The Great Buck Howard | Eastern North Carolina Now

   Publisher's note: As redundant as a pacing lost soul, I am loathe to admit, Wyatt is probably our most read writer. Just a few nights ago, March 12, 2012, I was perusing our sister publication, Better Angels Now, and I noticed that so many of Wyatt's reviews, of the many fine films that occupy the public's interest, have not been availed to our readers through our Beaufort County Now publication.

    Consequently, over the next many weeks, we will endeavor to remedy this mild injustice by publishing these reviews, in our current improved format, for your edification. Here below is our seventh in a series of these older articles of interest by our good friend, Wyatt Sanderman Day.

   
"So Let's Go On with the Show"

    Buck Howard knows it has been a long time since his 61 appearances on the "Tonight Show with Johnny Carson," and he needs a comeback in the worst way. His story began long ago as a young performer, using his talents as a mentalist to entertain audiences wherever he could find them. As his fame grew, his notoriety spread to Johnny Carson, and as only Johnny could effect one's career, he brought Buck Howard to his show. It was at that point his career took off.

    By all accounts, Johnny Carson had invited Buck Howard, portrayed with his characteristic zeal by John Malkovich, to perform his amazing mentalist feats on his show on 61 occasions and even dubbed him The Great Buck Howard. Sounds incredible? Well actually, the fictitious story of Buck Howard loosely mirrors the career of the real Amazing Kreskin, who, as a mentalist, has done considerable late night television.

    Now the film continues with our Buck in the twilight of his career, and he is lucky to fill up half of the small auditoriums and local art council gatherings. Apparently people have grown cynical and would rather be entertained by other routines, possibly tattooed growling males and females, plucking a precious few chords, surrounded upon stages by our youth trying to make some sense of it all.
Buck Howard, played by John Malkovich, was an enigma but all he ever wanted to do was perform: Above. His young assistant, Troy Gable, just wanted to break into the "show business," and his odd boss was the "Great Buck Howard." Father Gable, played by Colin's real father (Tom Hanks), did not think that too be a good idea: Below.

    With Buck Howard, there was no head banging angst, just some well dressed affable older guy on stage doing some stand-up, playing the piano and singing Burt Bacharach's "What the World Needs Now is Love," and being the mentalist that participates with the crowd and by their league produces some outstanding feats that entertains all - including Buck. His entertainment style was participatory and straight up: can he pull it off?

    And then Troy Gabel, played by Colin Hanks, finds his way into Buck's World as his stage manager when he was on the road - which was constant. Young Troy left Law School at the great consternation of his father, played his real in life father, Tom Hanks, to seek a career in show business. Buck Howard may have been temperamental and at the end of his career, but he did know show business - simply, his life was show business.
Waiting in the wings for those few short moments of greatness: Above and below.

   Buck never married, had no family. His family was the business and what kept the fresh, impressionable Troy rolling along with Buck from town to town was that he felt in some small way that he was part Buck's family - maybe, a distant relative. Well it was one hell of a ride; pretty bumpy and not what he expected, but he learned the business.

    "The Great Buck Howard" is not a great film, but it is a very good one, and not too long at 87 minutes. The story is tight, the acting is solid with Emily Blunt, Steve Zahn and Griffin Dunne in small memorable roles. As Troy sits in an interview with Dunne's character, Johnathan Finerman, he is asked about Buck Howard, "Is he gay?" Now this question is a running joke throughout the film and the question is asked often asked of Troy. Buck throws off certain "sissy" vibes, never married, and, in particular, often speaks of George Takei, who most everyone knows was Commander Sulu on Star Trek, and is very openly gay. In response to the frequent question, Troy always answers honestly, "No, not to my knowledge."
Is the great Buck Howard crazy or just looking to go out, in the twilight of his career, on a high note. You be the judge: Above and below.

    Maybe it is an illusion, but Buck Howard probably wasn't gay. He possibly wasn't anything at all other than an entertainer, and was a great one at that.

   Rated PG. Released in theaters March 20, 2009.


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