Films Outside the Loop Jeanne Chappé

This film was directed and co-written by John Raffo ("The Relic") and is shot in a surreal, stark way in a shadowy world. The film literally starts off with a BANG! There is very interesting music throughout the film that adds a jarring and disconcerting counterpoint to the graphic violence you are seeing. Especially the song..."This Magic Moment"!

I have a new respect for Peter Gallagher who plays Johnny Scardino (aka Johnny Skidmarks). Since the death of his wife, he sees the world through the lens of his camera without even noticing the horror that he photographs. Johnny Skidmarks is a freelance photographer working for insurance companies and the police department. He spends most of his time at accident and crime scenes. He moonlights as part of a blackmail team taking photos of prominent men cheating on their wives with prostitutes. Johnny is surrounded by some very odd people but he doesn't seem to notice much of anything. Don't get too attached to Johnny's hamster.

Jack Black plays Jerry, Johnny's ex-brother-in-law. He owns "The Burger Clown" and serves 'happy food for happy people' (where the happy burgers are only mildly amusing). Johnny eats there every night sitting in the same booth by himself. The restaurant is always empty. One night there is a woman sitting in his booth. Frances McDormand ("Fargo") plays Alice, another lonely soul, who is a recovering alcoholic. They go home to her place and into her bed. I'm not even sure they finished their happy burgers first.

I don't want to give away too much but the bodies of the blackmail team start turning up...leaving Johnny as the only member of the team left alive. These are not clean murders but horrible deaths!

The supporting cast is fascinating with John Lithgow as Sgt. Larry Skovik. Sgt. Skovik is obsessed by the humanity of life! Frances McDormand is incredible (as usual). Jack Black is simply hysterical as the owner of "Burger Clown".

Everything is played a little over-the-top which works quite well! If you're queasy about graphic violence, this is not the film for you. Watch out for the 'eye' sequence...I still have trouble watching that scene all the way through!

Runtime: 1:28

This film is available on DVD, VHS, cable or satellite.

Johnny Skidmarks Unofficial Home Page

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This column is dedicated to those films that most of the world missed!