Vic (2006) User Reviews (4)

Clu Gulager excels in this haunting and poignant short

[Woodyanders · 9/10 · 23 June 2014]

Washed-up veteran actor Vic Reeves (superbly played by Clu Gulager) has long since been neglected by Hollywood and has been reduced to eking out a meager living doing minor parts in shoddy low-budget horror pictures. However, Vic receives one last chance at getting his floundering career back on track after hot shot director Tony LaSalle (nicely portrayed by Clu's son Tom) offers him a substantial part in his latest movie. Unfortunately, poor Vic has to audition for this particular role.

Director Sage Stallone brings a commendable amount of depth, warmth, and feeling to this tragic character study of a man at the end of his tether: Ably assisted by Will Huston's thoughtful script, John Gulagher's sharp cinematography, and Franco Micalizza's spare brooding score, Stallone does a masterful job of creating and sustaining a strong melancholy mood while astutely addressing the ageism existent in Hollywood and American culture, fear of aging in a country that celebrates youth (Vic dyes his white hair black and puts bronzer make-up on his face in order to look younger for his audition), the competitive cut-throat nature of the casting process, and the humiliating ordeal of being forced to read for a role in a movie. Popping up in neat bits are Gregory Sierra as a hack horror director, Carol Lynley as a no-nonsense casting director, Miriam Byrd-Nethery as a friendly and flirtatious supermarket cashier, and John Lazar, Gary Frank, Richard Herd, John Phillip Law, Robert F. Lyons, and Peter Mark Richman as various other actors who are also vying for Vic's role. But it's Gulager's tour de force turn as a lonely and broken down former star who's long past his prime and thus been put out to pasture that really gives this short its extra jolting potency and resonance: Gulager projects a gut-wrenching sense of hurt pride, weary grace, raw desperation, and aching vulnerability in the character of Vic Reeves that's truly something special to behold, with Vic's awkward and ultimately botched audition registering as one of the single most heartbreaking scenes ever committed to celluloid. An excellent short.

Sage Stallone's mark

[cultfilmfreaksdotcom · 8/10 · 30 July 2012]

The late Sage Stallone was more than a famous actor's son. He restored neglected cult films and thankfully left us with a movie of his own. A short starring Clu Galager as Vic Reeves, an out of work, out of luck veteran actor living in Los Angeles.

Vic's dreary routine changes with a late night call from an up-in-coming director Tony, who has a perfect part for his favorite nostalgic actor. The only catch: Vic has to read for the role – not something he's used to. In his hey day, Vic called the shots. We catch glimpses of the younger handsome Reeves (real images of Clu) in creative fade-ins and eventually a photograph he carries around for the impending audition.

Dying his shocking white hair black to regain his youth, the last half is Vic's desperate attempt to land the role; leading to an emotional finale providing Clu Gulager, one of our most dependable character-actors with an eclectic career spanning decades, a remarkable performance.

Sage Stallone's direction flows with an intense, jarring rhythm while the cinematography by Clu's real life son John provides an edgy, first-person vibe of a character whose not only hit rock bottom, but exists there. So is this film a little too dark and dreary (and heavy) for its own sake? At times, sure. But the palpable energy between a young director and a veteran actor shines during even the darkest moments.

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Thumbs up!!!

[info-7255 · 10/10 · 19 February 2006]

Thumbs up!!! Simply a good movie, not just a good short.

The director Sage Stallone did an outstanding job, building fragile plot of emotions and suspense, drama and humor, in a tale of a man who, once famous, tasted the bitter truth about unsteadiness of human fascination and memory.

With a story of this kind, this could easily become a very long 30 minutes for the audience. It definitely is not the case. The acting of Clu Gulager is superb, vivid and deeply moving. Up to the point, that I felt puzzled, knowing that it wasn't a documentary. This picture is a potential winner of indie film festivals and I can only hope that the director will present us with a feature very soon.

Vic is excellent

[SIDEWALK · 10/10 · 25 June 2006]

What can I say... you just have to see this work.

I am looking forward to more content from Sage -- a person with a vision which is likely to produce wonderful future work.

Vic is both humorous and heartfelt -- sometimes both qualities being displayed at once...

I am hoping this work will catch the attention of producers both in America and abroad -- this filmmaker has qualities that span the Americas as well as, indeed, having somewhat of a European flavor.

Sage -- good luck and Godspeed to you and your career!

Ari Ross AKA "Sidewalk"