|
The Village Barbershop
Reviewed by Elliot V. Kotek
(from the 2008 Cinequest Film Festival)
Director/Writer: Chris Ford
Starring: John Ratzenberger, Shelly Cole, Laurellee Westaway and Cindy Pickett
The Village Barbershop is the debut feature from the mind of a man who owns up to owning 67 pairs of sneakers and is, otherwise, an advertising creative-type at Goodby, Silverstein in San Francisco. Deftly transitioning to long-form storytelling, writer/director Chris Ford's decade-long gestation on a script set in Reno (though filmed predominantly, and somehow effectively, in Napa) has paid dividends, birthing a character-driven comedy with a solid sensitivity appropriate for a film whose main character is an old-school barber with an old-school name (Art).
Art's creator is the gifted and underrated John Ratzenberger, known to many as Cliff Clavin from "Cheers," and who has since appealed to all generations by giving his voice to all of Pixar's flicks, from Toy Story to Ratatouille, and (cough, cough) appearing on "Dancing with the Stars." In Village, Ratzenberger's Art is a no-frills barber who still charges eight bucks for a cut, and who, since the passing of his one true love, spends his routine lunch hours throwing the business' money away on beer and bad betting tips.
The film begins when Art's barber-shop partner, Enzo, dies at a Chinese-restaurant-cum-brothel. Simultaneously, any control that Art had over his business affairs hits the skids. With this challenge to Art's livelihood and identity, he's forced to look outside his world to save himself, and finds an unlikely heroine in a pregnant, trailer-park-dwelling, unapologetic go-getter named Gloria. Gloria has been the answer to many a songster's soul (Van Morrison and Laura Branigan, to name the most prominent), and Shelly Cole's character whips both the shop and its owner into shape with a charm and confidence that, to say the least, had been missing from both their personal lives.
Cindy Pickett, as Art's topless cocktail waitress love-interest, and Laurellee Westaway, as the hilarious, still-smoking, septagenarian neighbor with an oxygen tank, provide perfect support to their leads, and Westaway's audience appeal is through the roof. Unfortunately, the film is let down a little by a couple of inconsistent supporting perfs and some overly-theatrical day players who, together, keep the film from playing with the absolute truth that may have helped the film ascend from a surefire festival favorite to an indie classic.
Still, with outstanding outings from Ratzenberger and Cole, The Village Barbershop lathers up a poignant piece of first-time filmmaking that focuses firmly on the integrity in people, providing proof that no matter how alone someone might seem to be, companionship, camaraderie (and comedy) might just be a short clip away.
Images are courtesy of Hot Shave, LLC
Top: John Ratzenberger and Shelly Cole
Read MPM's From-the-Filmmaker exclusive, "The Village Barbershop - Escaping the Drawer."
You can find out more about The Village Barbershop and the man with 67 pairs of sneakers (and keep track of screening times near you) at www.thevillagebarbershop.com.
2008 Newport Beach Film Festival honor: Outstanding Performance in Acting - Shelly Cole
|
|
|
