Brigsby Bear

Directed by Dave McCary and screenplay by Kyle Mooney and Kevin Costello from a story by Mooney, Brigsby Bear is the story of a man who lived in an underground bunker learns that his favorite TV show was created by the man who captured him prompting him to see the outside world and finish the show’s narrative. It’s a film that plays into a man who embarks into the real world after being held captive for so many years as his ideas of reality and fantasy become confusing. Starring Kyle Mooney, Claire Danes, Greg Kinnear, Matt Walsh, Jane Adams, Michaela Watkins, Jorge Lendeborg Jr., Ryan Simpkins, and Mark Hamill. Brigsby Bear is a whimsical and heartfelt film from Dave McCary.

A young man who obsessively watches a TV show while living in an underground bunker learns he had been abducted by a couple where he returns to his real family and eventually decides to finish the show that his fake father created into a film. It’s a film that has a man dealing with reality and what happened to him while realizing that a new tape of his show isn’t coming forcing him to make a project relating to that show. The film’s screenplay by Kyle Mooney and Kevin Costello focuses mainly on the character of James Pope (Kyle Mooney) who lives in an underground bunker as he obsesses over this educational TV show about a bear who saves the universe as well as teach children ideas and math problems of the world. For James, it’s the only contact to the outside world that he has while he also created an online fan forum about the show unaware that no one knows about the show’s existence.

Upon his return to the real world and reunited with his real parents as well as learning he has a younger sister in Aubrey (Ryan Simpkins), James struggles with his new reality until Aubrey reluctantly takes him to a party where he manages to win a few people over through his discussion of his favorite show that it interests a few people. Even one of the detectives of his case in Detective Vogel (Greg Kinnear) takes interest in what James is doing as he wanted to fulfill a lifelong dream of acting as he used to act in plays before becoming a detective. With Aubrey eventually joining in, James finds a fulfillment in creating this film version of his favorite TV show with the props of the show that Detective Vogel retrieved from the station. Yet, James’ project makes his parents uneasy thinking he wouldn’t adapt to society following a stunt he pulled during filming where he took the blame for everyone. It would play into James’ need to focus on this project rather than adapt to a world he doesn’t know much about.

Dave McCary’s direction is full of imagination and whimsy which play into this clash of reality and James’ need to create a reality that is based on the fantasy of the TV show that he loved. Shot on location in Utah, the film does play into a world where it starts off as this strange and offbeat sci-fi film where this family is living underground as if the world had been destroyed by a nuclear holocaust until the police arrive to arrest James’ captors. There are some wide shots of the locations in McCary’s direction yet he’s more focused on the interaction between characters and James’ enthusiasm for this TV show that he loved. Notably in the creation of James’ film where there is that element of amateurish, homemade filmmaking that is full of creativity thanks in part to a friend of Aubrey in Spencer (Jorge Lendeborg Jr.) who would create visual effects and be James’ closest collaborator in all aspects of the film.

There are dramatic elements in the film as it relates to James’ parents desire to connect and bond with him as they bring in their family therapist Emily (Claire Danes) who suggest some things that she believes would help James. Still, McCary maintains a low-key approach to the drama in favor of something more light-hearted in its approach to humor as well as James’ journey about the world around him including those who participated in the TV show that his fake parents created. Even in what would become James’ vision for this film as he would do what he can to create something faithful to the TV show but also as a closing chapter in his life. Overall, McCary creates a touching and witty film about an abducted young man who seeks out to finish his captors’ TV special into a film.

Cinematographer Christian Sprenger does excellent work with the film’s cinematography as it is largely straightforward with some grainy video footage for the TV show presentation as it was shot largely on video. Editor Jacob Craycroft does nice work with the editing as it is straightforward with some rhythmic cuts that play into the humor and drama. Production designer Brandon Tonner-Connolly, with set decorator Cynthia A. Neibaur and art director Andy Eklund, does amazing work with the look of some of the amateurish sets that James and Spencer created along with the props from the show. Costume designer Sarah Mae Burton does fantastic work with the clothes and costumes of the show including the homemade costumes that were created along with the casual look of the people in James’ life.

The visual effects work of Andrew Sherman is brilliant for its approach to amateurish visual effects and usage of practical effects to create something as if it was homemade. Sound editor Leslie Shatz does superb work with the sound as it create some sound effects for the film along with some usage of naturalistic sound in various parts of the film. The film’s music by David Wingo is wonderful for its usage of ambient and electronic pieces to play up the feel of the 1980s as if the TV show was created in the 1980s while music supervisor Kier Lehman provides a mixture of music for its soundtrack that includes acts like YACHT, Kyle, DecadeZ, Vessel, Join the Riot, and Nate Heller.

The casting by Courtney Bright and Nicole Daniels is great as it feature some notable small roles and appearances from Andy Samberg as mental hospital patient James befriends late in the film, Tim Heidecker as an actor in a movie James sees with his dad, Kate Lyn Sheil as an actress who appeared on the TV show as an object of affection for James, Alexa Demie and Chance Crimin in their respective roles as a couple of Aubrey’s friends in Merideth and Logan, Beck Bennett as a detective in Deputy Banner who becomes suspicious about James’ activities, and Claire Dane in a terrific small role as the Pope’s family psychiatrist Emily who is trying to understand James only to make suggestions that proved to be not helpful to his well-being.

Jorge Lendeborg Jr. is superb as Aubrey’s friend Spencer who becomes fascinated by the TV show that James tells him about where he would upload episodes to YouTube and become James’ key collaborator in the film. Matt Walsh and Michaela Watkins are fantastic as James’ real parents in their respective roles as Greg and Louise Pope who are trying to re-establish their relationship with their son while being confused by his obsession for the show while Ryan Simpkins is wonderful as James’ younger teenage sister who initially doesn’t want to do much with him only to become a collaborator for his film where they start to bond.

Mark Hamill and Jane Adams are excellent as James’ captors in their respective roles as Ted and April Mitchum with Hamill as the creator of this TV show who has also been James’ protector with April as the maternal figure where the two try to protect James from the ugliness of the world. Greg Kinnear is brilliant as Detective Vogel as the man who brings James back home while becomes interested in what James is doing prompting him to return to his love for acting by taking part in the film. Finally, there’s Kyle Mooney in an amazing performance as James Pope as an abducted young man who is a big fan of a TV show he believed everyone knows only to learn he was abducted yet is more concerned about the next episode forcing him to create his own film where it’s a charming and heartfelt performance of a man whose innocence is his key to living.

Brigsby Bear is a sensational film from Dave McCary. Along with its ensemble cast, touching script, dazzling visual effects, and old-school approach to amateurish filmmaking. It’s a comedy-drama that touches all of the right places while not being afraid in expressing sentimentality in a young man wanting to finish the creation that his abductors had created. In the end, Brigsby Bear is a phenomenal film from Dave McCary.

© thevoid99 2019

In a World...

Written, directed, and starring Lake Bell, In a World… is the story of a vocal coach who struggles to make it in the world of the voiceover game as she contends wither very famous father and other men in an industry often dominated by men. The film is an exploration into an industry where men often runs things as a woman is trying to make it on her own terms as she copes with having to compete with her father. Also starring Demetri Martin, Fred Melamed, Rob Corddry, Michaela Watkins, Ken Marino, Tig Notaro, and Nick Offerman. In a World… is a rich and engaging film from Lake Bell.

The film explores the world of the voiceover industry as it revolves around a revered veteran, a popular voiceover actor, and the veteran’s vocal coach daughter all vying for this job to do voiceover work for a trailer for an upcoming film franchise following the death of a great voiceover artist. Yet, it’s really more about this woman who has her father’s gift for doing great voices as she struggles to make it on her own as she works as a freelance voice coach as well as do small gigs. Even as she is kicked out of her dad’s home as she lives with her sister where she copes with having to be in her father’s shadow. When opportunity knocks as she had gained two voiceover gigs that was supposed to be for someone else. It then lead to all sorts of things as she finds out she would have to compete with her father and the man whose gigs she accidentally took.

Lake Bell’s screenplay definitely explores the struggle for women to make it in an industry where men are often the driving force as it sort of plays as an allegory of the way the film industry is where it would favor men instead of women. Even as her character Carol Solomon is someone who is very good at creating voices and helping other actors with their voices. Unfortunately, it hasn’t done enough to get her own career in gear despite the help of some people including sound engineer Louis (Demetri Martin) who has a crush on her. Her father Sam Sotto (Fred Melamed) is even less supportive as he is more concerned in grooming the already popular voiceover actor Gustav Warner (Ken Marino) to be the man who will say the words “in a world…” that the late Don LaFontaine has been famous for.

While there’s a subplot involving Carol’s sister Dani (Michaela Watkins) who is struggling with her marriage to Moe (Rob Corddry), it does play into Carol using her voice to help them. Even as it reveals the sisters’ shared frustration towards their father who is often dismissive about Carol’s work as doesn’t think women have a place in the voiceover industry. Carol’s encounter with Gustav at his party would only complicate things due to Sam being more supportive towards Gustav as he is unaware of the fact that Carol was the one that took Gustav’s gigs due to Gustav being sick. It would definitely lead to this competition where Carol knows she has to compete with her dad and Gustav for this gig but she doesn’t have their egos as she knows that she will at least she put some effort if she loses the gig.

Bell’s direction is very simple as she aims for something that feels very intimate as well as provide some insight into a woman trying to break into a male-dominated industry. Especially as it has something that is a low-budget film but doesn’t have the look nor the feel of a low-budget film where Bell definitely creates some unique compositions such as close-ups and medium shots. Notably in the former as it plays to the power of the voice such as this climatic montage of Sam, Carol, and Gustav recording their voices for this trailer. The direction also has some effective use in its approach to humor that is very light-hearted as Bell prefers to create something that feels natural while not being afraid of displaying some quirks. Overall, Bell creates a very fascinating and entertaining film about a woman trying to get her break in the art of voice-overs.

Cinematographer Seamus Tierney does excellent work with the film‘s cinematography as it is vibrant and colorful for some of the film‘s daytime scenes while using some unique lights and shades for some of its nighttime interior scenes. Editor Tom McArdle does brilliant work with the editing as it‘s mostly straightforward while its climatic montage is very inventive to showcase how Sam, Carol, and Gustav each prepare themselves for this gig. Production designer Megan Fenton, with set decorator Elizabeth Garner and art director Ashley Fenton, does nice work with the look of the homes that Sam and Gustav live in as well as the small apartment that Dani and Moe live at.

Costume designer Lindy McMichael does terrific work with the costumes as it‘s mostly casual with the exception of the party dress that Carol wears to Gustav‘s party. Sound editor Fredrick Helm does fantastic work with the sound editing to provide the usage of voice-over and how they‘re created as well as in the climatic montage where Carol, Sam, and Gustav are recording their narrations. The film’s music by Ryan Miller is wonderful as it‘s mostly a keyboard-driven score that is low-key to play into its humor while music supervisor Chris Douridas creates a very fun soundtrack that features a diverse array of music from Mulatu Astatke, Warren G and Nate Dogg, Ice Cube, Squeeze, Salt-N-Pepa, Rick James, the Commodores, Slick Rick, Eddie Money, the Police, Gerry Rafferty, and Tears for Fears.

The casting by John Papsidera is amazing as the film features cameos from Jeff Garlin, Eva Longoria, and a couple of noted voice-over actors in Joe Cipriano and Mark Elliott. Other notable small roles include Talulah Riley as a British neighbor of Moe who helps Carol out in finding a dress, Stephanie Allynne as the sound studio receptionist Nancy whom Louis goes on a bad date with, Corsica Wilson as a woman with a sexy baby voice that Carol meets, Jason O’Mara as an attractive Irishman that Dani meets in her work as a hotel concierge, Tig Notaro as the sound engineer Cher, and Geena Davis in a wonderful appearance as a film executive who would present the trailer that Carol, Sam, and Gustav have been competing for. Nick Offerman is excellent as the sound studio manager Heners who is trying to make sure things are going well as he reveals to despise Gustav for personality reasons. Alexandra Holden is terrific as Sam’s much-younger girlfriend Jamie who tries to smooth things between Sam and his daughters as well as be his supporter. Rob Corddry is fantastic as Carol’s brother-in-law Moe as a small-time chef who is trying to get some time with his wife as he copes with her frequent absences as he would help Carol out with her things.

Ken Marino is superb as the voiceover actor Gustav Warner as he is a guy with a sense of charm but also a bit of smugness which Marino manages to flesh out so well. Demetri Martin is brilliant as Louis as Carol’s sound engineer who has a thing for her as he copes with being single and Carol’s encounter with Gustav. Michaela Watkins is great as Carol’s sister Dani who copes with her work as well as an encounter with an attractive Irishman whom she met at work. Fred Melamed is incredible as Dani and Carol’s father Sam Sotto as this famous voiceover actor who has everything but is often distracted by his own ego and what he wants to do which often leads to a troubled relationship with his daughters. Finally, there’s Lake Bell in a remarkable performance as Carol as this vocal coach who is trying to get her break as she copes with competing with her father as well as the sexism she is facing in the industry as it’s a performance full of charm and naturalistic humor.

In a World… is an extraordinary film from Lake Bell that features a fantastic ensemble cast and a compelling premise that is very engaging. It’s a film that manages to be quite witty as well as have something to say about women trying to make it in an industry that is often dominated by men. In the end, In a World… is a marvelous film from Lake Bell.

© thevoid99 2014