SBIFF 2010 Closing Night Screening of Middle Men

Lawyers, Guns and Funny

Fittingly, the 25^th edition of the Santa Barbara International Film Festival drew to a close on Valentine’s Day, as love (and even lust) filled the air. Earlier in the day, the city bestowed big love on local hero and critical favorite, Jeff Bridges at the Lobero Theater. Later, just blocks away, brother Beau Bridges arrived at the Arlington Theatre in support of his friend, director George Gallo at the closing night screening of Middle Men. In turn, Gallo continued the love-fest, taking the stage and espousing the rare esprit de corps that ensued between cast and crew members during the filming of his frenetic, cautionary tale of the mayhem and millions made during the nascent days of the internet porn industry. (Curious side note: Three years ago, the SBIFF closing night film was The Amateurs, starring Jeff Bridges, about a group of straight-laced business men trying to work the adult film trade. Hmm…)

Anyway, the Sunday night red carpet scene outside the Arlington was a decidedly more measured affair than the opening night pandemonium, with cast and celebrities taking ample time to stroll the carpet, pose for requisite photos and field questions from media outlets large and small, including a contingent of local junior high cubs. (Surreal side note: Considering the closing night film’s subject matter, I envisioned awkward exchanges between teen reporters and actors)

“So, what character do you play in the movie?”

“I play a sex and cocaine addicted cyber-geek who develops a way to derive income from internet porn transactions and gets in way over his head with the Russian Mafia.”

“Oh.”

Fortunately, the questions skewed more to the tame side as veterans like Bridges, Robert Forster and Martin Kove happily handled inquiries ranging from early acting influences to favorite superheroes. Following along in the receiving line were stars Jacinda Barrett, Luke Wilson, Giovanni Ribisi, writer Andy Weiss, producers Christopher Mallick and William Sherak (with proud papa Tom in tow) composer Brian Tyler and finally, director Gallo.

Once inside, the festival’s “10-10-10” contest winners were screened, SBIFF Executive Director Roger Durling and Board President Jeff Barbakow made closing remarks, and Bridges introduced Gallo, who then proceeded to have his cast join him onstage for big hugs, “We really are friends!” before the film unspooled.

“Based on a true story” Middle Men stars Luke Wilson stepping up and into the lead as Jack Harris (channeling a more somber and savvy version of his Old School Mitch character), a struggling business and family man with a reputation as an ace mediator and “fixer” of problematic situations. Giovanni Ribisi and Gabriel Macht play Wayne and Buck, two horny, coked-out cyber-geeks whose genius in the virtual world is rivaled only by their idiocy in the real one. After devising a system to bill internet transactions for adult entertainment sites (the scene in which the prototype is launched, complete

with corresponding sound effects is hilarious) they look to expand their rapidly growing enterprise with the help of a local Russian mobster (Rade Sherbegia). As the money (literally) pours in, the trouble increases exponentially, prompting Buck and Wayne’s shifty lawyer (James Caan) to bring in Jack to straighten things out. When Jack sees the potential for a worldwide web windfall, his Faustian sensibilities prevail and launch him headlong into a world of obscene wealth (pun intended), international terrorists, porn stars, the FBI and the Russian Mafia.

Middle Men borrows heavily from the Scorsese playbook. Utilizing a staccato narrative with accompanying

time and place titles that appear and vanish from the screen as fast as the blow and dough between characters, a ubiquitous voice-over narration by Wilson, numerous flashbacks and an eclectic wall-to-wall saturation soundtrack featuring the Stones, Moby and Tears for Fears to name few (if the film soundtrack is released, grab it), Gallo creates a comedy of errors and terror where outrageous humor and jarring, spontaneous violence collide, seasoned with stellar supporting turns by a wily Kevin Pollak and a slick, grinning Kelsey Grammer.

At one point in the middle of the movie, Wilson’s character exclaims, “The power of the internet is truly amazing.” Indeed.