Chicago – It’s original, it’s off-kilter, it’s different – it’s the new film “Entertainment.” Rick Alverson has fashioned a road picture, with an offbeat stand up comic trying to get home. The director has some fiery talent behind that journey, including Gregg Turkington as The Comedian, John C. Reilly, Michael Cera and Tim Heidecker.
Rick Alverson is from Richmond, Virginia, and has had a varied career directing music videos, as well as being a musician himself. His feature directorial debut was “The Builder” (2010), followed by “New Jerusalem” (2011) and the festival favorite “The Comedy” (2012). “Entertainment” is an expression of a radical voice, one that challenges the conventions of storytelling and character.
Gregg Turkington is The Comedian in ‘Entertainment,’ Directed by Rick Alverson
Photo credit: Magnolia Pictures
Rick Alverson spoke to HollywoodChicago.com via phone about his expression.
HollywoodChicago.com: One of the best realities of the film is that...
Rick Alverson is from Richmond, Virginia, and has had a varied career directing music videos, as well as being a musician himself. His feature directorial debut was “The Builder” (2010), followed by “New Jerusalem” (2011) and the festival favorite “The Comedy” (2012). “Entertainment” is an expression of a radical voice, one that challenges the conventions of storytelling and character.
Gregg Turkington is The Comedian in ‘Entertainment,’ Directed by Rick Alverson
Photo credit: Magnolia Pictures
Rick Alverson spoke to HollywoodChicago.com via phone about his expression.
HollywoodChicago.com: One of the best realities of the film is that...
- 11/19/2015
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Filmmaker Rick Alverson has made some absorbing and intimate indie works. "The Builder" is a terrifically underrated gem, and “New Jerusalem” coaxes another strong lead performance from musician Will Oldham. But it's Alverson’s provocative and pointed collaborations with comedian Tim Heidecker that have proven to be layered and rich next-level works. The deeply misunderstood “The Comedy” — a hilariously confrontational, but also alarming examination of the age of ironic distance — is an incendiary piece de resistance. But Alverson may have outdone himself with “Entertainment,” an even more abrasive, alienating, and nightmarish masterwork about the cruel futility of connection, performance, and existence. Read More: Gregg Turkington Goes To The Edge In Exclusive Clip From Rick Alverson's 'Entertainment' Comedian Gregg Turkington stars as Neill, essentially playing a loose riff on the actor's alter ego Neil Hamburger (the world’s worst, most insufferable...
- 11/14/2015
- by Rodrigo Perez
- The Playlist
The Comedy put Rick Alverson on the map, but it’s not his first film. His debut feature, The Builder, offers an illuminating counterpoint to The Comedy; it too is about a man dealing with a case of existential emptiness. But the film’s approach is genuine in ways that The Comedy isn’t. The film follows an Irish immigrant carpenter as he sets out to build a house.>> - Kevin B. Lee...
- 6/12/2015
- Fandor: Keyframe
The Comedy put Rick Alverson on the map, but it’s not his first film. His debut feature, The Builder, offers an illuminating counterpoint to The Comedy; it too is about a man dealing with a case of existential emptiness. But the film’s approach is genuine in ways that The Comedy isn’t. The film follows an Irish immigrant carpenter as he sets out to build a house.>> - Kevin B. Lee...
- 6/12/2015
- Keyframe
"Rick Alverson has made some absorbing and intimate indie works," begins Rodrigo Perez at the Playlist. "The Builder is a terrifically underrated gem, and New Jerusalem coaxes another strong lead performance by musician Will Oldham. But it's Alverson’s provocative and pointed collaborations with comedian Tim Heidecker that have proven to be layered and rich next-level works. The deeply misunderstood The Comedy—a hilariously confrontational, but also alarming examination of the age of ironic distance—is an incendiary piece de resistance. But Alverson may have outdone himself with Entertainment, an even more abrasive, alienating, and nightmarish masterwork about the cruel futility of connection, performance, and existence." We're gathering more reviews. » - David Hudson...
- 1/26/2015
- Fandor: Keyframe
"Rick Alverson has made some absorbing and intimate indie works," begins Rodrigo Perez at the Playlist. "The Builder is a terrifically underrated gem, and New Jerusalem coaxes another strong lead performance by musician Will Oldham. But it's Alverson’s provocative and pointed collaborations with comedian Tim Heidecker that have proven to be layered and rich next-level works. The deeply misunderstood The Comedy—a hilariously confrontational, but also alarming examination of the age of ironic distance—is an incendiary piece de resistance. But Alverson may have outdone himself with Entertainment, an even more abrasive, alienating, and nightmarish masterwork about the cruel futility of connection, performance, and existence." We're gathering more reviews. » - David Hudson...
- 1/26/2015
- Keyframe
Filmmaker Rick Alverson has made some absorbing and intimate indie works. "The Builder" is a terrifically underrated gem, and “New Jerusalem” coaxes another strong lead performance by musician Will Oldham. But it's Alverson’s provocative and pointed collaborations with comedian Tim Heidecker that have proven to be layered and rich next-level works. The deeply misunderstood “The Comedy” — a hilariously confrontational, but also alarming examination of the age of ironic distance — is an incendiary piece de resistance. But Alverson may have outdone himself with “Entertainment,” an even more abrasive, alienating, and nightmarish masterwork about the cruel futility of connection, performance, and existence. Comedian Gregg Turkington stars as Neill, essentially playing a loose riff on the actor's alter ego Neill Hamburger (the world’s worst, most insufferable comedian). An aging, inept stand-up with no discernible talents or skills, he tours the wastelands of...
- 1/24/2015
- by Rodrigo Perez
- The Playlist
It may be too early to call him an American cousin akin to the quasi-dark humor of Roy Andersson and Aki Kaurismäki, but is third film showcased a unique, well-developed, wry-tinged funny-bone. When you throw in his previous dramatic pair of films in The Builder (2010) and New Jerusalem (2011), it makes for an early filmography that would surely receive an unflattering grade of next to no bags of popcorn from the On Cinema at the Cinema critic duo. This is a good thing. Filmmaker by day, musician by night, Rick Alverson’s third feature film The Comedy, was among the best items of 2012′s Sundance Film Festival, suffice it to say that his fourth film, Entertainment, which was shot midway in the year, might contain more of that DNA. Gregg Turkington who co-wrote with Alverson toplines the pic which was photographed by cinematographer Lorenzo Hagerman (look for his stylistic flourishes in...
- 11/12/2014
- by Eric Lavallee
- IONCINEMA.com
In describing The Comedy, one can use the terms 'hilarious' or 'uproarious,' but words like 'provocative,' 'cruel' and 'disconcerting' are just as applicable. Inspiring comparisons to films like Five Easy Pieces, filmmaker Rick Alverson (The Builder, New Jerusalem) continues to explore both comic and dark elements of the American identity with his latest character study, featuring a revelatory performance by Tim Heidecker (of Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!). Heidecker stars as Swanson, an aging Brooklyn hipster who spends his days meandering through life in Williamsburg with his crew of like-minded idlers (including previous co-star Eric Wareheim and LCD Soundsystem's James Murphy) with little direction and a definite lack of empathy. On the verge of inheriting his family's fortune from his dying father, Swanson's erratic and risky actions isolate him, making meaningful connections with others almost impossible. Writer/director Rick Alverson describes the genesis of the...
- 10/24/2012
- TribecaFilm.com
With Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!, Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim have clearly established themselves as comedians who push the boundaries of what most people consider to be funny, often delving into the bizarre, the surreal and the downright mundane. So when the duo chooses to star in a movie simply called The Comedy, you know there is a pretty good chance you're going to get anything but. Unlike Tim and Eric's Billion Dollar Movie, this is not actually directed by Tim or Eric but rather Rick Alverson, who previously directed two dramas: New Jerusalem and The Builder. But is it a drama or is it a comedy? I'm still not sure. The plot revolves around a guy named Swanson (Tim Heidecker), who is about to inherit his wealthy father's estate but has no emotional response, preferring to just screw around with his buddies all day. The plot...
- 10/2/2012
- by Sean
- FilmJunk
Director Rick Alverson is nothing if not prolific. After putting out six albums over eight years with his band Spokane, Alverson turned his attention to film, directing The Builder in 2010 and New Jerusalem last year. Continuing this productive streak is The Comedy, a dark exploration into the insular, self-destructive lifestyle of the affluent white male. Set against the backdrop of Brooklyn’s ultra-hip Williamsburg, The Comedy stands in contrast to Alverson’s previous two films, films that focused mainly on the stories of working class immigrants. Starring comedian Tim Heidecker (in his first dramatic role) and a supporting cast that includes Heidecker’s frequent collaborator Eric Wareheim, as well as musicians James Murphy and Will Sheff, The Comedy is a bold new work from an artist who has already built up quite an impressive portfolio.
Filmmaker: How did you decide to cast Tim Heidecker, a comedian known for his absurdist humor,...
Filmmaker: How did you decide to cast Tim Heidecker, a comedian known for his absurdist humor,...
- 1/21/2012
- by Dan Schoenbrun
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
Writer-director-musician Rick Alverson has worked with recording label Jagjaguwar on nine albums and since 2010 their partnership has evolved into making films. Alverson's debut, "The Builder," was an existential study of an immigrant vs. the American promise and was followed by "New Jerusalem," about an immigrant and religious ideology (it played Sundance 2011). Now "The Comedy" (playing in the U.S. Dramatic Competition) tells an American tale about the perils of entitlement. It follows a wealthy, aging hipster as he takes what may be the first decisive steps in his privileged life to address his malaise, small flirtations with the world around him. The film premieres in Park City on January 21 and we've got the exclusive trailer. Check it out below:...
- 1/18/2012
- Indiewire
Writer-director-musician Rick Alverson has worked with recording label Jagjaguwar on nine albums and since 2010 their partnership has evolved into making films. Alverson's debut, "The Builder," was an existential study of an immigrant vs. the American promise, and was followed by "New Jerusalem," about an immigrant and religious ideology (it played Sundance 2011). Now "The Comedy" tells an American tale about the perils of entitlement. is an existential study of an immigrant at odds with America’s promise. It was followed by New Jerusalem, a view of the immigrant experience through the lens of religious ideology. What's it about: American entitlement. The film takes entitlement and desensitization as its subjects. It follows a wealthy, aging hipster as he takes what may be the first decisive steps in his privileged life to address his malaise, small flirtations with the world around him. He and we are uncertain as to his...
- 1/15/2012
- Indiewire
Embedded below is the trailer for New Jerusalem, R. Alverson’s follow-up to The Builder. The film features Colm O’Leary reprising his role from The Builder and, in his first role since 2006's Old Joy, musician/actor Will “Bonny ‘Prince’ Billy” Oldham as an evangelical bent on ensuring his salvation. Alverson is currently submitting New Jerusalem to film festivals worldwide.
Both The Builder (out on DVD July 27) and New Jerusalem will be the first films released by indie record label Jagjaguwar. The label is currently promoting the first film by offering several unreleased songs from their artists online in a series they've dubbed Music For The Builder.
Both The Builder (out on DVD July 27) and New Jerusalem will be the first films released by indie record label Jagjaguwar. The label is currently promoting the first film by offering several unreleased songs from their artists online in a series they've dubbed Music For The Builder.
- 7/2/2010
- by Wejo
- GeekTyrant
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