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Funny Pages (film)
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Wikipedia article
'Funny Pages' is a 2022 American coming-of-age black comedy film written, directed, and edited by Owen Kline. It premiered at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival and was released in the United States on August 26, 2022.
Plot
Robert Bleichner, a high school student and aspiring cartoonist, meets with his art teacher, Mr. Katano, at his school classroom. After Katano looks over Robert's portfolio, Katano asks Robert to make a nude figure drawing of him. Before completing the drawing, Robert's phone alarm goes off and leaves for work. Outside, Katano attempts to talk with Robert. While trying to ensure the interaction didnt make him uncomfortable, Katano is suddenly struck and killed by a car.
Later, Robert attempts to gather anything of sentimental value from his late mentor. After rummaging through Katanos classroom, Robert and his friend, Miles, attempt to break into Katanos apartment. The cops arrive at the scene. Miles escapes while Robert is apprehended. Robert enlists the help of Cheryl, a legal consultant for his trial. He is not charged and is allowed to keep Katanos possessions. Shortly after being released, Robert meets with his parents, Lewis and Jennifer, at a diner. He proclaims that he wants to pursue a career in art and will not be finishing the school year, to the disappointment of his parents.
Seeking independence, Robert leaves his parents' house and moves to Trenton, New Jersey, where he shares a dingy apartment with two older men, Barry and Steven. Robert gets a job working for Cheryl as a notetaker while continuing to work at a local comic book store.
Robert attends a meeting with Cheryl and her client, Wallace, who is seeking legal counsel after an attempted assault on a pharmacist. While taking notes, Robert learns that Wallace used to work for as an assistant colorist. The next day, Robert attempts several times to connect with Wallace over his comic book career but is met with Wallaces erratic and volatile behavior. Before driving home, Robert offers Wallace a ride home, who hastily accepts.
During the ride, Wallace coerces Robert to drive to the pharmacy where he was charged with assault. Wallace instructs Robert to provoke the pharmacist in an attempt to get him fired, believing it will help with his case. Robert reluctantly agrees in order to earn Wallaces approval. In an unsuccessful attempt to gather incriminating evidence, Robert throws a rubber horse at the pharmacist and flees the scene.
Robert drops off a disgruntled Wallace. Desperate for professional guidance, Robert offers to pay Wallace for a drawing session. Wallace agrees when Robert suggests they could meet at his parents' house in Princeton, New Jersey. Later that night, Robert moves back home after walking in on Barry and Steven masturbating to Katano's adult comics at their apartment.
When Wallace arrives the next morning, Lewis and Jennifer are immediately suspicious of Wallace. An increasingly uncomfortable Wallace locks himself in the bathroom and smashes a window in frustration. Robert takes Wallace up to his room and pays him with the money he stole from his moms purse. Miles arrives unannounced and tries to show Wallace his work.
During the lesson, Wallace finds Robert's comic parodying him and his misadventures. In a fit of rage, Wallace lambasts the boys and attempts to take Miles' comic from his hands. In the ensuing scuffle, Miles is accidentally stabbed in the head with a pen. Wallace attempts to flee the house by stealing Robert's car, but he crashes it into the garage.
Robert chases Wallace on foot, then Wallace beats up Robert and tells him to leave him alone. A broken and bruised Robert stumbles to the closed comic book store. He sits at the counter and contemplates what just happened.
Cast
* Daniel Zolghadri as Robert
* Matthew Maher as Wallace
* Miles Emanuel as Miles
* Maria Dizzia as Jennifer
* Josh Pais as Lewis
* Marcia Debonis as Cheryl Quartermaine
* Stephen Adly Guirgis as Katano
* Michael Townsend Wright as Barry
* Cleveland Thomas Jr. as Steven
* Rob M. Anderson as Comic Shop Clerk
* Ron Rifkin as Grandfather
* Tony Hassini as Richard
* Andy Milonakis as George
* Shane Fleming as Gabe
* Charlie Judkins as Comics Expert
* Peter Lucibello as Santa
* Louise Lasser as Linda (Pharmacy Lady)
* Buddy Duress as Ryan
Reception
The film premiered at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival in the Directors' Fortnight on May 24, 2022, where it received a three-minute standing ovation.
Critical response
References
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