The Gristle

Rating:
Summary: About race without getting cynical -- funny, fast
Review: HBO picked this up and has played it several times this past month. It was kinda uncomfortable at first; but the more I watched it, the funnier it got. I've seen it about four or five times now, and now I am cryin' laughin so hard at some bits. Dorn is really good in it.

One acquaintance said it's politically incorrect and correct at the same time. The characters say some pretty outrageous things that you can only get away with in indy films. The point is that in spite of the fact that they are all walking cliches, no one is really what he seems to be or what the other guys expect him to be.

He loved when they're in the club trying to figure out weather cubans are black, white or something else. It's one of the frankest films about race in a long time and without getting cynical too.

Here's a bit of trivia: The Gristle is the one and only movie ever partly financed by a U.S. Small Business Administration loan. It was a program put forward to attempt to stem the flow of moviemaking going to Canada.

The location for the movie is L.A. The program was cut by the current administration; but also the SBA office said the only banks willing to participate in the program were the ones right around Hollywood.

There might have been increasingly more banks willing in other places had the pilot program gone on successfully, though, they said.

If you look in the credits for the movie, they show the SBA loan and its officers in L.A. and the two banks in L.A. and their loan officers. It's kinda cool.

Rating:
Summary: About race without getting cynical -- funny, fast
Review: HBO picked this up and has played it several times this past month. It was kinda uncomfortable at first; but the more I watched it, the funnier it got. I've seen it about four or five times now, and now I am cryin' laughin so hard at some bits. Dorn is really good in it.

One acquaintance said it's politically incorrect and correct at the same time. The characters say some pretty outrageous things that you can only get away with in indy films. The point is that in spite of the fact that they are all walking cliches, no one is really what he seems to be or what the other guys expect him to be.

He loved when they're in the club trying to figure out weather cubans are black, white or something else. It's one of the frankest films about race in a long time and without getting cynical too.

Here's a bit of trivia: The Gristle is the one and only movie ever partly financed by a U.S. Small Business Administration loan. It was a program put forward to attempt to stem the flow of moviemaking going to Canada.

The location for the movie is L.A. The program was cut by the current administration; but also the SBA office said the only banks willing to participate in the program were the ones right around Hollywood.

There might have been increasingly more banks willing in other places had the pilot program gone on successfully, though, they said.

If you look in the credits for the movie, they show the SBA loan and its officers in L.A. and the two banks in L.A. and their loan officers. It's kinda cool.

Rating:
Summary: The Gristle is a "Can't Miss-le!!!!!"
Review: I don't want to spoil this movie for those who I hope will go and rent it. I was channel surfing and came across it and once I started watching it, I realized that this was a great "find." In the first place, the wife of one of the lead characters was a full-figured black woman. THis is when I knew the movie was "for real." IN the day of the Vanessa Williams-Michael Michelle-Irene Cara light-skinned age of beauty, it is good to see a movie casting a sister that looks like most of the women we know and love.

These two brothers are tight, and they share ideas. They talk about more than just run of the mill crap. They want to make movies that uplift the black image, they understand the power of racism and want to do something about it. In other words, they care about their people. The hustle they pull is designed to free themk from their jobs as orderlies, where they find htemselves washing the scrotum of a crusty old white man who teases them and uses the "n" word every chance he gets. So the two embark upon an "assignment" and have plans to spend their money on their movie idea.

What is good about "The Gristle" is that the white character and a black character are also very close. They are both killers and both very intelligent. The white guy, being foreign, doesn't like to hear or use the "n" word,although his friend does. The white man is the black man's conscience because he cannot understand why the brother cracks on his race hte way he does. An important point that could generate some seroius discussion.

Issues of race permeate the movie, from the two Latino brothers who come in to purchase some dope, the two black men who are on their way to deliver a kidney, and the white-black killer team who are there to sell some dope. This is the way to deal with such an emotional issue in a society that is too gutless to face it head on. There is NO romance in this movie, which opens it up to concentrate on the racial discussions that each of these dyads has as separate groups, and then when they meet and interact together.

"The Gristle is a "Can't Miss-le!"

Rating:
Summary: Offbeat Sense of Humor Required
Review: I loved this movie from the start, but I think it takes a rather odd sense of humor to truly appreciate it.

The characters are all walking cliches, say the most outrageous things, and end up in the oddest circumstances. But, suspend a bit of reality and just enjoy.

The characters are hillariously drawn, the dialog full of funny one-liners, and the hotel slash bar scene where they all hook up must be seen to be appreciated.

I rented it and enjoyed it so much, bought it the next day.

Rating:
Summary: Hilarious crime comedy
Review: Now infamous as the first indie film (in fact, the first FILM) that was financed by a loan from the Federal Small Business Administration, The Gristle is a surprisingly effective crime comedy that doubles as a spoof on race.

The writing, directing, and producing is by a trio of young black filmmakers who hold forth in an extra that comes with the DVD on how the film was made, and their biting intelligence shines in both the interview and especially the film. Some of the dialogue is absolutely hilarious--in fact, a good chunk of it is--and the acting by pros Michael Dorn (remember him from Star Trek?), Barry Corbin, Orson Bean, and Richard Riehle is perfect. Even the supporting players are very good, and the two producers of the film double as actors here and do a more than credible job.

The plot concerns a mix-up of illegal kidneys and cocaine, involving two black guys (our heroes, the producers)--hospital attendants looking for the good life; a black and white duo (Dorn and a new actor, forgot his name, playing a German-American; the two are small-time hoods out for the big score as well) who are doing a coke deal with two Cubans, and two white guys (Riehle and another actor who I don't know). The characters are all very well drawn, and the lines are truly funny.

As well, a hilariously conservative white family who hates Jews, blacks, gays, and everyone else not like them, and an extremely funny gay guy in a wheelchair who is the concierge at the run-down motel where all eight of our players converge adds to the wicked humor on display here.

I was really surprised by how good this was, given the absolute drivel that can unfortunately be churned out in the reel to reel mill, whether Hollywood or indie. This one is a winner. Hey, if you like black comedy (yes, pun intended), crime comedy, wacky comedy, or just plain comedy, check it out.

Rating:
Summary: I'd rather eat gristle
Review: This by far the worst movie ever forced up the American movie goer! The worse part is that I bought it without renting it first! My friend liked it a little but he is legally blind.
Mansewer E. Ramsewer should have been in this movie, that would
of made it a complete disaster.

Rating:
Summary: Hit&Miss film
Review: this film at best is hit&Miss. alot of ideas&story lines but it doesn't have a true setting to make it all work as one. interesting vibe but is missing something for me on a whole.

Rating:
Summary: Good Work
Review: This film has everything! An interesting and unique plot, some great verteran actors as well as some new comers. There are some pretty funny parts. Moved at a good pace. Nice work!

Rating:
Summary: Good Work
Review: This film has everything! An interesting and unique plot, some great verteran actors as well as some new comers. There are some pretty funny parts. Moved at a good pace. Nice work!

Rating:
Summary: Excellent movie
Review: This is a very good movie. Not only is it funny and entertaining, it actually also has something to say (and not in an obvious way). This crime caper involves mistaken identities between men of various races (white, black, hispanic), and is done in such a way that it's suspenseful, humorous and profound all at the same time. Kudos to the filmmakers for creating and weaving a story that does this. The actors are all excellent too -- not only the veteran actors such as Michael Dorn and Orson Bean, but also the newer faces such as Geno Taylor. For fans of independent film, you should check this one out, and for those who only watch the typical huge-budgeted, special effects-laden Hollywood Studio movies -- instead of popping in the latest Keanu Reeves movie, give this one a shot. I don't think you'll be disappointed.