| AUTO FOCUS Rating:  Director: Paul Schrader Producers: Scott Alexander, Larry Karaszewski, Todd Rosken, Pat Dollard, Alicia Allain Writer: Michael Gerbosi Director of Photography: Fred Murphy Cast: Greg Kinnear, Willem Dafoe, Rita Wilson, Maria Bello, Ron Leibman Visit the IMDB page for full cast and crew |
 |
Review by: Ryan
Kugler
10/08/02
Before stepping foot into the theater to watch the new Bob Crane biopic Auto Focus, I didn't know much about the man, except that my dad used to tell me that his show Hogan's Heroes was hilarious. Sure, I had heard the stories (the E True Hollywood Story) that delved into Crane's obsession with sex and his addiction to videotaping and watching the sex that he was having, and I knew that he was murdered, but I never really got a feel for the man himself. Having now seen director Paul Schrader's (Affliction, Light Sleeper) latest descent into depravity, I can't say that I really know what made Crane tick, but I have a better idea about who he was and what he lived for. As the motto coined by Crane and best friend John Carpenter (not the director) went, "A day without sex is a day wasted."
The story is based on the nonfiction book The Murder of Bob Crane (written by Robert Graysmith) and it covers a little over a decade in the man's life. The film begins back in 1964 with Crane (Greg Kinnear) working as a radio jock, happily married to Anne (Rita Wilson). He truly loves his job, but wants real fame. He sees his ticket to stardom when his agent (Ron Leibman) pitches him the leading role on a new sitcom that takes place in a World War II prisoner of war camp. Although his wife thinks the premise is offensive, Crane takes the role, and before long, the wild success of Hogan's Heroes makes him a star.
One day on the set, Crane is introduced to John Carpenter (Willem Dafoe); a man who knows everything there is to about the newest technology called video. Soon, the two are inseparable with Carpenter using his new friend's clout to pick up women. Crane is reluctant about partaking at first, but when he sees what his celebrity status attracts, he's in. The two men come up with a whole scam and spend all of their time picking up, bedding and videotaping as many women as will have them.
What begins as harmless fun rapidly spins out-of-control and pretty soon these two men are full-fledged, deviant sex addicts who can't go a day without either watching porn or starring in their own. Because of Crane's obsession (which he swears is healthy and normal), his life goes from the top rung of the ladder to the bottom of the barrel. His first wife leaves him (as does his second), the relationship with his children is strained (to say the least), his agent can't find him work (once Hogan's is canceled) and Carpenter is becoming way too dependent and can't bear to be away from his one and only friend. This downward spiral eventually leads both men to a dead end.
Schrader is a master of dark and disturbing material (after all, he wrote Taxi Driver) and Auto Focus fits right in with his oeuvre. I don't mean to make it sound like a total downer because it's actually quite entertaining, but overall, the material is fairly bleak (it sort of reminded me of a darker and more toned down version of Boogie Nights).
One of the strongest aspects of the film (in addition to the impressive recreation of the era) is the cast that Schrader assembled. I've never been a real fan of Kinnear (who I will always refer to as the "Talk Soup guy"), but I was pretty blown away by his daring work here. I don't recall much about the real Crane so I don't know how accurate the portrayal is or how much he looks like him, but Kinnear is able to turn on the charm at any given moment, then in an instant, show us the character's dark side. It's a performance that always seems to teeter on the edge of parody (especially when he's playing a happy go-lucky guy), but he's always able to reign himself back in. Unfortunately, we never truly get to know this man, but we get a good enough idea.
In a career filled with playing off-the-wall and unsavory fellows, John Carpenter might very well be Dafoe's sleaziest and most memorable. It's a great performance (best supporting material) and an unforgettable character. I was especially impressed with how Dafoe made me feel sympathetic towards this loser, during some of the scenes where Crane treated him poorly.
There have been quite a few excellent true-life dramatizations in the last several years (with Ed Wood and The People vs. Larry Flynt being two personal favorites) that have entertained as well as informed. Auto Focus is a fine addition to this list (although not my personal favorite, it might be the best acted and directed of the lot). It's a little darker and more disturbing than the others, but it's also a wild and entertaining ride through a dark chapter in Hollywood history. And it's well worth strapping in and going along on the descent.
(A Sony Pictures Classics release.
Opens on October 18 in New York and Los Angeles. Expands to more
cities at later dates.)
Talk about this film in our message
boards.
|
|
|
|
|