Chop & Steele
Reviews
Louisa Moore - Screen Zealots
**By: Louisa Moore / www.ScreenZealots.com** _This film was screened at Fantastic Fest_ The best documentary films are those that are entertaining, and directors Berndt Mader and Ben Steinbauer’s “Chop & Steele” is one that’s engaging, hilarious, and even thought-provoking. The film tells the true story of two childhood friends with an affinity for hijinks that continued into adulthood and the viral goofs that eventually landed them in federal court, facing the wrath of a vengeful media conglomerate. Joe Pickett and Nick Prueher knew they’d be best friends when they first bonded over their love of playing pranks on people. Growing up in the Wisconsin suburbs, it was clear the duo were naturally skilled jokesters. They spent years making silly phone calls, participating in wildly original dares, creating a history of hilarious drivers license photos, and starting their own improvisational rock band they called “The Beatles.” In other words, these guys are just naturally funny. The duo struck cult classic gold when they started riffing over old VHS movies, which led to their creation of the Found Footage Festival, an event where they play carefully-curated, obscure videos plucked from the “pop culture garbage heap.” Joe and Nick found success in compiling the funniest, weirdest moments from old videotapes by creating what one subject in the documentary calls a “niche interest with broad appeal.” The documentary doesn’t spend much time on the pair’s origins but instead focuses on the more recent pranks that landed them in hot water, like when Joe and Nick decided to make up ridiculous characters like a chef who specializes in making questionable recipes from leftover food, a guy who claimed to be the yo-yo champion of the world, and the strongman duo known as Chop & Steele. In the boldest prank ever, the men called up regional morning television variety shows to pitch themselves – in character – as guests. It is hilarious how easy it was for them to get booked on live t.v., and even more so when their over-the-top antics didn’t make the unsuspecting hosts blink an eye. By including archival clips of their appearances, the documentary lets the legendary mischief makers’ brilliant comedy speak for itself. Their routines are so silly that what’s really crazy is that people actually bought it. Eventually, one prank went too far and the men were sued for fraud by a media company. It’s an interesting case that explores retaliatory legal action and the protection of social commentary and performance art. Working comedians often push buttons, and their case could have far-reaching ramifications. The documentary explores the legal ins and outs (the film opens with footage of Nick and Joe’s depositions) but never feels dry or boring. With mounting attorney bills and growing stresses, the lawsuit even threatened to end the men’s decades-old friendship. Mader and Steinbauer interview friends and fans of Joe and Nick, including David Cross, Bobcat Goldthwait, Reggie Watts, and even Howie Mandel, who himself was a victim of a subversive prank when Chop & Steele urinated live on stage at a taping of “America’s Got Talent.” Yes, these guys sometimes go too far, but they push the envelope all for the love of making people laugh. “Chop & Steele” is an entertaining documentary about friendship, the art of comedy, and the skill and creativity it takes to execute the perfect practical joke – even if it lands you in serious legal trouble.
Movie Recommendation
Kneecap2024-08-02When fate brings Belfast teacher JJ into the orbit of self-confessed "low life scum" Naoise and Liam Óg, the needle drops on a hip-hop act like no other. Rapping in their native Irish, they lead a movement to save their mother tongue.More...
Robots2023-04-26A womanizer and a gold digger trick people into relationships with illegal robot doubles. When they unwittingly use this scam on each other, their robot doubles fall in love and elope, forcing the duo to team up to hunt them down before the authorities discover their secret.More...
Cat Soup2001-02-21The surreal black comedy follows Nyatta, an anthropomorphic kitten, on his travel to the land of the dead and back in an effort to save his sister's soul.More...
Parasite2019-05-30All unemployed, Ki-taek's family takes peculiar interest in the wealthy and glamorous Parks for their livelihood until they get entangled in an unexpected incident.More...
Oppenheimer2023-07-19The story of J. Robert Oppenheimer's role in the development of the atomic bomb during World War II.More...
Fight Club1999-10-15A ticking-time-bomb insomniac and a slippery soap salesman channel primal male aggression into a shocking new form of therapy. Their concept catches on, with underground "fight clubs" forming in every town, until an eccentric gets in the way and ignites an out-of-control spiral toward oblivion.More...
Star Wars1977-05-25Princess Leia is captured and held hostage by the evil Imperial forces in their effort to take over the galactic Empire. Venturesome Luke Skywalker and dashing captain Han Solo team together with the loveable robot duo R2-D2 and C-3PO to rescue the beautiful princess and restore peace and justice in the Empire.More...
Rear Window1954-08-01A wheelchair-bound photographer spies on his neighbors from his apartment window and becomes convinced one of them has committed murder.More...
Joker2019-10-01During the 1980s, a failed stand-up comedian is driven insane and turns to a life of crime and chaos in Gotham City while becoming an infamous psychopathic crime figure.More...
Whiplash2014-10-10Under the direction of a ruthless instructor, a talented young drummer begins to pursue perfection at any cost, even his humanity.More...
Interstellar2014-11-05The adventures of a group of explorers who make use of a newly discovered wormhole to surpass the limitations on human space travel and conquer the vast distances involved in an interstellar voyage.More...
The Silence of the Lambs1991-02-14Clarice Starling is a top student at the FBI's training academy. Jack Crawford wants Clarice to interview Dr. Hannibal Lecter, a brilliant psychiatrist who is also a violent psychopath, serving life behind bars for various acts of murder and cannibalism. Crawford believes that Lecter may have insight into a case and that Starling, as an attractive young woman, may be just the bait to draw him out.More...
La La Land2016-12-01Mia, an aspiring actress, serves lattes to movie stars in between auditions and Sebastian, a jazz musician, scrapes by playing cocktail party gigs in dingy bars, but as success mounts they are faced with decisions that begin to fray the fragile fabric of their love affair, and the dreams they worked so hard to maintain in each other threaten to rip them apart.More...
Princess Mononoke1997-07-12Ashitaka, a prince of the disappearing Emishi people, is cursed by a demonized boar god and must journey to the west to find a cure. Along the way, he encounters San, a young human woman fighting to protect the forest, and Lady Eboshi, who is trying to destroy it. Ashitaka must find a way to bring balance to this conflict.More...
The Godfather1972-03-14Spanning the years 1945 to 1955, a chronicle of the fictional Italian-American Corleone crime family. When organized crime family patriarch, Vito Corleone barely survives an attempt on his life, his youngest son, Michael steps in to take care of the would-be killers, launching a campaign of bloody revenge.More...
Grease1978-06-16Australian good girl Sandy and greaser Danny fell in love over the summer. But when they unexpectedly discover they're now in the same high school, will they be able to rekindle their romance despite their eccentric friends?More...
Fantastic Mr. Fox2009-10-14The Fantastic Mr. Fox, bored with his current life, plans a heist against the three local farmers. The farmers, tired of sharing their chickens with the sly fox, seek revenge against him and his family.More...
Big Fish2003-12-25Throughout his life Edward Bloom has always been a man of big appetites, enormous passions and tall tales. In his later years, he remains a huge mystery to his son, William. Now, to get to know the real man, Will begins piecing together a true picture of his father from flashbacks of his amazing adventures.More...
Inception2010-07-15Cobb, a skilled thief who commits corporate espionage by infiltrating the subconscious of his targets is offered a chance to regain his old life as payment for a task considered to be impossible: "inception", the implantation of another person's idea into a target's subconscious.More...
The Shawshank Redemption1994-09-23Imprisoned in the 1940s for the double murder of his wife and her lover, upstanding banker Andy Dufresne begins a new life at the Shawshank prison, where he puts his accounting skills to work for an amoral warden. During his long stretch in prison, Dufresne comes to be admired by the other inmates -- including an older prisoner named Red -- for his integrity and unquenchable sense of hope.More...
Similar Movies
I Am Martin Parr
2024-10-17Since the 1970s‚ Martin Parr has fearlessly held out his unique photographic mirror and given us some of the most extraordinary and unique visual clichés of modern times. Sometimes serious‚ often absurd but always playful‚ his insightful and often acrid commentary on consumer society has always been a subject of controversy and discussion.Kolya
1996-05-15After a fictitious marriage with a Russian emigrant, Cellisten Louka, a Czech man, must suddenly take responsibility for her son. However, it’s not long before the communication barrier is broken between the two new family members.Austin Powers: Intern...
1997-05-02As a swinging fashion photographer by day and a groovy British superagent by night, Austin Powers is the '60s' most shagadelic spy. But can he stop megalomaniac Dr. Evil after the bald villain freezes himself and unthaws in the '90s? With the help of sexy sidekick Vanessa Kensington, he just might.Austin Powers: The Sp...
1999-06-08When diabolical genius Dr. Evil travels back in time to steal superspy Austin Powers's ‘mojo,’ Austin must return to the swingin' '60s himself - with the help of American agent, Felicity Shagwell - to stop the dastardly plan. Once there, Austin faces off against Dr. Evil's army of minions to try to save the world in his own unbelievably groovy way.Austin Powers in Gold...
2002-07-26The world's most shagadelic spy continues his fight against Dr. Evil. This time, the diabolical doctor and his clone, Mini-Me, team up with a new foe—'70s kingpin Goldmember. While pursuing the team of villains to stop them from world domination, Austin gets help from his dad and an old girlfriend.Sleepless in Seattle
1993-06-24After the death of his mother, a young boy calls a radio station in an attempt to set his father up on a date. Talking about his father’s loneliness soon leads to a meeting with a young female journalist, who has flown to Seattle to write a story about the boy and his father.Toy Story
1995-11-22Led by Woody, Andy's toys live happily in his room until Andy's birthday brings Buzz Lightyear onto the scene. Afraid of losing his place in Andy's heart, Woody plots against Buzz. But when circumstances separate Buzz and Woody from their owner, the duo eventually learns to put aside their differences.Toy Story 2
1999-10-30Andy heads off to Cowboy Camp, leaving his toys to their own devices. Things shift into high gear when an obsessive toy collector named Al McWhiggen, owner of Al's Toy Barn kidnaps Woody. Andy's toys mount a daring rescue mission, Buzz Lightyear meets his match and Woody has to decide where he and his heart truly belong.Annie Hall
1977-04-19New York comedian Alvy Singer falls in love with the ditsy Annie Hall.Four Weddings and a F...
1994-03-09Over the course of five social occasions, a committed bachelor must consider the notion that he may have discovered love.Gigantic
1999-09-30The Hamburg friends Walter, Ricco and Floyd take each day as it comes between the estates of tower blocks and fast food restaurants. All three are in their early twenties and are dreaming of another life when Floyd suddenly takes a job on a freighter going to Singapore.Jay and Silent Bob Re...
2019-10-15Jay and Silent Bob embark on a cross-country mission to stop Hollywood from rebooting a film based on their comic book characters Bluntman and Chronic.Honey Hunters
2016-04-22"Honey Hunters" is a life story of bees and people. In order to get to the bottom of the mysteries of the life of bees and show them to the audience, the camera enters a contemporary hive and a traditional wild beehive drilled in the trunk of an old tree. It wanders the forests in Poland and Ural, mountains in Nepal and... roofs of Paris and Warsaw. For millions years bees have been laboriously building the natural environment of our planet. These days, they started to die by millions. A programme of wild tree beekeeping reintroduction was launched in Polish forests. It has been an ancient local tradition. Maybe reaching for the past, the original model of coexistence of bees and people, for wild tree beekeeping, can help us to save the bees? After watching “Honey Hunters” everyone wants to have their own beehive and harvest their own honey!Meet the Robinsons
2007-03-23Lewis, a brilliant young inventor, is keen on creating a time machine to find his mother, who abandoned him in an orphanage. Things take a turn when he meets Wilbur Robinson and his family.Lights in the Dusk
2006-02-03Outcast by his co-workers and living alone, Koistinen is a security guard who works the night shift in a luxury shopping mall in Helsinki. But when icy blonde Mirja approaches him, the lonely Koistinen falls helplessly for her, unaware she is manipulating him for her criminal boyfriend.P!nk: All I Know So F...
2021-05-21A behind-the-scenes look at P!NK as she balances family and life on the road, leading up to her first Wembley Stadium performance on 2019's "Beautiful Trauma" world tour.Elmore Leonard: "But ...
2021-03-26Elmore Leonard, author of more than 40 novels, is renowned in the literary community. From his westerns and early novels of crime based in Detroit and South Florida, right through his complex and virtually plotless later work, Elmore Leonard dissected an America whose founding sins have continued to haunt it all the days. Leonard’s depiction of America is as real as Twain’s Hannibal, Faulkner’s Mississippi and Steinbeck’s Monterey. The new documentary ELMORE LEONARD: “But don’t try to write” explores the prolific author’s legacy and his influence on generations of writers. The documentary features exclusive images and previously unseen home movie footage, family photographs, and in-depth interviews with both literary experts and those who knew him well, including colleagues, family, and childhood friends.Taste of Love
2016-05-27After an ambiguous Snapchat video featuring Bilel and Adil, rumors start spreading about the two friends. To save their reputation, each of them tries to find a girlfriend. Their hunt for a date doesn’t quite go as expected.Den förbjudna gangste...
2022-05-31There is no descriptionTravesqueen - A Cultu...
2024-09-21There is no description