11/30/2023 0 Comments My breakfast with blassie andy kaufmanThe encounters with the other diners are also awkward and uncomfortable-again, we know (now, at least) that some of this is set up, but how much? And how far will Kaufman push it? We know from the films and books about him that this was the place he liked to go to-the comedy of discomfort, in which conventional notions of professionalism and likability are beaten to a pulp. In those moments, the film resembles an early prototype for the Sasha Baron Cohen faux-docs they place Blassie into a situation in which his ugliness is allowed and encouraged. When Kaufman begins to taunt a nearby table of female autograph-seekers, he begins spewing sexist rhetoric it's part of the wrestling persona, but Blassie eats it up and cheers him on. His tender tone with their pregnant Asian waitress gives way to a cringe-worthy comment about her child going on welfare. Kaufman takes on a deferential tone with Blassie, who is certainly an interesting presence-growling, grouchy, and occasionally ugly. Blassie reminisces about his career and his friendship with Kaufman's idol Elvis Presley ("I don't believe all those things they say about his drug habit," Blassie insists. They discuss Kaufman's wrestling, his broken neck, and the Shah of Iran. In Breakfast, Kaufman (still wearing his reportedly unnecessary neck brace) and wrestling legend Blassie discuss breakfast food (Blassie recommends turkey), autographs, germs, and herpes (when they're distracted, Kaufman brings the conversation back with the priceless rejoinder, "Yeah, what about herpes?"). Kaufman was in the midst of the strange period in which he reimagined himself as a wrestling supervillain, taking on women (and only women) for wrestling bouts during his act and pronouncing himself "Inter-Gender Wrestling Champion of the World." This led to an extended faux-feud with pro wrestler Jerry "The King" Lawler, and the famous Letterman appearance, and the pile-driving-well, look, I'll assume that if you're reading this review, you're familiar with all this background (and if not, see Man on the Moon). While all of the dialogue was improvised (and sounds like it), certain encounters were set up in advanced and staged for the camera (although Blassie appears to be in the dark about them). The film itself, a low-budget, shot-on-video affair, was conceived and directed by rockabilly musician/filmmaker/wrestling manger Johnny Legend and Linda Lautrec. Either way it goes, it's a nice bit of symmetry. The new "commemorative edition" DVD is being released, according to the box copy, to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Kaufman's "(supposed) death," though it also lines up with Criterion's June DVD release of My Dinner with Andre. "The life of a part-time wrestler is no laughing matter." These are the first lines of Andy Kaufman's peculiar hour-long 1983 film My Breakfast with Blassie, an oddball send-up of My Dinner with Andre in which he meets up with retired wrestler "Classy" Freddie Blassie at a Sambo's restaurant in Los Angeles (yep, there was still one left) for breakfast and awkward conversation.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |