One week later I had found the time to actually watch it. Sitting in my backyard, watching it on a laptop while enjoying some recreational marijuana, I realized this movie was something special. Something I knew was going to be difficult to explain. But I enjoyed it so much that I decided to go to the premiere and see it on the big screen.
I was under the impression that there would be a Q and A with the film’s writer and star Penn Jillette, but understandably enough that was not the case due to Penn & Teller having a scheduled show at the Rio. He did however make an appearance and introduce the movie.
He talked about how he had written the script many years ago and the various production companies he brought it to all gave him a firm no. He then contacted writer/director Adam Rifkin (Detroit Rock City, Small Soldiers) and gave him the screenplay. Adam stayed up all night to read the script, loved it and agreed to direct it. Penn confirmed that the movie was weird and crowd-funded before thanking us and headed off to work.
“But what is DIRECTOR’S CUT?” I asked myself while staring at a blank screen. Well, kind of like how this is an article about writing an article, Directors Cut is a movie about making a movie… sort of.
The film’s main character and antagonist Herbert Blount (Penn Jillette) is an eccentric movie buff who bought the “executive producer package” for a crowd funded psychological thriller called Knocked Off which stars his favorite actress Missi Pyle (played by herself). Knocked Off is pretty much a low budget knock off of every serial killer movie you’ve ever seen. Two cops who do things their own way must team up with an FBI agent to find a serial killer who is recreating the murders of famous serial killers from history. However, Adam Rifkins’ (also played by himself) vision is not the film Herbert Blount had in mind so he decides to take things into his own hands. While filming behind the scenes shots he steals all of the actual footage, stalks and kidnaps the star and makes his very own DIRECTOR’S CUT.
The movie itself is all kinds of bat-shit crazy. The word “meta” gets thrown around a lot when describing it, and they’re right: it truly is meta as fuck. I’m not even sure I know exactly what that means but it makes me feel smart when I say it.
It’s like a movie and the special features are played out before your eyes all at once. Telling a separate inside story within the big picture. The film definitely manages to find an equal balance of hilarious and creepy. On the one hand it’s a totally unoriginal movie and Blount’s commentary is not shy about pointing that out. But on the other hand I haven’t seen anything like it, and to the main character’s credit, his additions to the feature film make it genuinely good for all the wrong reasons.
I don’t really have the words to describe it without feeling like I’m giving too much away. Maybe that’s why I’ve resorted to such a nonsensical “Gonzo Journalism” style of writing this review… But one thing is for sure: DIRECTOR’S CUT is not for everyone. But for the audience it is intended for (people like me!!) it’s a real unexpected treat. And I cannot wait to get my hands on the upcoming Blu-ray to check out those special features and director’s commentary.
