The Living Wake (2007)

50% of users liked it
(25 ratings)

A self-proclaimed artist and genius who has elevated his drab existence into a personal mythology organizes his final party, a living wake, in director Sol Tryon's absurdist black comedy. K. Roth Binew (Mike O'Connell) is about to live his last day. Abandoned by his father (Jim Gaffigan) as a young… More A self-proclaimed artist and genius who has elevated his drab existence into a personal mythology organizes his final party, a living wake, in director Sol Tryon's absurdist black comedy. K. Roth Binew (Mike O'Connell) is about to live his last day. Abandoned by his father (Jim Gaffigan) as a young lad, Binew was raised by his nanny, Marla (Diane Kagan), and gradually grew to gain an appreciation for the arts. Though he would personally never complete a single work of art, he nevertheless considers himself an artist and has recently been told by his doctor that he will shortly expire of some mysterious, unnamed disease. Upon being informed of his dire situation, Binew boards his rickshaw and requests that his biographer and driver, Mills Joaquin (Jesse Eisenberg), transport him around town so that he may make his final arrangements. As the day wears on, Binew and Joaquin visit the local "liquirsmith" to procure spirits, arrange a Viking-style funeral for the eccentric "artist," and steal a goat for a personal picnic. Later, after Binew is attacked by his neighbor (Eddie Pepitone) and has his attempt to donate books at the local library refused, he hands out invitations to his final party. It is there that Binew will perform a short piece for his audience, and summarily drop dead on the spot. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 31 min.
Directed By: Sol Tryon
Written By: Peter Kline, Mike O'Connell
Genres: Comedy

In Theaters: Jan 1, 2007 Wide
Studio: Gravitas

Critic Reviews

Bill Gibron, DVDTalk.com
With its mixture of wit and wonky, this is not your average comedy.

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Cast

            Mike O'Connell as K. Roth Binew

            Jesse Eisenberg as Mills Joquin

            Jim Gaffigan as Lampert Binew

            Ann Dowd as Librarian

            Ed Pepitone as Reginald

            Jill Larson as Alma Binew

            Clay Allen as Moustache Man

            Ami Ankin as Mother

            Harlan Baker as Dr. Schoenberg

            Bryan Brown as Frank

            Rebecca Comerfield as Gypsy Psychic

            Matthew Cowles as Mossman

            Paul J. D'Amato as Rutger

            Mark Shulte
            
            Ben Duhl as Liquorsmith

            Matthew Dwyer as Christian Man #1

            Kurt Haas as Clyde

            Colombe Jacobsen-Derstine as Prostitute

            Stephen Brian Jones as Farmer

            Diane Kagan as Marla

            Patrick Keane as Christian Man #2

            Jun Kim as Ling

            Michael Mandel as Landlord

            Aaron J. Paton as Old Man

            Peter Paton as Clock Maker

            Stuart Rudin as Waylon

            Ron Lee Savin as Karl Binew
See full cast

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