USA: AMERICAN PREMIERE OF COMEDY MOVIE "SAVING SILVERMAN" WHICH PAYS TRIBUTE TO THE MUSIC OF NEIL DIAMOND

Record ID: 390978

  • Title: USA: AMERICAN PREMIERE OF COMEDY MOVIE "SAVING SILVERMAN" WHICH PAYS TRIBUTE TO THE MUSIC OF NEIL DIAMOND
  • Date: 21st January 2001
  • Summary: NEW YORK, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (JANUARY 21, 2001) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) SCU (SOUNDBITES) (English) JACK BLACK SAYING "I was aware of Neil and I had an appreciation of Neil. Kind of like Elvis, I don't have any Elvis albums or Neil, I do now have Neil albums but beforehand it was just like, yeah, I know all his songs, but now, now I can say that I'm a fan." REPORTER AS
  • Embargoed: 5th February 2001 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA & NEW YORK, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES AND VARIOUS FILM LOCATIONS
  • Country: USA
  • Reuters ID: LVAB0K8JOUMU63THAFQ2REKSFJT4
  • Story Text: "Saving Silverman" may feature "American Pie" star Jason Biggs, indie favorites Steve Zahn and Jack Black, but at its heart it pays tribute to Neil Diamond, a reigning courtier of kitsch but the secret favorite of the hoi polloi and patrician alike.
    "Saving Silverman" traces the misadventures of buddies J.D. (Black) and Wayne (Zahn), who begin to suspect that their best friend, Darren Silverman (Biggs), is going to allow himself to be badgered into marrying Judith (Amanda Peet), a woman he doesn't love. They decide to reunite him with his long lost love from their school days ( Amanda Detmer)-even if they have to kidnap Judith to do it.
    The picture strives to depict a world where nice guys are stupid and wimpy, and where at least some women live only to secure a mate and control him. Wayne (Steve Zahn), speaking directly to the audience, explains that while he grew up feeling loyal to his pals Darren and J.D., Darren was a sucker for cute girls, while J.D. was simply lactose-intolerant.
    After enduring high school, and football under a ruthless coach (R. Lee Ermey, spoofing his "Full Metal Jacket" drill instructor), they all grow up to be losers in witless jobs. On weekends, they play tunes by their all-time hero, Neil Diamond, in public squares.
    While Wayne and J.D. are understandably frustrated by their friend's peril, the real pain is witnessing Darren's idiotic behavior. It says everything about the movie, that Darren is forced by Judith to get butt cheek implants, The buddies panic when Darren announces his engagement but find hope with the sudden re-appearance of Sandy . It doesn't matter that Sandy is about to become a nun; they're going to get the past lovers together again, even if it means kidnapping Judith.
    Zahn is the well-meaning doofus, Biggs the fresh-scrubbed innocent and Black the wild man with no inner censor on his mouth. All three performers tip over into self-parody, as does Neil Diamond (who shows up at the end to truly save Silverman) Dennis Dugan directed Adam Sandler in "Big Daddy" as well as "Happy Gilmore." He also directed the late Chris Farley in the comedy "Beverly Hills Ninja." He began his career as an actor.
    Jason Biggs made his feature film debut as Jim in the hit "American Pie." In addition to his starring role in "Loser,"
    he also starred in "Boys and Girls" and the forthcoming "Prozac Nation," opposite Christina Ricci.
    Steve Zahn will next be seen in "Chain of Fools,"
    "Hamlet" and "Squelch." Most recently, he was seen in the Miramax comedy "Happy, Texas," which premiered at the 1999 Sundance Film Festival and earned Zahn a Grand Jury Special Actor Award for his performance. His other credits include "Out of Sight," "Safe Men," "You've Got Mail," "Forces of Nature", "The Object of My Affection,"
    "subUrbia" and "That Thing You Do!"
    Composer/actor Jack Black was most recently seen in the comedy "High Fidelity," starring John Cusack. His other film credits include "Cradle Will Rock," "Enemy of the State," "The Jackal,"
    "Bongwater,"
    "Mars Attacks!" and
    "The Cable Guy."
    Amanda Peet currently stars on the successful WB series "Jack & Jill" opposite Ivan Sergei. Her film credits include "The Whole Nine Yards," "Isn't She Great," "One Fine Day,"
    "Body Shots" and "She's the One."
    "Saving SIlverman," which opens in North American theatres on February 9, was shot on location in Vancouver, British Columbia.
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