Plot: What’s it about?
Bennie Reyes (Miguel Sandoval) is an American art dealer, who is in London to showcase some Southwestern topaz merchandise. While at his hotel, he decides to visit the internal eatery for some dinner, but instead he finds Frank King (Alex Cox), who also happens to be an art dealer. But Frank is a British person and is very proper in his ways, whereas Bennie is more relaxed when it comes to most things. Even so, the two strike up a conversation and after they realize they won’t get food in the abandon eatery inside the hotel, they trek off in search of dinner. It won’t be easy to find a place they both like, but sooner or later, they’re bound to agree on some location. In a strange turn of events, the two find themselves in various places and some very strange one, but never seem to be able to close the deal on dinner. Will Bennie and Frank ever be able to agree on a place to eat and then find that place, or are they destined to wander the land forever in search of a good meal? Also, where is Leroy (Robert Wisdom) and why is he there?
Three Businessmen is a hard movie to recommend to most folks, but fans of offbeat cinema and of course, Alex Cox flicks should give this one a spin. The film is very well written and directed, with a sense of intelligence that is eons ahead of most movies, so don’t expect a mindless effort with Three Businessmen. The things that unfold might not always make sense, but this is not a nonsense driven picture, so make sure you have your brain turned on, you’ll get much more out of the flick if you’re paying close attention. Cox is able take some very unusual ideas and convert them to film very well, in addition to taking on a prominent role within the movie, which was a nice touch. Cox is joined by Miguel Sandoval and Robert Wisdom, who also turn in more than solid performances. I can see why this one might not be for everyone, but I think the slower pace, more cerebral approach, and subtle comedic touches, as I think it all combines to form one terrific flick. If you’re looking for a very smart, dialogue driven picture and like offbeat movies, then I recommend Three Businessmen and you like it, make sure to spin the included commentary track.
Although his resume is rather brief, I’ve always had a respect for Alex Cox, as each of his films seems unique, but retains his fingerprints. This means he keeps his touch on them, but also expands into new realms of attack, which keeps his films fresh and unpredictable. All too often directors can be pigeonholed into a certain style of film, but not Cox and that’s one of his strongest suits. In Three Businessmen, you can still see his impression on the tone and look of the film, but he takes a very subtle approach, which works very well here. In addition to working behind the camera, Cox also has a large role within the film and of course, performs up to task. Other films directed by Cox include Repo Man, Edge City, Straight To Hell, Walker, Highway Patrolman, Death and the Compass, Sid & Nancy, and The Winner. The cast includes Miguel Sandoval (Jurassic Park, Do The Right Thing), Andrew Schofeld (Sid & Nancy, Shark Hunt), Isabel Ampudia (Behind God’s Back), and Robert Wisdom (Face/Off, Mighty Joe Young).
Video: How does it look?
Three Businessmen is presented in a 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer. This was shot on a small budget and as such, the image shows more grain than most films, but I am pleased with this presentation. I think first timers might be taken back by the grain, but this is a very solid effort and fans should be pleased. The colors and contrast are thrown off a little, but this is due to lack of resources during production, not this visual transfer. As I said, this image lacks a lot when compared to more refined transfers, but I think Anchor Bay has done a fine treatment here.
Audio: How does it sound?
Not much to discuss here, as this is a very dialogue reliant film and the included mono track is adequate. Some other audio is present, but usually just minor background noise or the music, both of which sound good enough in this mix. I do think a new surround mix would have jazzed up the experience, but I am not displeased with this option. The dialogue is what matters most here and since it sounds excellent, I have no complaints to make. No subtitles or other language track have been included, however.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc has only one real bonus feature, but it is a good one, in the form of a terrific audio commentary track. It features director Alex Cox and writer Tod Davies, who have some interesting comments to offer here, very cool indeed. The two leave minimal blank space here, with a lot of comments about inspirations for certain scenes, the basic concepts explored, the characters, and all sorts of other topics. If you liked this movie even a little, this track is well worth a listen, so don’t pass it up. You can also view the film’s theatrical poster, but I have no idea why, as a smaller edition is included in the disc’s case.
