Stephen Tobolowsky's Birthday Party
Stephen Tobolowsky's Birthday Party
| 30 May 2006 (USA)
Stephen Tobolowsky's Birthday Party Trailers

In Stephen Tobolowsky’s Birthday Party film-makers Robert Brinkmann and Andrew Putschoegl follow Stephen on his birthday and document a performance he gives for the cameras and a group of friends, during which he tells stories about his experiences in Hollywood. Instead of his regular role as a supporting actor, Stephen takes the stage in Birthday Party and shows that he has the charisma to hold the audience’s attention without the help of a script.

Reviews
Dames Fogarty

If you have an interest in Hollywood: see this movie. More over, if you have an interest in life: see this movie! A small and intimate gathering with a man ( spoiler alert) who has changed favorite beers from Budweiser to Heineken.S.T. believes in birthday magic. He just happens to be an accomplished actor who tells a story with panache, who can make it happen himself. He's obviously gregarious and a listener as much as a speaker; but we get a night at home with Steven Tobolowsky, his wife, and friends, edited to show his skill as a master story teller. Seriously, Homer would have had a run for his money asked to compete against S.T. A master storyteller he is indeed. The eponymous birthday boy regales us, as his guests , with not a moment of mean spirit, not a scintilla of bitchiness, and keeps us riveted for the entire film. It's just a relaxed affair, with the family house as the set, yet you've not seen anything quite like this before. Watch out for appearances by WC Field's least favored co-stars in some delightful moments, too.In all: a delight.

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markQUEUE

This film was my personal favorite at the Jacksonville Film Festival. While it doesn't hit you with action or effects, the mental images painted through the words of Tobolowsky had me laughing one minute and with tears in my eyes the next.Tobolowsky may be the best story-teller of which I've had the privilege of listening. We're invited into a dinner party on his birthday where he entertains us by sharing some of the things that he's encountered during his life. I'd find it hard to believe that there isn't a little something for everyone in this film. I really hope it gets picked up and released. This is one I would love to have in my collection.

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machinelanguage

Discovered this film yesterday at SXSW. It's funny, it's poignant, and very engaging. Reminiscent of MY DINNER WITH ANDRE and some of Spalding Grey's work, it's basically a series of unscripted monologues, stories form his life, delivered by this great character actor, as we follow him around on his birthday. It's not so much movie business memoir as it is the life story of an interesting guy with an interesting job.Quietly, it's a film about mortality and the fragility of our place in the world. Stephen is a very accomplished storyteller, unpretentious and engaging. I left surprised at how affected I was. I hope this film gets a release... see it if it's near you.

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lrn2smile

I thought this doc was really good. Parts of it were funny, some made you think on a more serious plateau. I hate using heartwarming, but it really was a good film. The film kind of let you into the stories surrounding his life, certain things that have molded him into who he is. I think anybody that gets a chance to go see it should. Granted, there are times that it gets kind of tedious, it brings you back in fairly quickly. ANyone who is a fan of his works, or just would like some insight into a good actor and an equally great person, they should watch this. The greatest thing about this movie is that it's setting is so intimate, you feel like he is just talking to you. Anyone that sees that will agree.

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