Saint John of Las Vegas

Last updated
Saint John of Las Vegas
SaintJohnofLasVegas.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed byHue Rhodes
Screenplay byHue Rhodes
Story by Dante Alighieri
Produced by
Starring
Cinematography Giles Nuttgens
Edited byAnnette Davey
Music by David Torn
Production
company
Circle of Confusion
Distributed by IndieVest Pictures
Release dates
  • June 10, 2009 (2009-06-10)(CineVegas)
  • January 29, 2010 (2010-01-29)(United States)
Running time
85 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$2 million
Box office$102,647 [1]

Saint John of Las Vegas is a 2009 American comedy-drama film starring Steve Buscemi, Romany Malco, and Sarah Silverman.

Contents

St. John of Las Vegas was the first film released by IndieVest Pictures, a subsidiary of IndieVest. [2]

The film, directed and written for the screen by Hue Rhodes (based on a story by Dante Alighieri) and produced by Steve Buscemi, Stanley Tucci, and Spike Lee, follows an ex-gambler as he takes a road trip with his new partner, an auto insurance fraud debunker, to investigate a fraud, while meeting a series of offbeat characters, including a carnival's human torch, a paraplegic stripper, and a nude militant, along the way.

The film was shown in film festivals and was released in limited release on January 29, 2010.

Plot

A compulsive gambler attempts to cure his addiction by moving from Las Vegas to Albuquerque and working at an auto insurance company, only to find old temptations cropping up once again when he's sent out to investigate a dubious car accident just outside Sin City.

After a string of bad luck at the tables, John (Steve Buscemi) decides to give up gambling and take a shot at a "normal" life. Arriving in Albuquerque and landing a job at an auto insurance company, John goes to work for Mr. Townsend (Peter Dinklage), who pairs him with the company's top fraud debunker, Virgil (Romany Malco), and sends them out on an investigation together. While John is eager to get a promotion, he's reluctant to go anywhere near Las Vegas, and before he leaves he strikes up a tenuous romance with his eccentric co-worker, Jill (Sarah Silverman).

On the road, Virgil and John encounter a series of offbeat characters including Ned, a nude militant (Tim Blake Nelson), Tasty D Lite, a wheelchair-using stripper (Emmanuelle Chriqui), and a carnival human torch (John Cho). But while Virgil is the one with the experience, John gradually begins to assert himself and soon his efforts begin to pay off as the case moves closer to conclusion. As John's confidence grows, he becomes increasingly aware of the fact that running away from his gambling problem is not the solution, and that he'll only be able to move forward by returning to Las Vegas to face his demons head on.

Cast

Release and reception

The film received $21,666 in its opening weekend at #50 and reportedly gross domestic box office receipts totaled just over $100,000. [3] [4]

The film received mostly negative reviews. As of December 2022, the film holds a 25% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 53 reviews. The website's critics' consensus reads: "Writer-director Hue Rhodes' debut is a poorly-paced, forgettable comedy that wastes the quirky talents of stars Steve Buscemi and Sarah Silverman." [5]

Initially, critics panned the film. Chris Nashaway of Entertainment Weekly called the film "Excruciatingly awful" and "a shaggy road movie to nowhere". [6] Roger Ebert of RogerEbert.com wrote "This movie is all elbows. Nothing fits. It doesn't add up. It has some terrific free-standing scenes, but they need more to lean on." [7]

More recent reviews are slightly more positive. In 2016 Perri Nemiroff published a review in CinemaBlend that said "It’s far from a masterpiece, but Hue Rhodes manages to do Buscemi justice providing him with a character ripe with emotion and a fascinating complexity. Buscemi returns the favor by powering the film with an engaging oddity." [8]

And 2020, Mike Massie rated it 7/10 on Rotten Tomatoes describing it as "a surrealistic fable of one man's descent into hell through a supreme loss of luck and a little trickery from unsavory denizens of the underworld." [9]

Related Research Articles

<i>Tomcats</i> (2001 film) 2001 film by Gregory Poirier

Tomcats is a 2001 American sex comedy film written and directed by Gregory Poirier. It stars Jerry O'Connell, Shannon Elizabeth, and Jake Busey. This film also features Dakota Fanning in her film acting debut.

<i>Hard Eight</i> (film) 1996 film by Paul Thomas Anderson

Hard Eight is a 1996 American crime film written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson in his feature directorial debut, and starring Philip Baker Hall, John C. Reilly, Gwyneth Paltrow and Samuel L. Jackson. It is the expansion of the short film Cigarettes & Coffee. The film follows the life of a senior gambler and a homeless man. It premiered at the 1996 Cannes Film Festival.

<i>Weekend at Bernies</i> 1989 comedy film directed by Ted Kotcheff

Weekend at Bernie's is a 1989 American black comedy film directed by Ted Kotcheff, written by Robert Klane, and starring Andrew McCarthy, Jonathan Silverman, Catherine Mary Stewart, and Terry Kiser. It tells the story of two young insurance corporation employees who discover that their boss Bernie is dead after arriving at his house in The Hamptons. While attempting to convince people that Bernie is still alive until they can leave to prevent them from being falsely suspected for causing his death, they discover that Bernie had in fact ordered their killing to cover up his embezzlement. Weekend at Bernie's grossed $30 million on a $15 million budget.

<i>Kansas City</i> (film) 1996 American crime film by Robert Altman

Kansas City is a 1996 American crime film directed by Robert Altman, and starring Jennifer Jason Leigh, Miranda Richardson, Harry Belafonte, Michael Murphy and Steve Buscemi. The musical score of Kansas City is integrated into the film, with modern-day musicians recreating the Kansas City jazz of 1930s.

<i>The 40-Year-Old Virgin</i> 2005 film directed by Judd Apatow

The 40-Year-Old Virgin is a 2005 American romantic comedy film directed by Judd Apatow, who produced the film with Clayton Townsend and Shauna Robertson. It features Steve Carell as the titular 40-year-old virgin Andy, an employee at an electronics store. Paul Rudd, Romany Malco, and Seth Rogen play co-workers who resolve to help him lose his virginity, and Catherine Keener stars as Andy's love interest, Trish.

<i>Vegas Vacation</i> 1997 family comedy film by Stephen Kessler

Vegas Vacation is a 1997 American comedy film directed by Stephen Kessler in his feature directorial debut. It is the fourth installment in National Lampoon’s Vacation film series, and was written by Elisa Bell, based on a story by Bell and Bob Ducsay. The film stars Chevy Chase, Beverly D'Angelo, Randy Quaid, Wayne Newton, Ethan Embry, and Wallace Shawn. It tells the story of Clark Griswold taking his family to Las Vegas to renew his vows to Ellen as the series' usual hilarity occurs. The film opened at #4 at the box office and grossed over $36.4 million domestically. Vegas Vacation is the first theatrical Vacation film not to carry the National Lampoon label or a screenwriting credit from John Hughes. Also, this is the only National Lampoon film to be released in the 1990s and the final film released before National Lampoon magazine folded. This was also the last Vacation movie to be released until New Line Cinema, a production company of Warner Bros, produced a reboot that was released 18 years later in 2015.

<i>The Center of the World</i> 2001 film by Wayne Wang

The Center of the World is a 2001 American drama film directed by Wayne Wang and shot on digital video. It stars Peter Sarsgaard as a dot-com millionaire who hires a drummer/stripper to stay with him in Las Vegas for three days for US$10,000. The film was screened out of competition at the 2001 Cannes Film Festival.

<i>Trees Lounge</i> 1996 film

Trees Lounge is a 1996 American comedy-drama film and the debut of Steve Buscemi as writer and director. It was produced by Brad Wyman and Chris Hanley and features a large ensemble cast of actors, including Buscemi, Anthony LaPaglia, Chloë Sevigny, and Samuel L. Jackson. The film's black humor is based on examination of characters' self-destructive behavior, revolving around their shared hangout of the eponymous bar and lounge.

<i>Oceans Thirteen</i> 2007 film by Steven Soderbergh

Ocean's Thirteen is a 2007 American heist comedy film directed by Steven Soderbergh and written by Brian Koppelman and David Levien. It is the final installment in the Ocean's film trilogy and the sequel to Ocean's Twelve (2004). The film features an ensemble cast including George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Andy García, Don Cheadle, Bernie Mac, Ellen Barkin, Al Pacino, Casey Affleck, Scott Caan, Eddie Jemison, Qin Shaobo, Carl Reiner, and Elliott Gould.

<i>CrissCross</i> 1992 American film by Chris Menges

CrissCross is a 1992 American drama film directed by Chris Menges and written by Scott Sommer, based on his homonymous novel. It stars Goldie Hawn, Arliss Howard, Keith Carradine, Steve Buscemi, and David Arnott.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Romany Malco</span> American actor

Romany Romanic Malco Jr. is an American actor, rapper, and music producer. He has been nominated for several awards, including an NAACP Image Award, MTV Movie Award, and Screen Actors Guild Award. In film, he is best known for his roles in The 40-Year-Old Virgin (2005), Baby Mama (2008), Think Like a Man (2012) and its sequel Think Like a Man Too (2014), and The DUFF (2015). In television, he is best known for portraying Conrad Shepard on the Showtime series Weeds (2005–2012) and Rome Howard on the ABC series A Million Little Things (2018–2023). He is also known for writing the rap lyrics for the character of MC Skat Kat in "Opposites Attract".

<i>Sgt. Bilko</i> 1996 American comedy film directed by Jonathan Lynn

Sgt. Bilko is a 1996 American military comedy film directed by Jonathan Lynn and written by Andy Breckman. It is an adaptation of the 1950s television series The Phil Silvers Show, often informally called Sgt. Bilko, or simply Bilko, and stars Steve Martin, Dan Aykroyd, Phil Hartman and Glenne Headly.

<i>Baby Mama</i> (film) 2008 film by Michael McCullers

Baby Mama is a 2008 American romantic comedy film written and directed by Michael McCullers in his directorial debut and starring Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Greg Kinnear, Dax Shepard, Romany Malco, Maura Tierney, Holland Taylor, with Steve Martin, and Sigourney Weaver.

<i>Jocks</i> (film) 1987 film by Steve Carver

Jocks is a 1987 teen comedy. The film was directed by Steve Carver and written by Michael Lanahan and David Oas. Jocks was shot in Las Vegas and in Los Angeles.

IndieVest, founded in 2004 by venture capitalist Wade Bradley, was an independent film studio, financier, and distributor based in Los Angeles. The company used a membership-based platform for financing film projects. The company served high-net-worth individuals and institutional investors. Following the failure of its only two films, several investors sued IndieVest and Bradley for fraud. The company went dormant in early 2012, and in July 2015, Bradley told investors that he had begun "winding down" IndieVest.

<i>The Incredible Burt Wonderstone</i> 2013 American film by Don Scardino

The Incredible Burt Wonderstone is a 2013 American comedy film directed by Don Scardino and written by John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein, based on a story by Chad Kultgen and Tyler Mitchell, along with Daley and Goldstein. The film follows Las Vegas magician Burt Wonderstone as he attempts to reunite with his former partner Anton Marvelton to take on dangerous street magician Steve Gray. It also features Alan Arkin, Olivia Wilde, and James Gandolfini in his final film appearance during his lifetime.

<i>Lay the Favorite</i> 2012 American film by Stephen Frears

Lay the Favorite is a 2012 American comedy-drama film directed by Stephen Frears and written by D.V. DeVincentis, and stars Bruce Willis, Rebecca Hall, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Joshua Jackson. Based on Beth Raymer's 2010 memoir of the same name, the film follows a young, free-spirited woman as she journeys through the legal and illegal world of sports gambling.

<i>Last Vegas</i> 2013 film by Jon Turteltaub

Last Vegas is a 2013 American comedy film directed by Jon Turteltaub, written by Dan Fogelman and starring Michael Douglas, Robert De Niro, Morgan Freeman, Kevin Kline and Mary Steenburgen. Three retirees travel to Las Vegas to have a bachelor party for their last remaining single friend.

<i>Think Like a Man Too</i> 2014 American film

Think Like a Man Too is a 2014 American romantic comedy film directed by Tim Story. It is the sequel to the 2012 film Think Like a Man, based on Steve Harvey's 2009 book Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man. The script was written by David A. Newman and Keith Merryman, with Will Packer returning as producer but now under his Will Packer Productions banner. The film features an ensemble cast that includes Michael Ealy, Meagan Good, Regina Hall, Terrence J, Taraji P. Henson, Romany Malco, Gabrielle Union, Jerry Ferrara, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Gary Owen and Kevin Hart, with Jennifer Lewis and La La Anthony in supporting roles.

<i>Think Like a Man</i> 2012 romantic comedy film

Think Like a Man is a 2012 American romantic comedy film directed by Tim Story, written by Keith Merryman and David A. Newman, and produced by Will Packer. It was based on Steve Harvey's 2009 book Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man. The film stars an ensemble cast, featuring Kevin Hart, Meagan Good, Jerry Ferrara, Regina Hall, Michael Ealy, Terrence J, Taraji P. Henson, Romany Malco, and Gabrielle Union.

References

  1. ↑ "Saint John of Las Vegas (2010) – Box Office Mojo". Box Office Mojo . Retrieved 2010-03-19.
  2. ↑ High-Risk Glamour: A Piece of an Indie Flick, Wall Street Journal
  3. ↑ "Saint John of Las Vegas (2010) – Weekend Box Office Results". Box Office Mojo . Retrieved 2010-02-12.[ permanent dead link ]
  4. ↑ "The Numbers - Box Office Data". The-Numbers. Retrieved 2012-01-12.
  5. ↑ "Saint John of Las Vegas Movie Reviews, Pictures – Rotten Tomatoes". Rotten Tomatoes . Retrieved June 8, 2020.
  6. ↑ Entertainment Weekly February 5, 2010 pg. 50.
  7. ↑ "A sad sack's journey into Hades". RogerEbert.com . Retrieved December 28, 2022.
  8. ↑ "Saint John Of Las Vegas". CinemaBlend. 27 May 2016. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
  9. ↑ "Saint John of Las Vegas Movie Reviews, Pictures – Rotten Tomatoes". Rotten Tomatoes . Retrieved December 28, 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.