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Up With Bulimia

By Brian Prisco | Posted Under Trade News | Comments (13)

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As I lament, there are many films that play festivals that we as critics get a chance to enjoy that rarely see the light of day. I’ll spare you my usual Transformers 3 on three billion screen rant, because I am giddy with delight.

One of my favorite surprises at SXSW was getting a chance to catch the screening of The Snake, a film being pimped by Patton Oswalt. He introduced the writer/director/star Adam Goldstein (working with writer/director partner Eric Kutner) beforehand because he knew by the end of the film, none of us would like him very much. However, I fucking LOVE him.

The Snake is a rare mumblecore that doesn’t feel all introspective and arthouse. It’s a dark, dark, horrible comedy about an absolute shitheel named Ken (Adam Goldstein), who desperately wants to bang a super thin underaged girl named Talia (Nina Braddock). So he stalks her to — and fakes his way into — a body image disorder support group so that he can learn her secrets and hook up with her.

There are no morals. There are no life lessons. There are no apologies. Ken is just an unrelenting slimebag and it is fucking spectacular. From start to finish, The Snake makes you cringe with delight.

And now, for those lucky few to possess the capabilities, The Snake is available free on Netflix instant watching. I highly recommend that you watch this film. If it had gotten an official theatrical release, it would have been top three on my indie films list. It’s everything that I wished independent comedy was — namely unapologetic, daring, and painfully funny.

(Thanks to Micah at ReelDistraction for the heads up.)










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Comments

It's Nina Braddock not Nina Bullock

Posted by: Craine at January 11, 2010 10:12 AM

When did Skitz option his life story for film?

Posted by: Jim Doggie at January 11, 2010 10:26 AM

I watched this after Prisco recommended it on Facebook. It is really great. Sometimes too awkward to watch, but there are moments where I couldn't believe they were going there. It's awesome.

Posted by: Optimus Rhyme at January 11, 2010 10:59 AM

"but there are moments where I couldn't believe they were going there."

Posted by: Optimus Rhyme at January 11, 2010 10:59 AM
---
Godtopusdangit, they told me they were going to cut those parts out. Goldstein and Kutner said it was just easier to keep the cameras rolling and edit after than to have to keep turning them on and off, and I trusted them, I TRUSTED the motherf ...

I've said too much, haven't I?

//hums "Aqualung" to self

Posted by: , at January 11, 2010 11:04 AM

I saw it per your recommendation on the Indie list. I thought it was fantastic. I love that whatever glimmers of goodness in Ken that we see are pretty much accidental or thoughtless. That just makes me love the character more. Thanks for the heads up on this one!

Posted by: logar at January 11, 2010 11:21 AM

Added, and I'll probably watch it over the weekend. I finally saw Humpday (added on Pajiba's rec as well) and maybe fell in love a little. Maybe a lot. Up next is Baghead.

Posted by: MyySharona (formerly Sharon) at January 11, 2010 12:02 PM

If I could afford Netflix at the moment, I would totally watch this tonight. As it stands, that's not a possibility. Still, I will file away The Snake as a vicious indie film I need to see. Thanks, Prisco.

Posted by: Robert at January 11, 2010 12:28 PM

Just added it to my instant watch queue at Netflix. But you know how they pop up recommendations for other movies you might like? Well, their system obviously works really well, because up pooped Paul Blart: Mall Cop. And no, that wasn't a typo...

Posted by: dAvid at January 11, 2010 12:37 PM

Does Al Wilson feature anywhere in the film?
Yeah, I went there.

Posted by: Squeeziee at January 11, 2010 12:46 PM

So does he get to fuck her at the end? Like any other movie, that is the part that I fast-forward to.

Posted by: superasente at January 11, 2010 1:14 PM

Ok. Just watched this solely based on your blurb, and wow!
What.
A.
Jerk.
But every time i got up to stop it in disgust, i found myself laughing too hard to properly operate my mouse. It works surprisingly well. Dunno if i could recommended it to others with a clear conscience, but not a bad instant netflix watch.

Posted by: Scott at January 11, 2010 4:58 PM

I feel like I shouldn't watch this, but I can't quite resist. As soon as I am sprung from this florescent bell jar I shall settle in with a bottle of wine and The Snake.

Sounds like a better evening than it will be. Sigh.

Posted by: rhombus at January 11, 2010 9:10 PM

I watched this yesterday. What was really interesting was that whatever moral capital that Ken /David would build up would be immediately destroyed by some perverse act or insult. I mean, in a weird way, underneath a few layers (okay...hundreds of layers) was a kind soul, there. Case(s) in point:

the chat with the kid in the bathroom,
making the videos for two women in the group,
going with another group member to an art show--to show up her husband (and successfully playing that way over the top, I might add)

Lastly, he does the RIGHT thing in the end.

(spoiler alert?)

After listening to that program directly drone on about the effectiveness of the program, he leaves Talia there! Presumably, to get better! And....scene.

I really dug this movie and, I agree, there were side-splitting funny moments. It was somewhat uneven but, given that it was a "first film," I thought it was strong-to-quite-strong.

Posted by: gunnertec at February 9, 2010 1:54 PM