The Great Buck Howard, 2008 - Movie Review

Director: Sean McGinly
Starring: John Malkovich, Colin Hanks, Emily Blunt, Tom Hanks, Tom Arnold, Griffin Dunne
Running Time: 87 minutes
Score: 2 / 10

This review by Pamela Fruendt.

I saw a preview of THE GREAT BUCK HOWARD last night ( 3/18/09 ). The story is loosely based on the career of Master Mentalist 'The Amazing Kreskin.'

I had every anticipation of having a great evening...Great word out of Sundance. Great trailer. Free film. What could be bad about it?

Guess what? This film is so utterly disappointing. It is a cruel and demeaning look at aging performers unable to adapt to a changing world.

John Malkovich gives a moving performance as Buck Howard...After all, he is John Malkovich but he can't carry the film alone. Colin Hanks' acting is flat and uninspired giving the oh so talented Emily Blunt mere crumbs with which to work.

Even Colin's real life father, Tom Hanks, can't save this film despite a moving yet all too brief appearance .

See the film if you're a Malkovich fan...otherwise wait for cable or DVD. I've seen the Amazing Kreskin myself and this film does him a tremendous disservice.

Leave a comment on this post below.

HOME - Discuss in the Forum

The Great Buck Howard - Trailer

Once upon a time, Buck Howard spent his days in the limelight. His mind-boggling feats as a mentalist extraordinaire - not to be confused with those of a mere magician - earned him a marquee act in Vegas and 61 appearances on Johnny Carson's Tonight Show. In his own humble opinion, his talents go far beyond simple sleight of hand - he can read minds and hypnotize not just a single soul but an entire room of people! But nowadays, it's clear to everyone but Buck that his act has lost its luster; he performs in faded community centers and hasn't sold out a theater in years.

Yet, with a hearty handshake and a trademark "I love this town!" Buck Howard perseveres, confident in his own celebrity, convinced his comeback is imminent. He just needs a new road manager and personal assistant. As it turns out, recent law school drop-out and unemployed, would-be writer Troy Gable needs a job and a purpose. Working for the pompous, has-been mentalist fills the former requirement, but how it satisfies the latter is questionable, especially to his father, who still assumes Troy is in law school. Nonetheless, with the aid of a fiery publicist and a bold stroke of fate, Buck surprisingly lands back into the American consciousness, taking Troy along for the ride of his life. As the coveted spotlight again shines on the great Buck Howard, Buck becomes the unlikeliest of teachers as Troy learns a few tricks he couldn't possibly have picked up in law school.

Home / Forum / Guestbook

The Great Buck Howard - Poster

Home / Forum / Guestbook

The Great Buck Howard - New Photo

A law school dropout and aspiring writer takes a job with a has-been mentalist. With John Malkovich, Colin Hanks and Emily Blunt.

Home / Forum / Guestbook