Bobcat Goldthwait

Red-Band Trailer for Bobcat Goldthwait’s GOD BLESS AMERICA

by Matt Currie    Posted: January 28th, 2012 at 10:58 am

Twisted young talent Bobcat Goldthwait was one of the premier stand-ups of the 1980s. Sadly, when it came time to do movies, his awkward, is-someone-murdering-a-cat delivery didn’t translate too far outside the Police Academy series. But a few years ago, something unexpected happened: the loud, spastic comedian morphed into a quietly acclaimed writer and director of pitch black comedies like the sublime World’s Greatest Dad.

God Bless America may be his blackest yet, as evidenced by a very red-band trailer that’s surfaced online. It’s the tale of Frank (Mad Men’s Joel Murray), a middle-aged man who spends his days toiling in exhausted apathy amidst the cultural decay and all-around douchiness of the world; he’s disenfranchised to the point of near-suicide, but instead decides to take his 9mm on a killing spree to eradicate as many vacuous, double-parking assholes as he can before a brain tumour takes him out. Joining him is a like-minded 16 year-old girl. Fair warning: clips like this are pretty much the reason the red-band was invented…well, that and dick jokes.  Hit the jump to check out the trailer. Also be sure to check out our two reviews on the film, by Matt Goldberg and Phil Brown.

TIFF 2011: Another Take On GOD BLESS AMERICA

by Phil Brown    Posted: September 19th, 2011 at 9:39 pm

Film criticism is a tricky beast. One man’s Citizen Kane is another man’s Glen Or Glenda and it’s impossible to discredit either opinion. During TIFF my esteemed college Matt Goldberg and I disagreed pretty wildly on Bobcat Goldthwait’s vicious pop culture satire God Bless America. While I can’t pretend the film is a flawless masterpiece, I was rather fond of Goldthwait’s psychotically satirical take on the material. Perhaps it says more about my pop culture stained brain than anything else, but I do feel that Goldthwait’s message and approach are valid, if admittedly twisted and a little f-ed up. I guess I’m just fond of the twisted and the f-ed up. That’s me, what are you gonna do? In the interest of debate (and inevitably, message board bashing), I thought I’d present an alternate take on this fairly divisive movie. I’m not saying I’m necessarily right, I just want this opinion of the movie out there. Hit the jump for more and make of it what you will.

TIFF 2011: Magnet Picks Up Bobcat Goldthwait’s GOD BLESS AMERICA; Celluloid Dreams Acquires GREETINGS FROM TIM BUCKLEY

by Jason Barr    Posted: September 13th, 2011 at 4:12 pm

With the Toronto International Film Festival in full swing, we have some acquisition news to bring your way tonight. First up, Magnet Releasing announced that it has acquired the worldwide rights to director Bobcat Goldthwait’s God Bless America. Per the press release, Magnet is planning a 2012 theatrical release for the film through Magnolia Pictures’ Ultra VOD program. Starring Joel Murray, Tara Lynne Barr and Mackenzie Brooke Smith, the film follows Frank (Murray), a jobless and potentially dying man whose frustrations manifest themselves via dispatching generally unlikable people. In case you missed it, click here to check out Matt’s review of the film from TIFF.

Up next, Celluloid Dreams announced that it has picked up worldwide rights to co-writer/director Dan Algrant’s drama Greetings from Tim Buckley. Starring Penn Badgley, Imogen Poots, Frank Wood, Jessica Stone and Frank Bello, the pic follows Jeff Buckley (Badgley) as he romances a young woman (Poots) while attempting to understanding the father who abandoned him. The film is currently shooting in New York which means that a 2012 release could well be within reach. For a little more on the God Bless America and Greetings from Tim Buckley acquisitions, check out the press releases after the jump.

TIFF 2011: GOD BLESS AMERICA Review

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: September 10th, 2011 at 1:35 pm

Pop culture is filled with annoyance and irritations.  We can turn on the TV and lament the downfall of civilization because as bad as reality shows, shock jocks, and political pundits can be, perhaps we’re worse for giving them attention in the first place.  At one point or another, some Americans have probably had a dark fantasy about taking out the trash of American culture because wouldn’t it be nice if we could get rid of all the fame-whores, mean-spirited celebrities, and the ordinary citizens who can’t get enough of the first two.  It would be nice to have a release valve and writer-director Bobcat Goldthwait provides that in God Bless America.  But he never probes deeper to what that fantasy says about us and instead indulges the audience by using his characters as mouthpieces and never realizing that his anti-heroes are as shallow and narcissistic as the people they’re killing.

Documentaries, Midnight Madness, and More Line-Ups Announced for 2011 Toronto International Film Festival

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: August 3rd, 2011 at 8:02 am

We’ve already seen the heavy-hitters of non-documentary films showing at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival.  Today, TIFF has announced its impressive documentary line-up along with line-ups for the interesting smaller films that are worth your attention at the fest.  The documentaries include Morgan Spurlock’s Comic-Con: Episode IV – A Fan’s Hope, Werner Herzog’s Into the Abyss, Jonathan Demme’s I’m Carolyn Parker: The Good, the Mad, and the Beautiful, and Wim Wenders’ 3D film Pina. The Midnight Madness line-up includes Bobcat Goldthwait’s latest, God Bless America and Douglas Aarniokoski’s The Day starring Ashley Bell and Dominic Monaghan.

Hit the jump for the documentary line-ups (“Real to Reel”), “Midnight Madness”, “Vanguard” (international genre flicks), “TIFF Kids”, and “City to City” (an annual programme that focuses on films from one city; this year is Buenos Aires).  The 2011 Toronto Film Festival runs from September 8th to 18th.

Bobcat Goldthwait’s New Film GOD BLESS AMERICA to Kill Rich Bratty Teenagers

by Jake Horowitz    Posted: March 14th, 2011 at 12:12 pm

Bobcat Goldthwait, to those that still think of him as a comedian, has become a real Hollywood director in the past few years. Similar to how the current generation may know Clint Eastwood more for his work behind the camera instead of in front of it, Goldthwait will perhaps be more known for his films about bestiality, auto erotic asphyxiation, and his newest movie topic, teen murder (and that, ladies and gentlemen, is how you compare Bobcat Goldthwait to Clint Eastwood).

Goldthwait’s new film will be called God Bless America and is backed by Darko Pictures, the same company that funded Goldthwait’s previous film, World’s Greatest Dad. According to Goldthwait, the film covers what happens when you watch a show similar to MTV’s My Super Sweet 16. The show, to those blessedly unfamiliar with the program, it shows bratty, rich teenagers crying over how little diamonds are encrusted on the BMW their daddy bought them.  The film will follow “a middle aged guy…at home watching a show like My Super Sweet 16.” As you can imagine, a side effect of watching such a show would be the want to murder anyone on it. On the Adam Carolla Show [via CinemaBlend] Goldthwait explains that the man “drives 400 miles and kills that girl.” Eventually, when no one seems to mind that she is missing, the man and a classmate of the girl “get in this stolen Camaro and drive around and kill people.”  Well, I’m in.

Exclusive: Robin Williams and Bobcat Goldthwait Video Interview WORLD’S GREATEST DAD

by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub    Posted: August 17th, 2009 at 7:06 pm

When you go to a film festival, you never know what’s going to stand out. Often the film you expect to love isn’t anything special, and a film that’s completely off everyone’s radar is the one you’re raving about. And that’s exactly what happened at this year’s Sundance Film Festival when I saw writer/director Bobcat Goldthwait’s “World’s Greatest Dad”. To say the film is great is a disservice, as it’s so awesome that just saying great isn’t good enough. I absolutely cannot recommend this film enough as it had me laughing from beginning to end with an amazing script and fantastic performances.

So to help promote the limited theatrical release of “World’s Greatest Dad”, the other day I got to speak with Robin Williams and Bobcat Goldthwait and the interview is after the jump. They tell some great stories about making the film. Also, for those not familiar with the movie, after the jump are links to the red band trailer and some movie clips.

Red-Band Trailer for WORLD’S GREATEST DAD

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: June 19th, 2009 at 12:18 pm

If there was a film at this year’s Sundance Film Festival that got more enthusiastic raves among my peers than “World’s Greatest Dad”, I didn’t hear about it.  Films like “Big Fan”, “Push: Based on a Novel by Sapphire”, and “Moon” were certainly beloved, but I was astonished at how unanimous and fervent the praise was for Bobcat Goldthwait’s dark comedy starring Robin Williams.  Click here to read Peyton’s mini-review of the film.

Yesterday, I mocked the poster for completely mis-selling the film and hoped that the trailer would be just as deceptive.  Today, we have the film’s red-band trailer and while it’s not as bad as the poster, it doesn’t tell you the film’s major plot point.  It’s not even a spoiler.  It’s the premise for the movie.  I guess they feel that even for a red-band trailer it’s too dark so instead they fire off a few great dirty jokes and try to make it look like an R-rated version of “Problem Child”.  I like that Magnolia Pictures picks up great movies and releases them in a timely fashion, but they have no idea how to engage in effective marketing.

You can check out the trailer after the jump.  “World’s Greatest Dad” hits theatres on August 21st but first comes to XBox Live Marketplace and Amazon Video on Demand on July 24th.  I’ll be at Comic-Con but I’ll be downloading and watching it the first chance I get.

Posters for BIG FAN, COLD SOULS, and WORLD’S GREATEST DAD

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: June 18th, 2009 at 6:39 pm

Three new posters for independent films have debuted over the last few days and I’ve compiled them into this handy article.  Two of the posters are great.  One misrepresents the film its selling in such a tremendous way that I hope families go see it.  But I’ll get to that one last.

Hit the jump to see the new posters and my brief take on each.

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