Don Verdean

source: Don Verdean

Unless you grew up in the American evangelical cult you won't get the humor and ridiculousness of this film. So much of what these people say and how they behave and reason is in fact too close to the truth. So I can see why outsiders looking in would be bored or not get it. You just can't make some of this stuff up, the delusion is very real 😂 my ex church legit built a "tabernacle tent" for seasonal "biblical" experiences and even purchased "fragments" of the "bible" to line their halls.

Making fun of religions, that's exactly the kind of humor I appreciate the most. That topic is an endless source for funny scenes and they complete got that in Don Verdean. I think the only reason this movie gets a low rating on here is that there are a lot of religious people that might get offended by others ridiculizing their silly beliefs. Reading the bible and what people interpret of it is just food for others to make fun of. Sam Rockwell and Amy Ryan are supposedly the main characters and they did a good job but I mostly watched Don Verdean because of Danny McBride (The Vice Principals), Will Forte (Last Man On Earth) and Jemaine Clement (Flight Of The Conchords and What We Do In The Shadows). Every single one of those comedians are in my favorites. The cinematography is okay, just basic, the story is also a bit weird, but the subtle humor in almost every scene is what makes this movie stand out. Sarcasm will always be the best form of humor in my opinion and you get your share here. Don Verdean will make a lot of atheists have a good time, not so sure about the hardcore catholics though.

This film tells the story of a supposedly renowned archaeologist, who is a specialist in unearthing biblical artefacts. As a church turns to him for reinforcing peoples faith, it turns out that he is not what he appears to be. The story seems very religious at first, which I admit have put me off. After a while, the story drifts into another direction, and the religious elements fade. It becomes a story of integrity, deceit and comedy. There are a few moments which gives me a chuckle or two, but overall the film is not overly engaging or entertaining. I do think the research assistant deserves more respect and empathy though, and I feel quite sorry for the way she is treated in the film. I would not have watched it if it was not for Sam Rockwell.

It's so pleasurable to watch Sam Rockwell play odd, but sweet characters. He really portrays this one in a lovable, humorous and sophisticated manner. You can tell he did the spadework, and I truly enjoyed embarking on this journey with a good-hearted man who falls down a rabbit-hole and excavates a grave too deep to dig himself out. And it's nice that we're taken through a major turning point in his mediocre career -- at one point, something happens and there's no going back, and we're with him, and all unravels before his eyes and he's stuck in something he'd never expected. As often with these indie movies, the cast is structurally adequate and nicely picked. The dialogue is at times witty and at times intense in a dramatic but still lighthearted way. The sudden twist with one of the secondary characters in the movie really made the cut for me. Amy Ryan and Jemaine Clement did a stunning job. Overall, I recommend it to anybody, it's a cute and fun flick.

Biblical archaeologist Don Verdean (Sam Rockwell) uses scant evidence to back up his claims of relic discoveries from the Holy Lands. For years, he struggles to sell his books and videos with his long-suffering assistant Carol Jensen (Amy Ryan). Pastor Tony Lazarus (Danny McBride) eagerly backs their search for more relics to energize his failing congregation. Verdean has just the right piece. Local contact Boaz (Jemaine Clement) had discovered a pillar of salt that Verdean claims to be Lot's wife. Denis Fontaine (Will Forte) is a rival pastor. After the pillar, Verdean and Jensen set off to find Goliath's skull. Filmmaking couple Jared Hess and Jerusha Hess uses their odd sensibilities to satire the American religious industry. This film has plenty of their deadpan wackiness. There is a bit of fun laying out this weird world. Clement and Rockwell have some fun. After awhile, the fun fades. It rambles around. It's hard to care about anybody in this movie. Amy Ryan comes closest to being the rooting interest. The comedy wears out and interest fades.

I couldn't figure out why the feel of this movie was so familiar. Yet totally new. I figured out it was done by Jared Hess. Who also did Gentleman Broncos. Then it all made sense. And I loved it. The story left me expecting so many villains and turns but it was pretty straight forward. I laughed my ads off at the subtle humor and awesome performance of Jermaine Clement. So subtle but ingeniously played so well. The ending made me cry. Had a good message. God puts us where we need to be, when we need to be to do the most good. Kudos to Mr. Jess on a job well done.

I had to review this because I can't believe all the hate it's getting. It's not gonna win any awards but I can appreciate the mocking of many mindsets and it never takes itself to seriously. Well worth a watch.

I have seen just about everything Jared Hess had made, that is how I found the film, and if you like him you will probably love this. Jemaine Clement is also a favorite of mine from his Flight of the Conchords days and he really made the film for me. There are obviously a lot of weird elements to this film, but that is the charm of Hess, everything he makes is pretty odd and slow really. I thought the characters were great, Danny McBride and Will Forte were also very funny. This isn't something I would watch with just anyone, it is a very particular humor that doesn't click with all but I watched it with my friend and we were dying laughing throughout. The end got a little too serious for my liking but then the very last scene was probably the funniest part to me and really finished it off nicely. Great comedians involved, raw idiotic humor, perfect Wednesday night to me! Good job Jared, I liked it a lot more than Gentleman Broncos.

Whatever Don Verdean is, it certainly doesn't feel like a comedy, despite what the premise, cast and trailer may make you think. What Don Verdean certainly is, is another big old flop from Napoleon Dynamite director Jared Hess who here, much like his previous film Masterminds, squanders a vast array of comedic talents on material that is well suited to the bargain basement bin, not oddball comedy. Going for strange over outright belly laughs, Don Verdean never seems willing to make the most of its potentially humorous examination of its religiously tinged world and its abundance of oddball characters and when the likes of lead Sam Rockwell and the normally scene stealing Danny McBride can't get the laughs rolling along at a steady pace, you know your films material just isn't happening the way in which it should be. On somewhat of a career lull since his tremendous turn in low budget sci-fi Moon, Rockwell in particular seems both dull and bored in his turn as religious archaeologist Don Verdean. Imbuing Don with nothing but a luscious lathering of facial hair and a bad wardrobe, Rockwell can't get going and while the likes of McBride, Amy Ryan and Will Forte get little moments within the film, their roles are to slight to improve the overall success of Hess's misguided journey. Nothing that happens within Don Verdean, whether it's overseas digs, awkward press conferences or uninteresting love plots, the film feels forced, no better exemplified by Flight of the Concords star Jermaine Clements Borat-lite turn as Israeli conman Boaz, which ends up being a performance that has to be one of the most grating in recent memory. Had Hess been in tune with his film, a performance such as this would've never seen the cold light of day. Don Verdean might well have been a funny film had it been done differently but as it stands this almost laugh free experience is weird for the sake of being weird and when you've forgotten to bring the funnies to the weird party you're hosting, blame must lay at the feet of Hess, a director that once showed so much odd-ball promise, only to now be wasting the time of us and his cast members in dire ways such as this. 1 large human skull out of 5