Garbage, Goop and Gus
Posted in reviews on May 7th, 2004 by bucksatan
THE DARK BACKWARD (R)
Directed by: Adam Rifkin
Written by: Adam Rifkin
Starring: Judd Nelson, Bill Paxton, Wayne Newton, James Caan, Lara Flynn Boyle and Rob Lowe
Year: 1991
Running Time: 101 mins.
This movie was hilarious! It has to be, bar none, the greatest underground indpendent cult film of all time. Most people I show this film to (as it’s not that easy to snag a copy) aren’t laughing through it all that much. (Maybe they’re all laughing on the inside!) I myself, can’t stop giggling like a maniac whenever I put this well-played videocassette into the VTR.
“The Dark Backward” is a pitch-black comedy about the rise and fall of comedian Marty Malt and his best friend and co-hort Gus. Prepare yourself to enter the crud-encrusted world of Adam Rifkin.
“We’re gonna be famous Marty! HAHahahahHAhahahahhhAaaaa!”
Adam Rifkin is one of the great indie filmmakers. Come hell or high water, he’ll make the movie he wants to make. With his own money, more often than not. “The Dark Backward” was his first feature. I like anything this guy does. “Night at the Golden Eagle” is a near masterpiece. Hell, I even liked “Detroit Rock City” (and should probably buy it for the Gene Simmons commentary alone).
Rifkin is Terry Gilliam’s retarded, illegitimate child. I’m speaking of his love of the putrid, his flair for the fantastic and his obsession with all things stinky and slimy. People sweat profusely in “The Dark Backward”, yet there is rarely any sun, and when it does manage to poke through the smog filled sky, it seems to be smeared with rotting chicken skin and week-old hamburger grease.
“The Dark Backward” is about Marty, the world’s worst stand-up comic. He is a pathetic wretch of a man with an equally dull girlfriend (Lara Flynn Boyle) and a stultifying job as the city’s garbageman. His best friend however, the loud, obnoxious and (it seems) shit-smeared Gus (Bill Paxton), tries to raise Marty’s spirits by consistently lying to him about his talent and dragging local talent agents in to see Marty die a painful death time and again onstage.
After bringing Jackie Chrome (Wayne Newton), the biggest agent in town, to see Marty, Jackie, unimpressed by Marty’s performance, storms out while Gus hurriedly explains that it was an “off night” for Marty. His big break shattered, Marty goes back to his dreary, ill lit life.
Something then happens to Marty that changes the film into a kaleidescope of horror, humor and really disgusting food. I won’t say much more about it because it’s something that should stay secret. (Too bad everyone else who has reviewed this film doesn’t feel the same way…)
Rifkin must really, really despise stand-up comedians and, honestly, I can’t say I blame him. He even has a quick bit part himself, as one of the smug and smarmmy jokesters he seems to enjoy satirizing. Danny Dayton as the deadpan MC is also perfect as the owner of Syd’s Nightclub. I think the only other film that has had this skewed view of stand-up is “Punchline”. (And unfortunately, Sally Field’s dowdy Roseanne parody was embarrassingly hokey at times.)
Suffice it to say that with the bizarre cameos (James Caan as a less than sympathetic doctor, Rob Lowe as the (literally) shark-faced agent) the rollercoaster circus soundtrack, three humongous chocolate splattered women, insane product placement (”Blump’s Pork Juice”?!), necrophilla and plenty of black humor, “The Dark Backward” is a must-see video (no it ain’t on DVD yet!!) for the collector of the strange, sick or…that’s right, I’m gonna say it again…. THE JUST PLAIN HILARIOUS!
