MY LIFE'S IN TURNAROUND (1993)

CAST: Eric Schaeffer, Donal Lardner Ward, Phoebe Cates, Martha Plimpton, John Sayles, Casey Siemaszko, Dana Wheeler-Nicholson

Written & Directed By: Eric Schaeffer & Donal Lardner Ward
Cinematography By: Peter Hawkins
Editor: Susan Graef

This film was meta right before the films of Charlie Kaufman were made and came out. The story revolves around A cab driver named Eric played by director Eric Schaeffer and his best friend Donnie a bartender played by co-director Donal Lardner Ward who are tired of there mundane lives and decide to make a independent movie about there lives where they try to get financing and get stars they meet on the streets interested in the project all the while Eric falls in love with a girl who is just not entirely available. The film is partially a true story of the obstacles the two of them in real life went through to make a movie.

The film has cameos by many names and the film is full of ideas and at times is inventive what the film is not is enjoyable. I wanted to like the film but I feel it is bad when you are sitting through a film and it feels like more of a chore then any actual enjoyment. I can understand the film is low budget but it is also cheap looking and garish. One of the main problems which is a problem in the films of Eric schaeffer is he is a smart guy but he seems way too interested and in love with himself and his own writing and theories. He seems like a interesting guy but he kind of needs someone to edit him down on reign him in which at least here you have Donal though he doesn’t really have much to do other then be a sidekick. He has no real plotline other then to react and be a sounding board. In future films Eric doesn’t have him around so the films are really still all about him mainly even when it’s supposed to be a ensemble. Maybe that is the reason it is not available on dvd yet as there is little demand for it it seems like a nice attempt for a movie but seems suited as a film you made as your film school thesis then a theatrical release.

This is one of those scrappy films where youwant it to succed despite it's shortcomings that critics and hollywood embraces as showing what you can do with independent spirit and hard work plus reliance.

After this film the guys expanded there success to a sitcom starring the both of them named TOO SOMETHING it lasted one season with Portia DeRossi as a co-star it was more of the same but a little more polished then the film more glossy very little plot it seemed like a weekly excuse for the two of them to lampoon whatever was going on in pop culture they didn’t like sort of like SOUTH PARK but a lot tamer and not as sharp.

GRADE: D-

QUARANTINE (2008)

Directed By: John Erick Dowdle 
Written By: John Erick Dowdle & Drew Dowdle 
Based On REC The original Screenplay By: Jaume Belaguero & Luiso Berdejo & Paco Plaza Cinematography By: Ken Seng 
Editor: Elliot Greenberg 


Cast: Jennifer Carpenter, Steve Harris, Marin Hinkle, Jay Rodriguez, Columbus Short, Dania Ramirez, Rade Serbedija, Jonathan Schaech, Greg Germann