I HATE ACTORS
A film review by Jeff Meyer
Copyright 1988 Jeff Meyer
Seen at the Seattle Film Festival: I HATE ACTORS (France, 1986) Director/Screenwriter: Gerard Krawczyk (based on the novel by Ben Hecht) Cast: Jean Poiret, Michel Blanc, Bernard Blier, Guy Marchand, Claude Chabroi
In this short span of time we call life, we generally learn what to do and what not to do through pleasure/displeasure response. Yes, I know, there are other (far nobler) reasons, but the majority of events, people and places we avoid are due to repeatedly wretched experiences with them. There are exceptions, but statistically, they all fall into what Jimmy the Greek would call "a bad gamble." The freeway during rush hour; the old buddy who calls you up for a "wild time" next weekend; the restaurant with the waiters who sniff at your Levis. And your French comedies.
I really don't have much to say about this film. It's shot in black and white, and attempts to be a comic mystery set in the Hollywood of the 1940s. It uses (make that 'attempts') a lot of physical humor and contains a lot of characters who act stupidly. I liked one bit with an Errol Flynn-like actor performing a sword fight scene while on lithium, but other than that, it was a blur. It looks particularly sad next to WHO FRAMED ROGER RABBIT; Eddie Valiant has it over these goons any day of the week. Amazing how little was funny about this film....
In short: Avoid like the plague.
Moriarty, aka Jeff Meyer
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