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Smiling Fish & Goat on Fire Review

While America's critics were generally split (with a negative bent according rottentomatoes.com) on this little film, with the notable exception of Roger Ebert, my favorite critic. Ebert reported that SFGOF and Bill Henderson (Clive) got a standing ovation at the 2000 Toronto Film Festival. And it was well deserved. This little film, shot for ,000 proves once again that one man's treasure is another man's trifle. Or worse.

Nevertheless, I adored SFGOF. Some critics ridculed the wise old codger played by Bill Henderson (one of those great character actors who you always say--I love that guy!). They say he is cliche or "patronizing." I found his performance moving and inspirational. He plays a sick old african-american man who spins tales of love and loss. Look if Judi Dench can get an oscar nomination just for showing up in a film (am I the only one who notices this?) and medicore films, like Chocolat, get nominated for Oscars--then Bill Henderson, deserves, at minimum, some kind of recognition.

The heart of the film is Henderson, but his role is secondary. The Martini brothers, Smiling Fish (the happy go lucky younger bro) and Goat on Fire (the more serious older one) do a wonderful job in their triple roles of acting, writing and producing. The story of two brothers is both funny and touching. While not quite the study of sibiling relationships as say, You Can Count on Me, this is still wonderful. The brothers have lost their parents and have a special bond. They in lousy relationships and the film studies the fall of those. It gains strength as it looks at the new women (including the wonderful Christa Miller of Drew Carey, who gives a understated performance here) in their lives. There is not a whole lot new ground covered here. Still, the young actress who plays Miller's daughter is wonderful. As is Rosemarie Addeo, as a beautiful Italian woman who loves Dumbo. Kevin Jordan, the director, does a nice job keeping the film sweet and not melodramatic. There is a gentle kindness and warmth to this movie. It may not sound like much to some critics. But, in
these times, SFGOF makes it mark on your heart.

Smiling Fish & Goat on Fire Overview

Opposites attract in this funny touching tale of two brothers coming to terms with their lives and loves. Twenty-somethings tony and chris share a house in los angeles and little else. Both are struggling through relationships that seem perfect fits but everying changes with hysterical results. Studio: Lions Gate Home Ent. Release Date: 02/06/2007 Starring: Derick Martini Steven Martini Run time: 93 minutes Rating: R Director: Kevin Jordan

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