this documentary that offers a glimpse at the beloved Heath Ledger that fans haven't seen before.

The 90-minute documentary premieres on Spike TV on Wednesday, May 17 at 10:00pm Et/Pt, following its World Premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival on April 23. The upcoming documentary will receive a limited theatrical nationwide release on May 3 with Fathom Events. Tickets and more information are available at FathomEvents.com. I Am Heath Ledger will also have a Digital/DVD release from Virgil Films...

Spike TV and Network Entertainment have released the official trailer for its upcoming documentary “I Am Heath Ledger.” Directed by Derik Murray (“I Am Chris Farley”), the film offers an intimate look at Ledger’s life, as well as his career rise with roles in films such as “10 Things I Hate About You,” “The Patriot,” “Brokeback Mountain,” “The Dark Knight,” and more.

Read More: Spike TV Announces Wide-Ranging Heath Ledger Documentary for May Broadcast

“He wanted fame, and then when he got it, he didn’t want it,” filmmaker Matt Amato, Ledger’s longtime friend and business partner, says in the trailer. The documentary also features interviews with actors Naomi Watts and Ben Mendelsohn, director Ang Lee, musician Ben Harper, model Chistina Cauche, and other friends and family of the actor.

The trailer opens with footage of Ledger taking pictures with a Rolleiflex camera. The documentary also includes never-before-seen videos shot by the actor.

Virgil Films (Glen Campbell: I'll Be Me, I Am Chris Farley) has acquired North American rights to Lost Cat Corona, the indie comedy starring Ralph Macchio and Gina Gershon. Anthony Tarsitano wrote and directed the pic about a hardworking, play-it-safe guy living in the Corona section of Queens who just wants to relax on his day off. But he's ordered by his distressed wife, Connie (Gershon), to go out and find their cat Leonard, who has disappeared. When he ventures into…...

Spike TV has set an August 1 airdate for the premiere of I Am JFK Jr, the latest in Derik Murray’s docu franchise that is getting its TV debut on the network. His stable of bio-docs includes I Am Evel Knievel, I Am Steve McQueen and I Am Bruce Lee. His most recent of the bunch, I Am Chris Farley, bowed last August on Spike to strong ratings. Like Farley, JFK Jr will kick off with a limited theatrical release, beginning July 20 from Virgil Films. The docu will hit digital…...

Produced by Morgan Spurlock (Pom Wonderful Presents: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold) and directed by Brent Hodge (I Am Chris Farley), The Pistol Shrimps follows an L.A.-based rec-league team. Actress Maria Blasucci created The Pistol Shrimps, and their point guard is Aubrey Plaza (Parks and Recreation). The team is primarily made up of actors and writers, and Hodge’s doc […]

The post ‘The Pistol Shrimps’ Trailer: Are You Ready For Shrimps Basketball Time? appeared first on /Film.

While she’ll be seen in comedies both on the indie and studio side this summer (Joshy and Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates, respectively), Aubrey Plaza will also be featured in a documentary. The Pistol Shrimps follows her all-female basketball team, also made up of Melissa Stern, Maria Blasucci, and more, as they compete in last year’s recreational season. Coming from producer Morgan Spurlock and director Brent Hodge (I Am Chris Farley, A Brony Tale), the first trailers have landed ahead of a release this week.

We said in our review, “As far as sports documentaries about female friendships, there are too few and Pistol Shrimps, as enjoyable as it is, really is exactly what it is — like the league and the podcast it’s something to do. Surely one’s free time can be better spent elsewhere screening a film that’s more profound, but that is not what this is, the same way this rec league is not the Wnba.”

Check out the trailers and poster below.

“The Pistol Shrimps” is the fun new documentary following the 2015 season of the popular all female basketball team called The Pistol Shrimps – made up of actors, comedians and models in La. Comic actress Aubrey Plaza (Parks and Recreation), model Melissa Stern and actress/writer Maria Blasucci (Ghost Ghirls) are part of the ragtag team of trash-talking, hard fouling, wisecracking women who bring a much-needed edge to the game. Off the court, these women are also making it happen as writers, musicians, actors, comedians, moms and wives, who always have time on Tuesday nights for their games. The Pistol Shrimps are truly fearless women who are both ballers on and off the court.

The Pistol Shrimps arrives on SeeSo on June 16th.

Titles include Asif Kapadia’s Amy Winehouse documentary, Michael Moore’s Where To Invade Next and Matthew Heineman’s Cartel Land.

Among those in consideration for the 88th Academy Awards are Cartel Land, He Named Me Malala, Amy, Janis: Little Girl Blue, Sherpa, Where To Invade Next, Winter On Fire, Wolfpack, Meet The Patels and A Sinner In Mecca.

Several of the submissions have not yet had their Los Angeles and New York qualifying releases.

A shortlist of 15 films will be announced in December.

The 88th Academy Awards nominations will be announced on January 14 2016 and the ceremony takes place on February 28 2016 at the Dolby Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center in Hollywood .

The submitted features in alphabetical order are:

Above And Beyond

All Things Must Pass

Amy

The Armor Of Light

Ballet 422

Batkid Begins

Becoming Bulletproof

Being Evel

Beltracchi – The Art Of Forgery

Best Of Enemies

The Black Panthers: Vanguard Of The Revolution

Bolshoi Babylon

[link...

Among those in consideration for the 88th Academy Awards are Cartel Land, He Named Me Malala, Amy, Janie: Little Girl Blue, Sherpa, Where To Invade Next, Winter On Fire, Wolfpack, Meet The Patels and A Sinner In Mecca.Several of the submissions have not yet had their Los Angeles and New York qualifying releases.A shortlist of 15 films will be announced in December.The 88th Academy Awards nominations will be announced on January 14 2016 and the ceremony takes place on

Among those in consideration for the 88th Academy Awards are Cartel Land, He Named Me Malala, Amy, Janie: Little Girl Blue, Sherpa, Where To Invade Next, Winter On Fire, Wolfpack, Meet The Patels and A Sinner In Mecca.

Several of the submissions have not yet had their Los Angeles and New York qualifying releases.

A shortlist of 15 films will be announced in December.

The 88th Academy Awards nominations will be announced on January 14 2016 and the ceremony takes place on...

One hundred twenty-four features have been submitted for consideration in the Documentary Feature category for the 88th Academy Awards.

Last year’s winner was Citizenfour (Laura Poitras, Mathilde Bonnefoy and Dirk Wilutzky)

The submitted features, listed in alphabetical order, are:

“Above and Beyond”

“All Things Must Pass”

“Amy”

“The Armor of Light”

“Ballet 422”

“Batkid Begins”

“Becoming Bulletproof”

“Being Evel”

“Beltracchi – The Art of Forgery”

“Best of Enemies”

“The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution”

“Bolshoi Babylon”

“Brand: A Second Coming”

“A Brave Heart: The Lizzie Velasquez Story”

“Call Me Lucky”

“Cartel Land”

“Censored Voices”

“Champs”

“CodeGirl”

“Coming Home”

“Dark Horse”

“Deli Man”

“Dior and I”

“The Diplomat”

“(Dis)Honesty – The Truth about Lies”

“Don’t Think I’ve Forgotten: Cambodia’s Lost Rock and Roll”

“Dreamcatcher”

“dream/killer”

“Drunk, Stoned, Brilliant, Dead: The Story of the National Lampoon”

“Eating Happiness”

“Every Last Child”

“Evidence of Harm”

“Farewell to Hollywood...

I’ve only got a few heroes, and over 90 percent of them are dead from suicides or drug overdoses: Ian Curtis. John Belushi. Spalding Gray. and Chris Farley. I’ve always been a sucker for Farley. He seemed to have a darkness just under the surface, perhaps more than Belushi. I totally get what it’s like to be the “funny fat guy.” I’ve been that my entire life. I know what it’s like to have those insecurities. Those worries. To always want to impress or make others laugh or be happy. I get that. I get all of that.

Maybe that’s why while watching I Am Chris Farley, I got kinda’ emotional. At a handful of points during this incredible documentary (produced by Spike, the “dude’s channel” of record), there were moments of pure emotion watching guys like David Spade, Adam Sandler and countless others...

Chris Farley was a particular brand of comedian, a performer known for being big, loud, over the top and utterly fearless, willing to risk life and limb for the good of the bit. His rise to fame was meteoric: from Second City to "Saturday Night Live" to movie stardom in half the time it takes most others. In many ways, his life paralleled his career; rarely did Farley turn off his manic energy, and when he wasn’t going big on the stage, he was going big at a party, battling his addiction to food, alcohol, and several other substances. The new Spike TV documentary “I Am Chris Farley” aims to parse out the bottled lightning of Farley’s performances, but in paying tribute to his successes the film fails to recognize the man beneath the myth. Armed with interviews from a cadre of comedy legends and all the archive footage they could want,...

I've never really mentioned Amazon Instant Video releases, but with today being the digital release of Mad Max: Fury Road I figured no better time than now considering it is still one of the best films (if not the best) of the year so far. So, before we get to the physical discs, here's a selection of new titles available on Amazon Instant starting today. Amazon Instant Mad Max: Fury Road Good Kill Felt Cop Car I Am Chris Farley Aloha Walt Disney Animation Studios Shorts Collection Final Girl Return to Sender Of those, I obviously recommend Mad Max and it seems Mike liked Cop Car well enough that a digital rental might be the best way to go. Otherwise, I watched half of Good Kill and couldn't watch any more and I've heard Felt is a pretty solid little horror film. No let's tackle the small selection of physical...

When Christina Applegate hosted Saturday Night Live for the first time, she had no idea she'd be involved in one of the show's most iconic sketches.

The actress, then famous for her role on the hit Fox sitcom Married ... with Children, first took center stage at 30 Rock in 1993. Chris Farley, who was rising through the ranks as one of the cast's funniest and most outrageous members, had finally convinced show creator Lorne Michaels to let him perform one of his favorite characters – a persona he had created while doing improv at the famed Second City in Chicago.

"I remember Lorne Michaels saying to me,...

One of the iconic figures in the storied history of Saturday Night Live, Chris Farley did everything past its limit. The documentary I Am Chris Farley (Spike, Monday, Aug. 10, at 9pm Et/Pt) tells Farley’s hilarious, touching and wildly entertaining story through clips from his most memorable TV and film roles, home movies, photos, and interviews with the people who knew him best and loved him most, including Christina Applegate, Tom Arnold, Dan Aykroyd, Bo Derek, Pat Finn, Jon Lovitz, Lorne Michaels, Jay Mohr, Mike Myers, Bob Odenkirk, Bob Saget, Adam Sandler, Will Sasso, Molly Shannon, David Spade, Brian Stack … Continue reading →

The post Preview: “I Am Chris Farley” documentary premieres on Spike appeared first on Channel Guide Magazine.

At a loss for what to watch this week? From new DVDs and Blu-rays, to what's streaming on Netflix, we've got you covered.

New on DVD and Blu-ray

"Hot Pursuit"

Critics torched this crime comedy, but you can judge for yourself. Reese Witherspoon plays a by-the-book cop trying to protect Sofia Vergara's drug lord wife as they race through Texas. The Blu-ray featurettes may actually be better than the movie. There's "The Womance," showing Reese and Sofia's on-set antics; "Say What?" where Reese and Sofia try to speak the other's language; "Action Like a Lady," where they show the making of all the stunts; and an alternate ending. The DVD just has "The Womance."

"Unfriended"

During their usual group video chat, high school friends are terrorized by an unseen figure in this horror thriller. It pretty much polarized critics -- some really liked, some Really disliked -- so be prepared for either reaction.

The fall festival rush is upon us. Locarno is currently ramping up. Venice has released their line-up and Thom Powers and the Toronto International Film Festival team have dropped a bomb with a previously unannounced new feature from powerhouse docu-provocateur Michael Moore. It is truly a miracle that the production of a film such as Moore’s upcoming Where To Invade Next (see still above) managed to go completely undetected by the filmmaking community until it was literally announced to world premiere at one of the largest film festivals in the world. Programmed as a one of the key films in the Special Presentations section at Tiff, the film sees Moore telling “the Pentagon to ‘stand down’ — he will do the invading for America from now on.” Also announced to premiere at Tiff was Avi Lewis’ This Changes Everything, which has slowly been rising up this list, as well as...

Before Mike Myers took on the role of big green ogre Shrek, funnyman Chris Farley was set to voice the character. In newly surfaced audio tapes, the late comedian can be heard voicing the popular character prior to his 1997 death, along with Eddie Murphy, who voices Donkey. Farley’s Shrek resurfaced after it was featured in the new documentary I Am Chris Farley. According to Entertainment Weekly, the Tommy Boy star was attached to the DreamWorks feature and the role was written specifically for him. He recorded almost [...]...

Chris Farley is back in the zeitgeist these days, partly because of a new documentary called I Am Chris Farley, about the life of the late comedian and Saturday Night Live veteran, and partly thanks to a recent viral video inserting Farley into the Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation trailer. Now here's more, a reminder that Farley was the original voice of Shrek, but he died suddenly in 1997 of a drug overdose before he finished recording his lines. DreamWorks nearly scrapped production on Shrek after the tragedy, but after reportedly trying John Lithgow in the role of the now-iconic ogre, they got Farley's old SNL colleague Mike Myers to redo the part. At that time, Cameron Diaz also replaced Jeneane Garofalo, who'd...

Read More...

Audio of Chris Farley voicing Shrek, the titular ogre from the DreamWorks animated franchise, has surfaced on YouTube. The uploader, user "Bedhead Bernie," attributes its origins to John Garbett, a producer who briefly worked on the film.

The clip arrived not long after Farley's brother, Kevin, told Yahoo! that the comedian had recorded almost all of his dialogue for Shrek prior to his death from a drug overdose in 1997. "Originally, the Shrek character was a little bit more like Chris, like a humble, bumbling innocent guy," Kevin said.

The audio now available highlights Kevin's description,...

Before his death in December of 1997, comedian Chris Farley was cast in the titular ogre role in DreamWorks Animation's "Shrek".

The film was still in the early stages back then, years away from its release in 2001, but Farley had recorded the majority of his dialogue for the project before he died. Even so, the studio ultimately recast him with former SNL co-star Mike Meyers and of course that lead to one of the biggest animated film franchises there is with $3.5 billion at the global box office.

Today, producer John Garbett has uploaded a story reel from the early days of production on the film which includes storyboards with the original voice work done by Farley as Shrek in a scene with Eddie Murphy as Donkey. Gone is the angry Scottish accent Meyers opted to employ, replaced by something more akin to the late Farley's usual voice.

The clip comes...

In 2001, Shrek became a phenomenon. It was a huge blockbuster that put DreamWorks Animation on the map. And it proved that animated family films could be just as fun for adults as children, if not more so. And Mike Myers was championed for his Scottish brogue as the title character. We almost can't image anyone else bringing this big green friendly monster to life. But it almost didn't happen that way. One of Mike Myers' Saturday Night Live co-stars was originally supposed to play the role. And now we get a taste of just how different it may have been.

Before his untimely death at the tender age of 33 years-old in December of 1997, comedian and movie star Chris Farley was chosen as the original voice of the Ogre Shrek in DreamWorks Animations upcoming family comedy adventure. The film was loosely based on William Steig's 1990 fairy tale picture book,...

Before Chris Farley's untimely death in 1997, he did the voice for the titular lovable ogre in Shrek. "He did 99% of the film and then passed away," Kevin Farley, Chris's brother, told Yahoo. "Originally, the Shrek character was a little bit more like Chris — a humble, bumbling, innocent guy." Some lost footage has resurfaced through Reddit featuring Farley and Eddie Murphy doing the voice work over storyboarded images. There's renewed interest in the late comic because a documentary about him, I Am Chris Farley, is in select theaters now and airs on Spike August 10, and is available on VOD the next day.

Chris Farley's voice work as "Shrek" has long been the stuff of legend, and for the first time ever ... we can actually hear it.  Farley completed nearly all of his dialogue for the movie before he passed away, opening the door for Mike Myers to transform the role into his own. The video is just a series of storyboards and features Farley voicing Shrek and, of course, Eddie Murphy as Donkey. "I Am Chris Farley...

The lights went out too soon for funny and talented comedian Chris Farley, and we can only imagine what might've come out of his career had he not tragically died of a drug overdose in 1997. But now, we can hear what Farley would've sounded like in the animated hit "Shrek."

Farley was originally supposed to voice the green monster, and he recorded about 90 percent of the dialogue before his untimely demise in 1997. A Reddit user posted this recording of Farley and Eddie Murphy, which plays over some sketches of Shrek and Donkey's antics.

"Originally the Shrek character was a little bit more like Chris, like a humble, bumbling innocent guy," Kevin Farley told Yahoo Movies. He recently produced a documentary about his brother's life, titled "I Am Chris Farley."

After Farley's death, the movie replaced him with his "Saturday Night Live" co-star Mike Myers, who gave the character his now distinctive Scottish brogue.

The End Of The Tour, A24’s Jesse Eisenberg and Jason Segel pic about writer David Foster Wallace and a reporter profiling him, got off to a solid beginning with a launch in 4 New York and L.A. theaters, one of a handful of new specialty movies this weekend. A couple of high profile Sundance docs also performed well in their openings. Magnolia’s Gore Vidal/William F. Buckley doc Best Of Enemies did fine in three theaters, and Showtime Documentary Listen To Me Marlon had a respectable debut in two cinemas. A Lego Brickumentary opened slow but built some blocks on demand. And Broad Green expanded Samba by 20 additional theaters in its second frame.

James Ponsoldt’s The End Of The Tour grossed $126,459, averaging $31,615. That’s an impressive per screen debut for a Sundance 2015 acquisition, beating Fox Searchlight’s Me and Earl and the Dying Girl’s opening weekend...

Making a documentary isn’t easy. Sure, they’re based on real stories that have already been told, but documentaries comes to life through a proper balance of investigative due diligence and engaging emotionality. For example – Asif Kapadia’s Amy succeeds not only because it chronicles the rise and fall of a poor, wayward musician, but because it’s an emotional powerhouse that never shies away from Winehouse’s dark, unsettling past. Kapadia connects the dots, exposes tragedy, and drags our emotions through Hell along the way.

Much like Winehouse, Chris Farley’s gargantuan talents left this world far too soon thanks to the perils of substance abuse. His story is one of humble beginnings, skyrocketing success, and excessive partying, making me think I Am Chris Farley could be on par with Amy‘s tumultuous ride. Spoiler Alter: it’s not. But that’s not a bad thing! Brent Hodge...

Debuting a few months after Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck and Amy, I Am Chris Farley, which hits theaters today, is our third documentary this summer highlighting the career of a legendary entertainer whose end came too soon. But unlike the first two where we see the downward spiral of Kurt Cobain and Amy Winehouse and how their addictions ultimately killed them, I Am Chris Farley is lighthearted and focuses more on Chris Farley's upbringing, family life and friendships. The documentary premiered Wednesday in Hollywood and there wasn't a dry eye in the house—mostly tears from laughing so hard—but there were many bittersweet moments, too. "I don't know if you've lost anyone close,...

I Am Chris Farley

Written by Steve Burgess

Directed by Brent Hodge & Derik Murray

Canada, 2015

For those who came of age in the ‘90s, Chris Farley is the closest thing to John Belushi that they will ever experience. He was a live wire; an entertainment phenomenon that exploded and flamed out before our very eyes. Brent Hodge and Derik Murray’s new documentary, I Am Chris Farley, tries to illuminate his meteoric rise and fall, as well as to understand his delicate psyche. Mostly, it’s another chance to re-live some of Farley’s best bits, which is just enough to recommend this otherwise disappointing chat-fest.

Chris Farley was born craving the spotlight. Friends and family recount tales of a young Wisconsinite who was determined to entertain everyone around him. Photos and archival footage of his early performances reveal a fearless artist who was willing to do anything to make people laugh,...

"The fatty falls down and everyone goes home happy!" jokes Chris Farley with a hint of sincere embarrassment, on The Late Show with David Letterman. This was true. No other Saturday Night Live (SNL) alum of that era - Mike Myers, Adam Sandler, David Spade, Rob Schneider - made me roll on the floor with laughter like Chris Farley. It was his childlike innocence, manic energy and great physical abandon that made him so magical.His drug overdose in 1997 came as no surprise to many, as the rumors of his drug and sex fueled escapades were widely publicized. I Am Chris Farley, directed by Brent Hodge (A Brony Tale) and Derik Murray (I Am Bruce Lee, I Am Evel Knievel) and co-produced by Kevin Farley, Chris's...

[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...

Directed by Brent Dodge, Eric Murray, written by Steve Burgess

With Chris Farley (archive footage), Dan Aykroyd, Christina Applegate, Bob Odenkirk, Adam Sandler, David Spade, Kevin P Farley, Tom Farley, Bo Derek, many others.

In the world of comedy certain talents stand out as heavyweights, both literally and figuratively. Large of both frame and talent very often these talented performers can seem more like a force of nature running amok in the mundane world, creating comedic chaos for our amusement.

The first that comes to my mind would have to be Roscoe “Fatty” Arbuckle, his name forever tarnished with a scandalous incident that was proved in court never to have happened, Fatty Arbuckle deserves better. He was genuinely talented, a series of dvd releases proves it. He taught Buster Keaton everything he knew. He was also incredibly funny.

I would also add the name of Curly Howard of the Three Stooges,...

I Am Chris Farley admirably shows that Chris Farley was a lot of things: hilarious, energetic, kind, innocent, a gentleman, polite, afraid, alone, an alcoholic, a drug addict, fragile, and above all -- human. His sudden death was a torturous shock and a gut-wrenching reminder that even the best of the best battle demons. He left us way too soon but his energetic spirit will forever live through the movies he made, the skits he did, and the stories told by those close to him.

It’s been a surprisingly interesting month of moving and shaking in terms of doc development. Just a month after making his first public funding pitch at Toronto’s Hot Docs Forum, legendary doc filmmaker Frederick Wiseman took to Kickstarter to help cover the remaining expenses for his 40th feature film In Jackson Heights (see the film’s first trailer below). Unrelentingly rigorous in his determination to capture the American institutional landscape on film, his latest continues down this thematic rabbit hole, taking on the immensely diverse New York City neighborhood of Jackson Heights as his latest subject. According to the Kickstarter page, Wiseman is currently editing the 120 hours of rushes he shot with hopes of having the film ready for a fall festival premiere (my guess would be Tiff, where both National Gallery and At Berkeley made their North American debut), though he’s currently quite a ways away from his $75,000 goal.

Chris Farley's friends and colleagues have paid emotional tributes to him in a new documentary trailer.

I Am Chris Farley will be a retrospective about the life and career of the late Saturday Night Live comic, who died of a drug overdose aged 33 in 1997.

"Success in show business does not always create the best version of people," Bob Saget says in the trailer.

Christina Applegate, Dan Aykroyd, Mike Myers, Adam Sandler, Molly Shannon, David Spade and Lorne Michaels are among those who will appear in the film.

Brent Hodge and Derik Murray directed the documentary, which includes clips from Farley's Saturday Night Live sketches and movies including Black Sheep and Tommy Boy.

I Am Chris Farley will air on Spike on August 10, followed by a VOD release.

Directors Brent Hodge's and Derik Murray's  new documentary "I Am Chris Farley" covers the bittersweet life and career of the comedy genius  who died tragically ahead of his time. Through the cooperation of his family, friends and colleagues, the film presents a complete picture of the artist who was perpetually making audiences laugh even as he battled his own personal demons. The film opens theatrically in New York and L.A. on July 31 and will be telecast on Spike network on August 11, followed by availability through on-demand outlets. For more about the production, click here to visit the official web site. ...

I Am Chris Farley Movie Trailer Has Been Released. Brent Hodge and Derik Murray‘s I Am Chris Farley (2015) movie trailer stars Chris Farley, Adam Sandler, Christina Applegate, Mike Myers, Bob Odenkirk, and Dan Akroyd. I Am Chris Farley‘s plot synopsis: “A documentary on the life of comedian, Chris Farley.” I’m a sucker for documentaries that lionize the dead, especially when […]...

The brand new trailer is here for the documentary I Am Chris Farley.

The film, directed by Brent Hodge and Derik Murray, includes interviews with Christina Applegate, Dan Aykroyd, Mike Myers, Adam Sandler, Molly Shannon and David Spade. It will debut on Spike on August 10, followed by a VOD release.

The film tracks Farley from his early days in Madison, Wis. and at Marquette University, through his work at Second City, “Saturday Night Live” and in films such as Tommy Boy and Black Sheep. He died at the age of 33 of a drug overdose in 1997.

The filmmakers included interviews with Farley’s four siblings, including his brother Tom Jr., who wrote the biography “The Chris Farley Show: A Biography in Three Acts.”

The post Watch The Trailer For I Am Chris Farley Documentary appeared first on We Are Movie Geeks.

Read More: Virgil Films Acquires Rights to Chris Farley Documentary The late comedy genius Chris Farley is getting the documentary treatment this summer with the release of "I Am Chris Farley." Described as the "definitive" biographical film of the "Saturday Night Live" legend, "I Am Chris Farley" features countless well-known comedians as they recount memories and stories of their time with Farley. The film's official synopsis reads: "With the full cooperation and participation of the Farley family, 'I Am Chris Farley' showcases the performer's most memorable characters and skits from television and film, paired with iconic photographs, home movies, family snapshots and personal artifacts, to fully round out the story of this comedy legend - a bear of a man who nevertheless had remarkable grace and physicality." If this trailer is any indication, fans of the late comedian should be prepared to laugh and cry in equal...

Virgil Films picked up U.S. rights to I Am Chris Farley last month and has set a July 31 platform theatrical release for New York and Los Angeles — though not before it bows July 27 in Chicago, where the comic wunderkind first broke on the scene with Second City Theater. That led to SNL and a meteoric rise before it all caught up to him; he died of a drug overdose in 1997 at age 33. Brent Hodge and Derik Murray (A Brony Tale, I Am Evel Knievel) directed the documentary…...

I grew up watching Chris Farley on Saturday Night Live and in his various big screen roles. I liked everything he did even if the material wasn’t all there (Beverly Hills Ninja). He was an explosive force of comedy and now nearly 20 years after his death, it still stings to think about.

A new documentary doesn’t look to make things easier with a look at Farley’s life, character, and career through the recollections of those who knew him best. Mike Myers, Adam Sandler, Bob Odenkirk, Bob Saget, Christina Applegate and more join David Spade, Farley’s brother Kevin Farley, and Lorne Michaels to remember the late comedian.

From the press release for Network Entertainment’s documentary:

Before his untimely death at only 33 years of age, Farley left an indelible mark on the entertainment industry through his groundbreaking work on television in both Second City and Saturday Night Live,...

“He was infectious. And he was kind. And he was a puppy dog.”

That was what Christina Applegate had to say about the late comedian Chris Farley as part of a trailer for the documentary that will take a look at the life of the star of Saturday Night Live, Tommy Boy, and Beverly Hills Ninja.

The documentary is directed by Brent Hodge and Derik Murray and features conversations about Farley with David Spade (his co-star in many films), Adam Sandler, Bob Saget, Lorne Michaels, Mike Myers, Molly Shannon, and Dan Aykroyd among others.

It is set to profile the comedian, who died in 1997 of a drug overdose, and speak with some of the people who spent the most time with him.

The film is set to open in theaters on July 31 and will be available on VOD and digital download on August 11.

Chris Farley lived his life full speed...

"Anytime you get to talk about Chris Farley is a good day." BuzzFeed has debuted the first official trailer for the documentary I Am Chris Farley, a profile about the life of the beloved comedian who died in 1997. It's probably that many of you grew up watching Chris Farley, whether it was on "Saturday Night Live" or in Tommy Boy, Black Sheep or Beverly Hills Ninja. He died almost 20 years ago, if you can believe it was that long ago, and they've finally made a documentary about him and it's out this summer. I Am Chris Farley features all his friends and colleagues, from Adam Sandler to Lorne Micheals, David Spade, Molly Shannon, Christina Applegate, and Bob Saget. I'm looking forward to catching this doc sometime, looks pretty good. Here's the trailer for Brent Hodge & Derik Murray's documentary I Am Chris Farley, found via BuzzFeed: Chris Farley lived his...

Chris Farley's brief life and enduring legacy will be the subject of a new documentary titled I Am Chris Farley. The film will explore the comedian's fast rise from Saturday Night Live to the silver screen followed by his untimely death at age 33. I Am Chris Farley won't premiere on Spike TV until August 10th, but the bittersweet first trailer is now available.

"Success in show business does not always create the best version of people," Bob Saget warns in the film. The film features interviews with many of...

A new documentary is to look back at the life and career of the late Chris Farley. Here's a trailer for it...

The tragic early death of Chris Farley at the age of 33 brought a premature end to a career that was showing so, so much promise. To this day Farley's comedic talents are widely respected, even if, on the big screen at least, he never quite managed to find a movie to fully match them. He died back in 1997, following a drug overdose.

A new documentary film is arriving later this year by the name of I Am Chris Farley, which is set to chart his life. It includes contributions from the likes of Mike Myers, Christina Applegate, his frequent co-star David Spade, his brother Kevin Farley, and Adam Sandler.

I Am Chris Farley is set for release in the Us on July 31st, before heading to DVD and...

Oh, (Tommy) Boy: I Am Chris Farley — i.e., a glimpse back at comedy genius — is around the corner. So ready your tissues and your favorite Farley memories. Then join Bob Saget and a slew of others for this sure-to-be-poignant cry-fest on July 31. (It will also premiere on Spike on August 10, and then be available via VOD, digital download, and DVD on August 11.) For now, here's a taste.

Oh, what could have been. Chris Farley died in 1997 at the age of 33 and yet still left behind an enviable body of work—practically everything on his reel could be considered a highlight, from his SNL Chippendales audition to doing cartwheels on Letterman to all of Tommy Boy, the first buddy-comedy feature he made with David Spade. Spade is among the comedians who appears in I Am Chris Farley, a documentary about the late funnyman premiering Aug. 10 on Spike, after which it will be available on VOD. "Any time you get to talk about Chris Farley [is] a good day, man," Jay Mohr says in the first trailer for the movie, released today. Bob Odenkirk, Adam Sandler, Jay Mohr, Bob Saget, Molly...

The trajectory of Chris Farley proves to be no laughing matter for the famous friends who survived the plus-size comic, a trailer for a new documentary proves. “I Am Chris Farley,” which will air on Spike TV on August 10 followed by a VOD and digital download rollout the next day, is an oral history of the comedian’s life told by former “Saturday Night Live” cast members and costars. Adam Sandler, David Spade, Christina Applegate, Molly Shannon, Dan Aykroyd, Bob Saget, Tom Arnold and more remember the star, who died of a cocaine and morphine overdose in 1997, at age 33. Also.