Tony Barbieri Movies
- 2007
Themes of love and loss highlight director Tony Barbieri's tale of two young lovers who find their mutual attraction growing into something much more profound. When Josh and Amanda first met, it felt like it was just the way things were supposed to be. Eventually, the pair decided to get romantic and begin a new life together. But buried secrets from the past have a curious way of complicating the future, and just as Josh and Amanda prepare to make their commitment official things quickly start to fall apart. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Nathan Wetherington, Stef Willen, (more)
- 2004
Ten new episodes of Crank Yankers were produced for the series' third season, giving Jimmy Kimmel, Adam Carolla, and their comically gifted cohorts ample time to make even more hilariously annoying crank calls to unsuspecting civilians. Of course, we only hear the recorded results of the pranks; what we see is a menagerie of mangy-looking cloth puppets mouthing the words of both callers and callees, and developing some truly bizarre "relationships" along the way. During season three, the poor suckers who pick up the phone at the other end are subjected to a dizzying array of asinine questions involving childbirth, high school book reports, pest exterminators, private eye investigations, used cars, and used kittens, and the AA's 12-step program. Among the guest voices heard this season are Drew Carey, Kevin Nealon, Nicole Sullivan, and Jamie Kennedy. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jimmy Kimmel, Adam Carolla, (more)
This made-for-cable movie may well stand the test of time as one of the most elaborate practical jokes ever televised -- or, at the very least, one of the cruelest. Perry Karavello is an actor whose talent does not quite reach the level of his ambition, but that has not stopped him from pursuing the vain bitch goddess success for nearly ten years. During this time, comedians Tony Barbieri and Don Barris, proclaiming their undying friendship for Karavello, promise him that, some day, they would help him get his big break in a high-budget action film. The dream seems within Karavello's grasp when, at long last, he lands the starring role of "sports private eye" Stone Fury in the upcoming Chicago-based film Windy City Heat. There's only one problem: There is no such film. The movie, and the grueling events leading up to its "production date" (including an outrageous meeting with the supposed Japanese "money men"), are all part of an outsized hoax, cooked up by Barbieri, Barris, and director Bobcat Goldthwait. Need we add that the hapless Karavello is kept in the dark right up the moment that the director shout's "That's a wrap"? Windy City Heat made its Comedy Central network debut October 12, 2003. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2003
The second season of Crank Yankers perpetrates twice as many telephonic outrages as season one, in that there are twice as many episodes. As before, the semi-sitcom series is comprised of actual prank calls made to innocent bystanders by a coterie of talented comedians (headed by Jimmy Kimmel and Adam Carolla), then recorded and lip-synched by a menagerie of ugly cloth puppets. In the opener, ill-tempered army vet Birchum (voice supplied by Adam Carolla) calls up a real-life security office demanding a job -- and of course throwing in all sorts of conditions and "what-ifs" calculated to drive the poor person on the other end of the line crazy. In later episodes, guest star Wanda Sykes, who as Gladys Murphy phones a video store to complain about an embarrassing tape mix-up; Snoop Dogg rings up the unsuspecting counterperson at a record store; Gilbert Gottfried, posing as George Zucco (the name of an actual horror-movie star of the 1940s), kvetches to the representative of a nutrition center; Bob Goldthwait pretends to be one Steven Goldstein, who is looking for an agent to represent his very peculiar talents; radio personality Dr. Drew Pinsky plays fast and loose with his image by calling some of his listeners; Jeff Goldblum uses the alias Professor Fermstein to reach out and touch a pretty coed; and Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane dictates a telegram. Will somebody stop these guys before they dial again! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jimmy Kimmel, Adam Carolla, (more)
Season one of the quasi-sitcom, funny phone call opus Crank Yankers, offers ten half-hour episodes, introducing the puppet denizens of Yankerville, all of whom have a predilection for making annoying phone calls to unsuspecting civilians. All of the calls are real, even if the foam rubber cast is not. Typical cranks on the opening episode finds one of the callers posing as the editor of a book on unusual names, harassing a hapless soul named Bobby Dicks. Another cranker complains to a fast food restaurant about getting beaks in an order of fried chicken, while another calls a phone sex service on behalf of his hard-of-hearing friend. The second episode focuses on shock jock The Nudge, who gets a 7-11 clerk to bellow, "I peed in the Slurpee machine," for all to hear. In later installments, "Batman's Nemesis" demands the phone number of the caped crusader from a 411 operator; an electrolysis center is solicited for information as to how to remove a monkey's hair; and in a running gag, customers of a genuine parcel delivery services are redirected to the insensitive clods at "YPS." Guest stars during Crank Yankers' first season include Lisa Kushell, Jack Black, Wanda Sykes, and David Alan Grier. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jimmy Kimmel, Adam Carolla, (more)
A boy plays matchmaker for his mother with unfortunate results in this emotional drama. Katie (Nastassja Kinski) is a single mother with more than her share of problems; she drinks too much, smokes too much, and is involved with an abusive man named Curt (Jason Cairns). Katie's 9-year-old son James (Cody Morgan) doesn't get along with Curt, and with Katie usually either busy at work or hitting the bottle, she has little time for him. James becomes friendly with Henry (Robert Forster), a wealthy widower who is fixing up a boat for a trip around the world. James likes Henry, and when Katie finally breaks up with Curt, James tries to fix Henry up with his mother. However, Henry sees Katie's problems more clearly than her son can, and opts to keep his distance from her, which is a crushing blow to James -- especially when Curt comes back into Katie's life. The Magic of Marciano was warmly received in its screening at the 2000 L.A. Independent Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Nastassja Kinski, Robert Forster, (more)
- 1998
Tony Barbieri made his directorial debut with this psychological drama about two old friends. Garbage collector Nick (Kane Picoy) once had a promising baseball career until he hit his manager. Now he lives in a building owned by his father (Paul Herman), who can't forgive his son's failure. Nick drives to the state penitentiary where he picks up longtime pal Charlie (Jason Cairns), imprisoned on manslaughter charges for helping his grandfather take his life. Charlie's parole requires community service, so he delivers medical supplies to disabled children. His parole officer (Muhammed Hassan) warns him not to go near the children, and Charlie gets a warning because he helps a child who has fallen out of his wheelchair. Since Charlie spends time on his college studies and also takes a romantic interest in his supervisor Sara (Autumn Macintosh), he sees less of Nick, and their friendship collapses. Shown at the 1998 Sundance Film Festival. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jason Cairns, Kane Picoy, (more)
