The Man
So I did. Which proved something of a godsend, because just before my critic seemed certain to lapse into a sugar buzz on the downside he said something that could have resulted in me being knocked over with a feather:
You know what the problem with Hollywood is, he asked. They don't know how to tell a story. A good story. Big stories. Little stories. It doesn't matter the scope or scale. They don't know to tell a story. That's their problem.
I was stunned. Absolutely stunned. Before me was a denizen of the film festival circuit, a hardened, cynical sort who should have been made numb long ago by his lifestyle, and even he knew what I know: Why it is Hollywood is failing by great lengths, and why it is Hollywood will probably meet its demise sooner than later.
Here's the thing about all of this: Just when it seems certain Hollywood will meet with its demise something happens. Someone somewhere manages to get a movie or film financed and manages, with something resembling a miracle, to get that film or movie made. And manages, after that, to get the film or movie in question into theaters, and manages, with skill and grace almost unmatched, to get publicity and marketing for it.
And the film or movie in question actually succeeds.
One such film or movie is entitled "The Man".
Superficially "The Man" is a nasty bit of cinematic dreck and wetwork. There is no reason or rationale as to why this movie was made or why anyone would want to see it. There is no justification as to why Eugene Levy, ever funny and annoying and annoyingly funny, would agree to be in this movie. There is no logic as to why Samuel L. Jackson would agree to appear in this movie. Its existence does nothing to advance his career.
Oh, wait. That's not right. The truth is it will do wonders for his career, and the career of Eugene Levy as well.
Believe it or not, that's true. But I decline to reveal specifically why.
Whenever I see a certain acting talent like Samuel L. Jackson or Eugene Levy, and they are acting their respective heart and soul out, I pause in my consideration to wonder: If they could make the movie or film they wanted to make, what is it they would make?
When it comes to Jackson and Levy the answer is apparently simple and
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