Film Geek (2005)

64% of critics liked it
(22 reviews)
40% of users liked it
(829 ratings)

A socially inept video store clerk forges a tenuous friendship with a pretty downtown hipster after being fired from his job in Oregon-based director James Westby's quirky tale of geek love among the twenty-something set. Scotty Pelk (Melik Malkasian) may not be able to relate to his peers at the… More A socially inept video store clerk forges a tenuous friendship with a pretty downtown hipster after being fired from his job in Oregon-based director James Westby's quirky tale of geek love among the twenty-something set. Scotty Pelk (Melik Malkasian) may not be able to relate to his peers at the video store so well, but his knowledge of film is encyclopedic. A nuisance to the customers and an endless source of annoyance to his coworkers, Scotty takes solace in a friendly hipster named Niko (Tyler Gannon) after being unceremoniously fired the job that he loves. With his film website failing and no one but Niko to turn to, Scotty's feeling for Niko begin to move beyond the realm of friendship and into the romantic despite the constant interference of Niko's obsessive ex-boyfriend Brandon - who isn't about to let the girl he loves end up with a video store reject who can't even find friends on the internet. But thanks to Niko, Scotty's life is taking a turn for the better, and after experience what a small dose of confidence can do for a man's sense of self-worth Scotty is finally prepared to show just how far a deep love of film and a keen eye for criticism can actually get one in life. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Play Trailer

Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 12 min.
Directed By: James Westby
Genres: Comedy

In Theaters: Jan 28, 2005 Wide
On DVD: Aug 22, 2006
Studio: First Run Features

Critic Reviews

Jan Stuart, Newsday
As played by Melik Malkasian with Pee-Wee Herman-y chirpiness, you feel for him as you would any out-of-it sibling who seems beyond help.
Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly
Perceptively hilarious.
Kyle Smith, New York Post
The film looks like it cost 10 cents, but a lot of the jokes are gold. Hollywood, take notice of writer-director James Westby.
Elizabeth Weitzman, New York Daily News
The film's press notes proudly observe that both Westby and Quentin Tarantino spent time soaking up celluloid while working at video stores. Which means they have exactly one thing in common.
Dana Stevens, New York Times
Film Geek has a likable premise and a pleasantly homemade indie feel. Unfortunately, its lead character is so irritating you want to get away from him.
Matt Singer, Village Voice
Westby never provides a reason you should pay to spend 70 minutes with Scotty, but he offers at least a dozen compelling ones not to.
Kam Williams, Upstage Magazine
Here, getting there is all the fun, and this flick is stocked with laughs galore, all at the expense of the most clueless loser since Napoleon Dynamite.
Kam Williams, Upstage Magazine
Laughs galore, all at the expense of the most clueless leading man since Napoleon Dynamite.
David Cornelius, eFilmCritic.com
It's so very easy to love Film Geek, especially if you are one.
MaryAnn Johanson, Flick Filosopher
[I]t all just feels like [writer/director James] Westby's cinematic masturbation.
Rob Gonsalves, eFilmCritic.com
Amusing (and, at 72 minutes, in and out of there fast), with a diabolically dweeby performance by Melik Malkasian.
Rory L. Aronsky, Film Threat
Film Geek" is a Rorschach test for movie buffs.
Christopher Null, Filmcritic.com
there's enough magic here to merit a viewing or two.
Luke Y. Thompson, LYTRules.com
For people who know their cinema, I recommend FILM GEEK not just as a comedy, but a cautionary tale as well.
Steve Schneider, Orlando Weekly
Detailed in its affectionate mockery, the film captures the social isolation that befalls guys like Scotty but understates their own complicity on it.
Ron Wilkinson, Monsters and Critics
Westby's escapist fantasy's happy ending falls short of a meaningful message in spite of a rib-tickling individual effort by lead Melik Malkasian.
Doris Toumarkine, Film Journal International
On its own terms and for that small audience it owns, the film delivers.
D.K. Holm, Cinemonkey
Film Geek is a delightful, sad, witty, scorchingly satirical film about movie buffs.

Read all 18 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Spencer S

One of the more creative films to scope the world of film geeks, nerds, connoisseurs, and experts, most of the online film community can relate to the story of Scotty Pelk: Completely obsessed with film, Scotty can only communicate with people through the art form, and though his… More
One of the more creative films to scope the world of film geeks, nerds, connoisseurs, and experts, most of the online film community can relate to the story of Scotty Pelk: Completely obsessed with film, Scotty can only communicate with people through the art form, and though his expertise is of the highest level, he is ridiculed throughout the film for his pestering and endless awkwardness with other people. In his spare time, it's all about film. Even when it's his day off he goes back to the video store; suggestions for a date invariably come back to film; all forms of conversation, you guessed it, are film related. Watching his exploits becomes painful as he is fired, mistreated, and blocked out of every societal standard possible. Though there is a spot of romance, the girl he goes after is visibly reluctant, which we're not sure the effervescent Scotty is even aware of, or if he chooses to live in his fantasy world, constructed of video tapes lying around his tiny apartment. The ending is by far the best part, a fantasy all film buffs and geeks have, and yet there's a Shyamalian twist that is both comical and sadly dark. I hope this is not what normal people compare us to, but it is fun to watch, geeking out at the multiple film references and scenes of desperation.
Melvin W

Film Geek is too depressing to be enjoyed. It was ok for awhile, but then it seemed like they were just trying to fit as many references to movies, directors, and actors as they could in an hour and fill the rest of the movie with the lead jacking off. There's really no need for… More
Film Geek is too depressing to be enjoyed. It was ok for awhile, but then it seemed like they were just trying to fit as many references to movies, directors, and actors as they could in an hour and fill the rest of the movie with the lead jacking off. There's really no need for it and absolutely no point to it. The ending is absolutely disastrous and brought my rating down another half star. There are a few good things about it though. It is at times funny, but it's jokes do become tiresome after about half an hour. Melik Malkasian is pretty good at playing the annoying film geek. I just didn't enjoy the character enough for his performance to have that big of an influence on me. The third thing that is good about it is that it's short. If it was any longer, it would be impossible to get through.
_kelly .

I like this indie comedy, as I actually laughed at it. The lead actor is fantastic at playing a socially clueless film savant. This guy epitomizes geek, moreso than he resembles any cinephiles I know. I wish this guy were real, as he can do "six degrees of kevin bacon" in… More
I like this indie comedy, as I actually laughed at it. The lead actor is fantastic at playing a socially clueless film savant. This guy epitomizes geek, moreso than he resembles any cinephiles I know. I wish this guy were real, as he can do "six degrees of kevin bacon" in any number of degrees and with virtually anyone you can think of. He also has an exact memory of scenes, so he'd be really good to say to: "Have you seen this type of scenario before?" and then he would state in chronological order any movies containing such a scene, and probably even the minute/second mark where the scene begins and ends. Basically, Scotty epitomizes what all of us here are doing: saying "this movie is awesome because..." and posting it to the internet in hopes someone will find it worthwhile. The primary difference, however, is that you probably don't know a fraction of what he does about movies, but you do know about some things that are not film-related. Like Scotty, you probably do subsist off of cereal, have lists for all your fav directors, and you know that a widescreen aspect ratio is superior to a 4:3 AR as the latter "compromises the director's vision". You've also probably been to a party, had a beer, smoked a splif, or talked to an attractive sexual partner, but Scotty hasn't, so he is accidentally forced into a world where he does experience these things after he loses his video store job. This is a specific (and subjective) positive: throughout the movie, we get to see (from behind) Scotty wanking into his sink several times to indicate plot development, and each time a little more ass and skin gets shown, the actor does have a very doable bum and for the last shot we finally get a better glimpse at convulsing crack. This movie is on netflix autowatch, so if you're in a mood for a (funny) comedy or want to be reminded of some great movies you have yet to watch, check out Film Geek, but beware that the ending is not a typical indie downer.