[Previous entry: ""Gamers the series?" by Christopher Folino"] [Main Index] [Next entry: "Blog Blog Blog by Christopher Folino"]

05/08/2006: "Jason Driver writes review about "Gamers" to appear on www.rpg.net"

Here's an important review to help us gain respect and street cred with the RPG world.
Did you like how I made it sound cool and gangstar like?
I'm white like that! Here now is the review by a great American, Jason Driver which will appear this week on www.rpg.net

"Historically speaking, movies based on role playing games have tended to
fall into one of two categories; the "What Do You Get When You Combine CGI
with New Zealand" movie (Lord of the Rings) and the "Some Guys Can't Handle
Their Dice" movie (The Tom Hanks mega-hit Mazes and Monsters). However, in
the past few years, there has emerged a new category: the "Our Dice Go To
Eleven" Mockumentary. While there have been a few attempts at this third
type of movie, the bar has now been set pretty darn high with "Gamers the
Movie".

"Gamers the Movie" is a funny and smart look at the world of role playing
and RPG groups that will look familiar to anyone who has ever bought a GM
screen or set of crystal polyhedron dice. However, what writer and director
Chris Folino manages to do along the way is make this film accessible and
enjoyable to those who HAVEN'T ever role played in much the same way that
Spinal Tap was entertaining even to those who don't like rock music. The
plot of Gamers revolves around the Four Horsemen, four players who are about
to break a record for playing a game of Demons, Nymphs and Dragons (DND) for
23 years. The camera records their interactions with family, friends, and
the workplace as they inch ever closer to the recordbooks and immortality.
Sprinkle in some dice, some clown porn and a decent soundtrack, and you've
got the makings of a good time for all.

While the writing is relevant and paced well, it is the cast that really
shines here. Although an independent film, Folino has gone the extra mile
(and money, one assumes) to get actors who can both understand their
characters and act (instead of simply casting friends because they are free,
available and may know what an Orc is). This extra effort pays off; it
elevates Gamers the Movie from fan-film to film, and the whole project
shines as a result. The always talented John Heard and Beverly D'Angelo are
cast as the "barely tolerant but carnally self-aware parents" of one of the
gamers, Kelly LeBrock as the mom of another player's love interest (it was
really nice to see Kelly in a movie again, but hopefully her role will be
beefed up for the ultra-rare boxed set 10th anniversary director's cut
release), and William Katt (yes, THAT William Katt) as a Madden-playing
boss.

However, the actors playing the gamers themselves, while not necessarily as
well known (outside of Tibet, where Hanson and Sherwood are legend), are
perfectly cast. Kevin Sherwood, Joe Nieves, Kevin Kirkpatrick Dave Hanson
and Scott Allen Rinker all nail their parts perfectly. These guys play their
parts honestly and are completely in the spirit of the movie at all times -
it's a documentary and it's really happening to them. The interactions seem
effortless and they are always "on". Although all of them are great, the
standout has to be Dave Hanson as Reese, the token "worst gamer and social
leper" that every gaming, social or family group has. Hanson is the jester
among clowns, and as we watch him, we viewers associate his character with
someone that we have or do know (and frantically hope that we aren't him to
other people). Reese is correctly described as having issues....a magazine
rack full of issues.

Gamers the Movie is still waiting for a distribution deal, as well as for
some love from the film festival/convention circuit. For any such
distributors or event coordinators out there, look no further than Gamers
the Movie. This one is the real deal, people. You will laugh and everyone
will see some of themselves in this movie (whether as a gamer, friend or
parent of a gamer, or just as someone who has ever been misunderstood).
While some of the 2006 hobby conventions such as Gen Con, Dragoncon and
Comic Con need to take a really serious look at this film and cast, there is
a real place for Gamers the Movie at film festivals and film shows. This
movie is simply very well done and really deserves to be seen. It's that
good.