THE GREAT BUCK HOWARD

US, 2008, 90 minutes,. Colour.
John Malkovich, Colin Hanks, Emily Blunt, Ricky Jay, Steve Zahn, Tom Hanks, Griffin Dunne, Debra Monk, Adam Scott.
Directed by Sean Mc Ginly.

The Great Buck Howard is quite an entertaining film, often quite funny, with touches of pathos.

John Malkovich gives one of his excellent performances as the eccentric Buck Howard, an illusionist who was famous in his heyday but is now travelling small American towns, performing one night stands in theatres with small audiences – who nevertheless appreciate his act, songs, praise of the town, illusions, especially identifying where money is hidden (otherwise he would donote the money).Buck has had fame in the past, especially with his many appearances on the Johnny Carson show, but now, Jay Leno will not have him – and is blamed for Buck’s lack of success.

Colin Hanks is the young aspiring writer, forced to do Law at college by his father (played by Tom Hanks in two scenes). Answering an advertisement, he is hired by Buck after other assistants whom he humiliates and makes unreasonable demands of, are fired. Troy is fascinated, is humiliated himself, but is attracted to a publicity agent from New York who does not understand Buck, is exasperated by him, but is attracted to Troy.

The film is a reminder of vaudeville days, of the passing of that kind of entertainment in the modern era, and the performers being stranded unless they can get television appearances.

Debra Monk and Steve Zahn are fans in Cincinnati, and dominating, she introducing show, he being a starry-eyed had fan, to the great annoyance of Buck.

Even despite Buck, the film has a sweetness about it and is enjoyable.

1. An offbeat story, an eccentric central character?

2. On the American roads, in the small American towns, the mid-West, memories of Las Vegas, the theatres, the audiences, performances, Buck and his entourage?

3. Troy, law student, not wanting to study law, the pressure from his father, giving up his studies, answering the advertisement, wanting to write, arriving at the theatre, seeing Buck, seeing the various assistants and the way that they were treated, yet his signing on? His father later visiting him and questioning his choices?

4. The audience’s initial encounter with Buck, through Troy? The first impressions, John Malkovich’s presence, his appearance, manner, way of speaking? An entertainer, and illusionist, egotistic? Questions of his sexual orientation? His performance, the praise of the town, the songs, the magic, the routines?

5. The experience of his helpers, their reason for being with Buck, Buck condescending to them, humiliating them, firing them, his erratic demands, his eccentricity?

6. Troy, accepting employment, learning from the others, the different jobs, organisation, meeting people, the response to the demands, his being insulted and belittled?

7. The interview, the interviewer, the eventual publication, the belittling of Buck?

8. Buck and his ideas, the publicity woman coming from New York, her not wanting to be there, the touch of hardness, her reactions to Buck? Meeting Troy, discussions, Buck and his erratic behaviour, her trying to cope, admiring Troy, the liaison?

9. The key performance, offering to give his money away if the hiding place was found? The background to the routine, the questions about it, plant,
arrangement, the mystery?

10. The travel, the arrangements, the different towns, the theatres, the small audiences, the experience of the pushy woman and her admiring son, taking over, speaking at the beginning of the performance, Buck wanting to get rid of her? The son, his adulation, irritating Buck?

11. Buck giving interviews, his pomposity, his reminders of his appearances on the Johnny Carson show, his blaming Jay Leno for not having him on, for harming his career?

12. The result for Buck, the humiliation, the entrepreneurs and the backers, his collapse, hospital?

13. His trying to make a comeback, Troy and his leaving him, Troy and his writing, and with Valerie?

14. Troy tracking Buck down, for a final performance, and the failure of his trick with the money?

15. The film as a combination of comic, funny, with pathos, eccentricity, and the fascination of an odd central character?