If you are of a certain age, you'll probably remember Bobcat Goldthwait as the comic who always appeared to be on the verge of bursting a blood vessel onstage--all darting eyes and anxious squeaks and groans. He also got some attention for writing, directing and starring in a bizarre comedy in the early 90s called Shakes the Clown. Since those days, he's gotten behind the camera for TV to direct for guys like Kimmel and Chappelle. Now he's added to his feature film resume by writing and directing Sleeping Dogs Lie.
Sleeping Dogs Lie, formerly know as Stay, is a great little black comedy about a girl with a dark secret about her former dog--a secret that ends up wreaking havoc in her personal life years later. The writing is fresh and funny and the acting is absolutely terrific--from lead characters to bit parts. While it does swerve dangerously into melodrama a couple of times, overall the tone is just the right mix of sweet and cynical.
I rarely listen to director's commentaries, because I don't want them to tell me something that might mar the movie for me. And, to be honest, I'm usually too impatient to sit through those. But I did l listen to Bobcat's commentary and was completely charmed by his self-deprecating humor and big-hearted personality. How terrific that his little shot-on-a-shoestring movie with a cinematographer from Craig's List is getting such critical accolades.
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