*Watch "Local Legends" on Amazon Prime Video here*
*Get "Don't Let the Riverbeast Get You!" on Amazon here*
*Get "Freaky Farley" on Amazon here*
*Get "Monsters, Marriage, and Murder in Manchvegas" on Amazon here*
The co-creator of such films as "Don't Let the Riverbeast Get You!", and writer of tens of thousands of songs, decides to turn the camera on himself, with very pleasing results.
Matt Farley writes and directs this quasi-documentary about being a recording artist and film maker in Manchester, New Hampshire. He randomly leaves his products around town, where he walks constantly, works a job, lives cheaply, and is able to put out music, films, and books when he isn't doing his so-bad-it's-hilarious stand-up comedy routine. A couple of women show an interest in him, he plays fantasy one-on-one basketball games with his friend Soup, and he deals with an alter ego, also played by Farley, who decides this very film should be used to sell more of his music- which he keeps mentioning is available on iTunes, under dozens of different band names.
Obviously a labor of love, this film is much different from the films Farley appears in that are directed by Charles Roxburgh. Farley answers critics like me who don't get his earlier films, and in doing so, makes a better film than his Roxburgh collaborations up to this point. This isn't a contest with Roxburgh to see who can make a more appealing movie, this is simply Farley on his own, and the film is nicely directed in black & white, recalling "Stardust Memories" and "8 1/2". There are a ton of familiar faces from Farley's past films here but you won't need to be familiar with them in order to understand what he is getting at. The highlight of the film is a comedy showcase in a basement that had me laughing. Farley dealing with his life outside of Shock Marathons and monster movie work has shown he can tackle introspective comedy, and he comes up with his best work- a charming effort that I was immediately taken with.
"Local Legends" is good stuff. You can find more information on it at Motern Media or you can call Farley directly. No doxing here, he gives his phone number out in all his music and movies, and according to this film, he would love to hear from you. Followed by "Local Legends: Bloodbath."
Stats:
(2013) 74 min. (8/10)
-Written and Directed by Matt Farley
-Cast: Matt Farley, Kevin McGee, Sharon Scalzo, Tom Scalzo, Elizabeth M. Peterson, Chris Peterson, Charles Roxburgh, Ryan Desmarais, Jon Cross, Jim Farley, Rachel Farley, Bryan Fortin, Brian Toomey
-(Not Rated)
-Media Viewed: DVD
