The A24 film Friendship was type of a research in style subversion. It had all of the makings of a thriller about obsession, however was truly a comedy that unpacked the identical issues.
That is why it ought to come as no shock that the director’s commentary observe for the film got here out; it is not precisely speaking about telephoto lenses. It is truly simply having a ton of enjoyable.
But when you do not have the Blu-ray of the film and desire a style of what it is like, you are in luck.
A24 launched a “Commentary Supercut” that includes author/director Andrew DeYoung, cinematographer Andy Rookski, and actor Conner O’Malley. What follows is much less of a “making-of” and extra of a hilarious hostage state of affairs, the place O’Malley derails all the endeavor with a firehose of good, absurdist improv.
Right here’s every little thing we “discovered” from the commentary.
Let’s dive in.
The ‘Friendship’ Director’s Commentary
Amidst the chaos, director Andrew DeYoung and cinematographer Andy Rookski handle to slide in a number of precise manufacturing particulars.
- A Direct Uncut Gems Reference: DeYoung factors out a shot that includes an opal, admitting, “This can be a reference to Uncut Gems… I stole that immediately from Uncut Gems“.
- The Rockstar Thought: The director notes that one of many core comedic concepts was capturing the “male thought of like I am a rock star, I am on stage” and what it seems like to observe somebody “sincerely do music”.
- A Mystical Coincidence: O’Malley factors out the “numerology” of the movie being an “A24 film” that had “23 days of capturing”.
The majority of the “commentary” is a deep dive into the psyche of Conner O’Malley, who, on this video, is an “actor, activist, playboy philanthropist billionaire, [and] Iron Man professional”.
- He Has a Sequel Pitch: O’Malley has a fully-formed thought for a sequel. He would play a Vietnam vet who “obtained the Captain America serum” however, as an alternative of preventing crime, “determined to not” and “purchased an RV dealership”. The title? “Youngest Vietnam Vet”.
- He is Engaged on an “Improv Comedy Bike”: He claims he was on the town throughout the shoot to fulfill with Paul Tuttle from Orange County Choppers to construct a “motorbike primarily based off of… improv”.
- He is a “Veteran”: Not of a conflict, however of “Oz Fest 03”.
- He Has a Strict Put up-Work Routine: After a protracted day on set, he does not simply sleep. He has to “go to mattress cuz, like typically I am like, ‘Yeah I obtained I obtained to play not less than 4 hours of Fortnite'” on his gaming PC, which is positioned in his trailer.
- He is Doing “Analysis”: O’Malley mentions he was not too long ago watching the unique Pinocchio as a part of a private mission. He’s doing his personal analysis and “beginning firstly of media.”
- He Hates Smoking Aces (or Loves It?): He opens the commentary with a protracted tangent concerning the 2006 movie Smoking Aces, describing a fictional period the place police would present up at your own home and execute you should you did not see it.
- His Stand-Up Is “Philosophy”: Whereas relentlessly selling his exhibits at Cobbs Comedy Membership, he clarifies that he does not do jokes. He does “standup philosophy”.
Summing It All Up
Ultimately, what you study from this commentary has little or no to do with the Friendship supercut itself. As a substitute, the commentary observe turns into a brand new, meta-performance, providing a hilarious have a look at what occurs if you let one of many funniest individuals alive right into a recording sales space with a microphone.
That alone is value watching to me, and I believe makes it an extension of the metanarrative of the film.
Full-length accessible on the Friendship Blu-ray Blu-ray.
Let me know what you assume within the feedback.
