Chuck & Buck: Difference between revisions

Chuck & Buck
Chuck & Buck
	Promotional poster
Directed by	Miguel Arteta
Written by	Mike White
Produced by	Jason Kliot; Thomas Brown; Michael Escott; Charles J. Rusbasan; Judith Zarin;
Starring	Mike White; Chris Weitz; Lupe Ontiveros; Beth Colt; Paul Weitz;
Cinematography	Chuy Chávez
Edited by	Jeff Betancourt
Music by	Joey Waronker; Tony Maxwell; Josh Mancell; Gwendolyn Sanford; Gregory Hormel;
Production; companies	Blow Up Pictures; Flan de Coco Films
Distributed by	Artisan Entertainment (United States); Summit Entertainment (International)
Release dates	January 21, 2000 (Sundance); July 14, 2000;
Running time	96 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Box office	$1.2 million

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Chuck & Buck is a 2000 American black comedy drama film^[4] directed by Miguel Arteta. It was written by and starred Mike White in the leading role.^[5]

Plot

Buck O'Brien is a 27-year-old amateur playwright with the maturity level of an adolescent. When Buck's mother dies unexpectedly, he invites his close childhood friend Chuck to the funeral. Chuck (who is now calling himself "Charlie") is a successful music industry exec with a fiancée, Carlyn. He and Buck experimented sexually with each other when they were 11, but Charlie has repressed these memories and acts as if they had not occurred. Chuck had moved away while they were still children, and Buck has pined after him ever since. During their awkward reunion, Buck makes a sexual advance on Charlie in the bathroom. Charlie rebuffs him, and returns to Los Angeles with Carlyn, but not before extending an obligatory invitation for Buck to visit him there. Buck then withdraws $10,000 from his bank account, packs up his car, and takes up residence in a motel in Los Angeles. He also begins scripting a play on a yellow legal pad: titled "Hank and Frank and the Witch", an obvious plea for Charlie's love.

Too shy to announce his presence right away, Buck starts trying to see Charlie at his office at Trimorph Entertainment. Buck also surreptitiously follows Charlie to find out where he lives. While standing in front of the playhouse across the street from Charlie's job, he strikes up a conversation with Beverly, the house manager. Buck hires Beverly to produce his play, and casts Sam, a talentless actor who bears a strong resemblance to Charlie, in the lead. Buck then works up the nerve to approach Charlie and his girlfriend. After being invited to a party that Charlie and Carlyn host, Buck becomes aware of just how far apart he and Chuck have grown; he feels rejected by Charlie's new friends. He also becomes resentful of Carlyn, who he erroneously believes is interfering with their friendship. As a result of this mind-set, Buck's behavior becomes increasingly erratic and obsessive.

The end of the film deals with both Chuck and Buck confronting each other over their past. The two have sex, and Buck wants Charlie to stay afterward, but Charlie says they must part ways. Buck is distraught afterward, but eventually realizes he has found a new life at the playhouse. When discussing a play over dinner with Beverly, Buck notices Charlie has arrived with Carlyn. Charlie and Buck exchange glances across the room, but Buck ultimately disregards them and goes back to his conversation. Buck comes to the theater to find an invitation to the wedding. Buck arrives at the wedding party and offers the couple his blessing with his presence. Buck and Carlyn make peace as Buck effectively moves on from his obsession with Charlie and keeps their sexual encounter a secret from Carlyn.

Cast

Mike White as Buck O'Brien
Chris Weitz as Charlie "Chuck" Sitter
Lupe Ontiveros as Beverly Franco
Paul Weitz as Sam
Maya Rudolph as Jamilla
Beth Colt as Carlyn
Mary Wigmore as Diane
Paul Sand as Barry
Pamela Gordon as Mrs. O'Brien
Tony Maxwell as himself

Analysis

Chuck & Buck, although marketed as a comedy, is more widely considered to be a darkly humorous psychological thriller or dramedy, as academic James R. Keller says the film explores "the hysterical fear of exposure some heterosexual males experience" when they have had sexual relations with another man.^[6]

Music

The film prominently features the songs:

Gwendolyn's "Freedom of the Heart"
Petra Haden's "Look Both Ways Before You Cross"
Josh Mancell's "Nwo Tew"
Simon Jeffes' "Air a Danser"

Additionally, Jeffes' "Paul's Dance", "Prelude and Yodel" and "Nothing Really Blue" (as performed by Penguin Café Orchestra) are featured on the soundtrack.^[7]

The video for "Doctor Worm" by They Might Be Giants is featured during a scene that takes place in Chuck/Charlie's office. Charlie claims to have signed the band to his label.

Reception and legacy

The film has received generally positive reviews from critics. On the review aggregate website Rotten Tomatoes, it has an 84% approval rating based on 88 reviews, with an average rating of 7.06/10. The website's critical consensus reads: "As poignant as it is unsettling, Chuck & Buck uses the complex dynamic between two men as fuel for untangling a rich assortment of thought-provoking themes".^[8] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 76 out of 100, based on 30 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".^[9] In an interview with The New York Times in 2010, Academy Award-winning actor Jeff Bridges named White's performance the Best of the Decade.^[10] Ontiveros was awarded the National Board of Review Award for Best Supporting Actress.^[11]

References

^ "Music by Josh Mancell" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-04-25.
^ Goodridge, Mike (2 February 2000). "Summit scores foreign sales on Chuck & Buck". Screen International. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
^ Chuck & Buck at Box Office Mojo
^ "Chuck & Buck". AllMovie.
^ "Chuck & Buck". Mubi.
^ Keller, James R. (2010). Queer (un)friendly film and television. McFarland. p. 193. ISBN 9780786481026.
^ "Chuck & Buck Soundtrack (2000) OST". ringostrack.com. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
^ "Chuck & Buck (2000)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved July 10, 2019.
^ "Chuck & Buck Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved April 10, 2018.
^ "The Best Performances of the Decade | Screen Test". The New York Times. February 17, 2010. Retrieved June 24, 2017.
^ "Best Supporting Actress Archives - National Board of Review". National Board of Review.

External links

[music_by_Josh_Mancell-1] "Music by Josh Mancell" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-04-25.

[2] Goodridge, Mike (2 February 2000). "Summit scores foreign sales on Chuck & Buck". Screen International. Retrieved 1 March 2023.

[3] Chuck & Buck at Box Office Mojo

[4] "Chuck & Buck". AllMovie.

[5] "Chuck & Buck". Mubi.

[6] Keller, James R. (2010). Queer (un)friendly film and television. McFarland. p. 193. ISBN 9780786481026.

[7] "Chuck & Buck Soundtrack (2000) OST". ringostrack.com. Retrieved October 22, 2022.

[8] "Chuck & Buck (2000)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved July 10, 2019.

[9] "Chuck & Buck Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved April 10, 2018.

[10] "The Best Performances of the Decade | Screen Test". The New York Times. February 17, 2010. Retrieved June 24, 2017.

[11] "Best Supporting Actress Archives - National Board of Review". National Board of Review.

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{lead too short|date=April 2018}}
 {{Infobox film
 | name           = Chuck & Buck
 | image          = Chuck and buck.jpg
-| image_size     = 215px
 | alt            =
 | caption        = Promotional poster
@@ Line 28: / Line 26: @@
 | cinematography = Chuy Chávez
 | editing        = Jeff Betancourt
-| studio         = Blow Up Pictures<br>Flan de Coco Films<br>Summit Entertainment
+| studio         = Blow Up Pictures<br>Flan de Coco Films
+| distributor    = [[Artisan Entertainment]] (United States)<br>[[Summit Entertainment]] (International)<ref>{{cite web|title=Summit scores foreign sales on Chuck & Buck|website=[[Screen International]]|first=Mike|last=Goodridge|date=2 February 2000|access-date=1 March 2023|url=https://www.screendaily.com/summit-scores-foreign-sales-on-chuck-and-buck/401229.article}}</ref>
-| distributor    = [[Artisan Entertainment]]
-| released       = {{film date|2000|1|21|[[Sundance Film Festival|Sundance]]|2000|7|14}}
+| released       = {{Film date|2000|1|21|[[Sundance Film Festival|Sundance]]|2000|7|14}}
 | runtime        = 96 minutes
 | country        = United States
@@ Line 37: / Line 35: @@
 | gross          = $1.2 million<ref>{{mojo title|chuckandbuck|Chuck & Buck}}</ref>
 }}
-'''''Chuck & Buck''''' (colloquially known as S<!-- You just lost the Game -->need & Nasheed) is a 2000 American [[black comedy]] [[Drama (film and television)|drama film]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Chuck & Buck|publisher=[[AllMovie]]|url=http://www.allmovie.com/movie/chuck-buck-v186976}}</ref> directed by [[Miguel Arteta]]. It was written by and stars [[Mike White (filmmaker)|Mike White]].
+'''''Chuck & Buck''''' is a 2000 American [[black comedy]] [[Drama (film and television)|drama film]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Chuck & Buck|publisher=[[AllMovie]]|url=http://www.allmovie.com/movie/chuck-buck-v186976}}</ref> directed by [[Miguel Arteta]]. It was written by and starred [[Mike White (filmmaker)|Mike White]] in the leading role.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Chuck & Buck |url=https://mubi.com/films/chuck-buck |website=Mubi}}</ref>
 ==Plot==
-Buck O'Brien ([[Mike White (filmmaker)|Mike White]]) is a 27-year-old amateur playwright with the maturity level of an adolescent. When Buck's mother dies unexpectedly, he invites his close childhood friend Chuck ([[Chris Weitz]]) to the funeral. Chuck (who is now calling himself "Charlie") is a successful music industry exec with a fiancée, Carlyn (Beth Colt). He and Buck experimented sexually with each other when they were 11, but Charlie has repressed these memories and acts as if they had not occurred. Chuck had moved away while they were still children, and Buck has pined after him ever since. During their awkward reunion, Buck makes a sexual advance on Charlie in the bathroom. Charlie rebuffs him, and returns to [[Los Angeles]] with Carlyn, but not before extending an obligatory invitation for Buck to visit him there. Buck then withdraws $10,000 from his bank account, packs up his car, and takes up residence in a motel in [[Los Angeles]]. He also begins scripting a play on a yellow legal pad: titled "Hank and Frank and the Witch", it is an obvious plea for Charlie's love.
+Buck O'Brien is a 27-year-old amateur playwright with the maturity level of an adolescent. When Buck's mother dies unexpectedly, he invites his close childhood friend Chuck to the funeral. Chuck (who is now calling himself "Charlie") is a successful music industry exec with a fiancée, Carlyn. He and Buck experimented sexually with each other when they were 11, but Charlie has repressed these memories and acts as if they had not occurred. Chuck had moved away while they were still children, and Buck has pined after him ever since. During their awkward reunion, Buck makes a sexual advance on Charlie in the bathroom. Charlie rebuffs him, and returns to [[Los Angeles]] with Carlyn, but not before extending an obligatory invitation for Buck to visit him there. Buck then withdraws $10,000 from his bank account, packs up his car, and takes up residence in a motel in [[Los Angeles]]. He also begins scripting a play on a yellow legal pad: titled "Hank and Frank and the Witch", an obvious plea for Charlie's love.
-Too shy to announce his presence right away, Buck starts trying to see Charlie at his office at Trimorph Entertainment. Buck also surreptitiously follows Charlie to find out where he lives. While standing in front of the playhouse across the street from Charlie's job, he strikes up a conversation with Beverly ([[Lupe Ontiveros]]), the house manager. Buck hires Beverly to produce his play, and casts Sam ([[Paul Weitz (filmmaker)|Paul Weitz]]), a talentless actor who bears a strong resemblance to Charlie, in the lead. Buck then works up the nerve to approach Charlie and his girlfriend. After being invited to a party that Charlie and Carlyn host, Buck becomes aware of just how far apart he and Chuck have grown; he feels rejected by Charlie's new friends. He also becomes resentful of Carlyn, who he erroneously believes is interfering with their friendship. As a result of this mind-set, Buck's behavior becomes increasingly erratic and obsessive.
+Too shy to announce his presence right away, Buck starts trying to see Charlie at his office at Trimorph Entertainment. Buck also surreptitiously follows Charlie to find out where he lives. While standing in front of the playhouse across the street from Charlie's job, he strikes up a conversation with Beverly, the house manager. Buck hires Beverly to produce his play, and casts Sam, a talentless actor who bears a strong resemblance to Charlie, in the lead. Buck then works up the nerve to approach Charlie and his girlfriend. After being invited to a party that Charlie and Carlyn host, Buck becomes aware of just how far apart he and Chuck have grown; he feels rejected by Charlie's new friends. He also becomes resentful of Carlyn, who he erroneously believes is interfering with their friendship. As a result of this mind-set, Buck's behavior becomes increasingly erratic and obsessive.
 The end of the film deals with both Chuck and Buck confronting each other over their past. The two have sex, and Buck wants Charlie to stay afterward, but Charlie says they must part ways. Buck is distraught afterward, but eventually realizes he has found a new life at the playhouse.  When discussing a play over dinner with Beverly, Buck notices Charlie has arrived with Carlyn.  Charlie and Buck exchange glances across the room, but Buck ultimately disregards them and goes back to his conversation. Buck comes to the theater to find an invitation to the wedding. Buck arrives at the wedding party and offers the couple his blessing with his presence. Buck and Carlyn make peace as Buck effectively moves on from his obsession with Charlie and keeps their sexual encounter a secret from Carlyn.
@@ Line 56: / Line 54: @@
 * [[Paul Sand]] as Barry
 * [[Pamela Gordon (actress)|Pamela Gordon]] as Mrs. O'Brien
-* [[Tony Maxwell]] as Himself
+* [[Tony Maxwell]] as himself
 ==Analysis==
-''Chuck & Buck'', although marketed as a [[Comedy film|comedy]], is more widely considered to be a [[Black comedy|darkly humorous]] [[psychological thriller]], or [[dramedy]].{{Citation needed|date=April 2009}} Academic James R. Keller says the film explores "the hysterical fear of exposure some heterosexual males experience" when they have had sexual relations with another man.<ref>James Keller, [https://books.google.com/books?id=XB7kZ5geeyUC&pg=RA1-PA193 Queer (un)friendly film and television], p. 192</ref>
+''Chuck & Buck'', although marketed as a [[Comedy film|comedy]], is more widely considered to be a [[Black comedy|darkly humorous]] [[psychological thriller]] or [[dramedy]], as academic James R. Keller says the film explores "the hysterical fear of exposure some heterosexual males experience" when they have had sexual relations with another man.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Keller |first=James R. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XB7kZ5geeyUC&pg=RA1-PA193 |title=Queer (un)friendly film and television |publisher=McFarland |year=2010 |isbn=9780786481026 |pages=193}}</ref>
 ==Music==
@@ Line 67: / Line 65: @@
 * [[Josh Mancell]]'s "Nwo Tew"
 * [[Simon Jeffes]]' "Air a Danser"
-Additionally, Jeffes' "Paul's Dance", "Prelude and Yodel" and "Nothing Really Blue" (as performed by [[Penguin Cafe Orchestra|Penguin Café Orchestra]]) are featured on the soundtrack.<ref>{{Citation|last=White|first=Mike|title=Chuck & Buck|date=2000-08-04|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0200530/soundtrack|last2=Weitz|last3=Ontiveros|last4=Colt|first2=Chris|first3=Lupe|first4=Beth|accessdate=2017-03-13}}</ref>
+Additionally, Jeffes' "Paul's Dance", "Prelude and Yodel" and "Nothing Really Blue" (as performed by [[Penguin Cafe Orchestra|Penguin Café Orchestra]]) are featured on the soundtrack.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Chuck & Buck Soundtrack (2000) OST |url=https://ringostrack.com/en/movie/chuck-buck/14648 |access-date=October 22, 2022 |website=ringostrack.com}}</ref>
 The video for "[[Doctor Worm]]" by [[They Might Be Giants]] is featured during a scene that takes place in Chuck/Charlie's office. Charlie claims to have signed the band to his label.
-==Reception==
+==Reception and legacy==
-The film has received generally positive reviews from critics. On the review aggregate website [[Rotten Tomatoes]], it has an 84% approval rating based on 88 reviews, with an average rating of 7.06/10. The website's critical consensus reads: "As poignant as it is unsettling, ''Chuck & Buck'' uses the complex dynamic between two men as fuel for untangling a rich assortment of thought-provoking themes".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/chuck_and_buck |title=Chuck & Buck (2000) |work=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |publisher=[[Fandango Media]] |accessdate=July 10, 2019}}</ref> On [[Metacritic]], the film has a weighted average score of 76 out of 100, based on 30 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.metacritic.com/movie/chuck-buck |title=Chuck & Buck Reviews |work=[[Metacritic]] |publisher=[[CBS Interactive]] |accessdate=April 10, 2018}}</ref> In an interview with ''[[The New York Times]]'' in 2010, actor [[Jeff Bridges]] named White's performance the Best of the Decade.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Best Performances of the Decade {{!}} Screen Test|date=February 17, 2010|work=[[The New York Times]]|publisher=[[YouTube]]|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjwWY-goyZQ|accessdate=June 24, 2017}}</ref>
+The film has received generally positive reviews from critics. On the review aggregate website [[Rotten Tomatoes]], it has an 84% approval rating based on 88 reviews, with an average rating of 7.06/10. The website's critical consensus reads: "As poignant as it is unsettling, ''Chuck & Buck'' uses the complex dynamic between two men as fuel for untangling a rich assortment of thought-provoking themes".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/chuck_and_buck |title=Chuck & Buck (2000) |work=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |publisher=[[Fandango Media]] |accessdate=July 10, 2019}}</ref> On [[Metacritic]], the film has a weighted average score of 76 out of 100, based on 30 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.metacritic.com/movie/chuck-buck |title=Chuck & Buck Reviews |work=[[Metacritic]] |publisher=[[CBS Interactive]] |accessdate=April 10, 2018}}</ref> In an interview with ''[[The New York Times]]'' in 2010, [[Academy Award]]-winning actor [[Jeff Bridges]] named White's performance the Best of the Decade.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Best Performances of the Decade {{!}} Screen Test|date=February 17, 2010|work=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjwWY-goyZQ|accessdate=June 24, 2017}}</ref> Ontiveros was awarded the [[National Board of Review Award for Best Supporting Actress]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Best Supporting Actress Archives - National Board of Review|publisher=[[National Board of Review]]|url= https://nationalboardofreview.org/award-names/best-supporting-actress/}}</ref>
 ==See also==
 * [[Queer Cinema|Queer cinema]]
+* [[John Cassavetes Award]] - the award said film also won at the [[16th Independent Spirit Awards]]
 ==References==
@@ Line 87: / Line 86: @@
 {{Miguel Arteta}}
+{{Mike White}}
 {{DEFAULTSORT:Chuck and Buck}}
-[[Category:English-language films]]
+[[Category:2000s American films]]
-[[Category:2000 films]]
 [[Category:2000 black comedy films]]
 [[Category:2000 comedy-drama films]]
+[[Category:2000s English-language films]]
+[[Category:2000 films]]
 [[Category:2000 independent films]]
 [[Category:2000 LGBT-related films]]
-[[Category:American films]]
 [[Category:American black comedy films]]
 [[Category:American comedy-drama films]]
 [[Category:American independent films]]
 [[Category:American LGBT-related films]]
+[[Category:Fictional LGBT couples]]
 [[Category:Films about stalking]]
 [[Category:Films directed by Miguel Arteta]]
-[[Category:Films with screenplays by Mike White]]
+[[Category:Films with screenplays by Mike White (filmmaker)]]
 [[Category:Gay-related films]]
+[[Category:John Cassavetes Award winners]]
 [[Category:Male bisexuality in film]]