Chuck Sklar Movies

In the movie School Daze, Spike Lee staged a dance number in which two bands of African-American college students debated the merits of "Straight and Nappy" hair in song, and now comedian Chris Rock and filmmaker Jeff Stilson have extended the conversation to a full-length film in this witty documentary with serious undertones. Rock says he was inspired to make the film when his young daughter asked him, "Daddy, how come I don't have good hair?" and he and Stilson examine black America's obsession with their hair as they visit the Bronner Brothers International Hair Show, an annual trade show for the African-American hair care industry which includes fierce competitions among stylists from around the country and demonstrations of new hair products and techniques. Along the way, Rock also talks to a number of African-American luminaries about their hair issues (including Maya Angelou, the Rev. Al Sharpton, Nia Long, Raven Symone, Ice-T, and Paul Mooney), researches the dangers of many common hair-straightening treatments, reveals the surprising expense of regular hair "relaxing" and weaves, and ponders what the pursuit of straight hair says about African-American cultural identity. Good Hair received its world premiere at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

In this mock documentary, a filmmaker who has received a grant to make a feature about fatally ill homeless people decides at the last minute to instead turn his camera on Susan (Sarah Silverman), a stand-up comic who has decided to make the big move from New York to Los Angeles in hopes of breaking into television. However, she waits until the last minute to tell her boyfriend Max (Sam Seder) about this little change in her life. Max is surprised, but decides to tag along in an attempt to be supportive, even though once they get to California he finds they won't be living together as he expected. Susan dives into the Hollywood audition circuit head first, while Max stays with his friend Earl (David Waterman), who has a deal for a TV pilot, and gripes cynically about how superficial Hollywood can be. But while Susan finds she can't get a part to save her life, Max is suddenly the toast of the Hollywood hipster set, and suddenly everyone in town wants to offer him a deal for a pilot. Who's The Caboose? features a number of noted stand-up comics and TV personalities in supporting roles, including Andy Dick, Kathy Griffin and David Waterman; the film was screened as part of the 1999 San Francisco Jewish Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide