Con Man
(aka Cannes Man)
Picture:
C Sound: C+ Extras: C- Film: C+
In yet
another movie about movies, Con Man
(aka Cannes Man, 1995), we are in a comedy about the Cannes film festival where
the person in the film is trying top sell the idea of the film we are actually
watching. Though Seymour Cassel is great
as the fictional old manipulator Sy Lerner, and we have guest appearances by
actors who were obviously doing this on the side to kill time, it is nothing we
have seen before. There are some
chuckles, but most of it is nominal.
Director
Richard Martini at least took advantage of access to big names like Dennis
Hopper, Benicio Del Toro (before he was as known as well as he is now), Dennis
Hopper, Treat Williams, and James Brolin.
Filmmakers behind the camera who show up include Robert Evans, Jim
Sheridan, Harvey Weinstein, and Bryan Singer.
At least he has some good taste, but the gags only go so far. The more you know, the better watching it
is. Too bad it is not more, but Seymour
Cassel is great, so that is a plus.
The full
screen image is average, with a softness and graininess that is unusually dull
and lacking in detail. This did not
affect color as much, but is disappointing.
The Dolby Digital 5.1 AC-3 sound is also a disappointment, sounding like
an obvious remix of simple stereo. Too
bad it has some compression and was never intended for this, especially being
so dialogue-based to begin with. As for
extras, the DVD says there was supposed to be a commentary, but with whom was
not specified. Since it is absent, it is a moot point. It also says there is a trailer, but there
are actually two for this film and four for other upcoming Vanguard titles.
You also
get a brief martini interview and Johnny Depp/Jim Jarmusch outtakes, but that’s
it. The use of Thus Spake Zarathustra, so closely identified with Stanley
Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey
(1968), is especially pointless throughout the film. This is one only for the most interested
viewers.
- Nicholas Sheffo
