Chicago Tribune Review

'Running Funny' ★★★


'Running Funny' stars Louis Zorich, Maximilian Osinski, Gene Gallerano
3 stars

By Maureen M. Hart
November 21, 2008

"Running Funny," filmmaker Anthony Grippa's screen adaptation of his uncle Charles Evered's play, captures three men—two young, one old—at crucial life junctures.

Michael (Maximilian Osinski) and Eddie (Gene Gallerano) are just out of college and so broke they're pondering the rental of an "apartment garage" as they strategize their job searches (the latter, the "brains" of the operation, is desperate to get out of his parents' home, and the former is an orphan with limited options). Their potential landlord, Stan (well-known character actor and Chicago native Louis Zorich), is a crusty widower with a take-it-or-leave-it demeanor and a few secrets. Once moved in, hard by Stan's Mercedes, they figure 30 days will be enough to land employment and improve their prospects. Their real task, it turns out, is to find themselves.

A young Paul Giamatti played Michael onstage in 1988, and Osinski brings a similar wounded soulfulness to the part. Gallerano is suitably high-strung as the know-it-all Eddie, and Zorich excels as a man whose vision is impaired but who sees more than the boys think he can. Grippa was 24 when he worked on this film, and though he doesn't always know when to tell his stars to pull back on the histrionics, he manages to hit the right emotional chords overall.

U.S. Theatrical Premiere!!

"Running Funny" will have a one-week run at Facets Cinematheque in Chicago beginning on November 21st!! The film were screen through November 26th, so if you or someone you know is in the Chicago area, please tell them about the screenings and go check out the film!

Visit www.facets.org for more info and to purchase tickets.

DVD news coming soon...

Synecdoche, New York

I went to see Charlie Kaufman's new movie "Synecdoche, New York" last weekend. Man, this was a weird movie. I thought it was an interesting story, but I was completely confused by most of it and I found myself constantly wondering what the point of the whole thing was. "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" remains my favorite Kaufman movie thus far.

I also re-watched "Jaws" recently for my screenwriting class, and I forgot how GREAT that movie is! Very little of it seems outdated and there were several parts where I was genuinely frightened. Hard to believe Spielberg was only in his twenties when he directed it.

Keep an eye out for more Running Funny DVD release news!

The Wrestler

I was lucky enough to snag a couple of tickets to the New York Film Festival's Closing Night screening of Darren Aronofsky's "The Wrestler." I LOVED THIS MOVIE. Mickey Rourke is brilliant in it and he will most certainly be nominated for an Oscar. I must admit that I have never been a fan of professional wrestling, but the story is so moving and Mickey Rourke's performance is so powerful, that you realize it's not really a film about wrestling at all. I'm not going to give away anything else. Go. See. This. Film. It opens on December 19th.

DVD Release -- Save the Date!!

"Running Funny" will be released on January 13, 2009!! You can pre-order the DVD on Amazon.com, Netflix, Blockbuster Online, and in Hollywood Video stores beginning in December. It will be the perfect holiday gift, even though you won't get it until January 13th, but good things come to those who wait.

Max in The Express

Max Osinski, who played Michael in "Running Funny," has a part in the new Dennis Quaid film, "The Express," which opens nationwide tomorrow. I've heard the movie is really good so go check it out this weekend!

Elle and Guy

Gene Gallerano ("Running Funny" and "Skeeball") is in a really cool new short film called "Elle and Guy." Check out the Elle and Guy website, and view the trailer for the film by searching for "Elle and Guy trailer" on YouTube. Gene gives a really good performance so please check it out!