Another Round of Callback

Plot's filmmaker friend Eric Wolfson produced and co-wrote "Callback: The Unmaking of Bloodstain." Plottie saw this wonderful movie a few months ago in a private screening, and again last night at its opening at the Lumiere on California Street.

Earlier in the day, Plot read the review in the Birdwrap: Little Man Snoozing. This is the equivalent of a low C. Plot read the critic's review -- from what Plot remembered, the critic completely missed the point. It's SUPPOSED to be campy. It's SUPPOSED to be crazy.

Ooooh, but Plotnik is very sensitive about critics and he knows that they (and he) sometimes think they are more important than what they are reviewing. A critic's job is to be objective and that's not easy when your son's best buddy, and your friend too, is the film maker.

So Plot thought about all that as he watched the movie last night, except he forgot about it two minutes into the film because he was convulsed in laughter. He remembered his favorite scene -- when the actor, a horrible actor who is mugging people for a living (he is also a horrible mugger) while he awaits scoring a role in a film, is chasing his victim down the street and he passes a theater with one of those little tear-off sheets up on the wall: "Call this phone number for an audition." The mugger runs by the tear-off sheet, then doubles back and grabs one for himself, then continues chasing his victim, who by that time has gotten away.

Jeff Parise plays two parts in the film -- an absolute schloomp of a mousey little guy who has just been released from a mental institution, and his alter ego, an ego-fueled loudmouth. When the scared little man somehow scores an audition for 'Bloodstain,' he can't possibly pull it off, but his Pacino-loving alter ego is perfect for the gig. Parise is really brilliant, going back and forth between nebbish and Scarface.

But, wo! This is not a review, this is a blog. This is the man who used to review movies and restaurants and now reviews theater, and who wants to figure out how he can ensure that he avoids missing the point completely too, when he reviews a new show. This film is at least Little Man Clapping, if not Little Man Jumping Out Of Chair. On Sf-TheaterBlog, Callback would be Three Stars with a BANGLE of Praise.

Or is he blinded by friendship? If any of you see it this week, and you really should, Plottie hopes you'll share your opinion with him.

Oh, memo to Wurufuson-san for the credits: Your Costume Director spells her name The GREAT FiveHead, not The GREATE FiveHead. But you know that already.