The Scenesters (2010)
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43% of critics liked it
(7 reviews) -
70% of users liked it
(152 ratings)
An innovative and quirky dark comedy that both honors and deconstructs the conventions of the classic 'who-done-it?' film noir, THE SCENESTERS is about your average down-on-his-luck guy with an unconventional day job as a crime scene cleaner. For years, Charlie Newton (Blaise Miller) has… More An innovative and quirky dark comedy that both honors and deconstructs the conventions of the classic 'who-done-it?' film noir, THE SCENESTERS is about your average down-on-his-luck guy with an unconventional day job as a crime scene cleaner. For years, Charlie Newton (Blaise Miller) has been the butt of jokes from every cocky investigator. What no one realizes, though, is that Charlie has a highly-developed Sherlockian sense of deduction. As a couple of apathetic detectives (Kevin M. Brennan and Monika Jolly) investigate a series of killings in ultra-hip East Los Angeles, Charlie is with them every step of the way, often finding clues that would have otherwise been missed. It isn't long before the crime scene videographers (an out-of-work film director (Todd Berger) and producer (Jeff Grace)) realize that Charlie might be the real story and decide to make a movie about him. Eventually the killer wants his day in the spotlight and begins to make a movie of his own. Charlie must race against time to save the life of the final victim. Unless, of course, Charlie was the killer all along.... The film's soundtrack (and plot) features indie-rock favorites The Airborne Toxic Event, The Cribs, The Sonics, Wallpaper, Le Switch, and many more. -- (C) Official
- Directed By
- Todd Berger
- Written By
- Todd Berger
- Genres
- Drama, Mystery & Suspense, Comedy
- In Theaters
- Feb 11, 2011 Limited
- Studio
- Monterey Media
Critic Reviews
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Andy Webster, New York Times
The writer-director Todd Berger parades his stylistic chops with his self-satisfied, vérité-ish comedy "The Scenesters," a tepid show-business satire.
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Sheri Linden, Los Angeles Times
Audiences will shrug at the mystery's solution but likely will be eager to see what Berger & Co. do next.
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Frank Scheck, Hollywood Reporter
This jumbled satirical mystery is too pleased with itself for its own good.
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Brian Orndorf, BrianOrndorf.com
Likely to be rejected as a labored, smug, and ultimately inert neo-noir crime comedy, a movie far too wrapped in its own cleverness to engage the viewer with anything above rampaging self-awareness.
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Brent Simon, Shared Darkness
Not perfect, but a fun and rangy, noir-tinged murder comedy. The Scenesters has in abundance what every independent film yearns for -- intrigue and a cocksure rhythm that doesn't ever feel false.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Todd Berger
as Wallace Cotton
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Jeff Grace
as Roger Graham
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Blaise Miller
as Charlie Newton
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Suzanne May
as Jewell Wright
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Sherilyn Fenn
as A.D.A. Barbara Dietrichson
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Kevin M. Brennan
as Investigator Henry Muse
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Monika Jolly
as Investigator Carlita Travers
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James Jolly
as Irving Shaw
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Kevin Brennan
as Investigator Henry Muse
- Robert R. Shafer
- Summer Perry

