Μοτοράμα

Evan “Raymond Gun-Virus” Pincus4.0

No surprise that the production company established to put this out was called "Proletariat Productions"- I've never seen an absurdist post-Americana R-rated road movie with a child protagonist so cynical of the idea of working for the American Dream. Although come to think of it, I've never seen an absurdist post-Americana R-rated road movie with a child protagonist at all, at least until now. And you can't say Motorama doesn't earn that R rating- this is some of the most hardcore violence I've ever seen inflicted on a ten year old for laughs. Jordan Christopher Michael's acting basically singlehandedly carries this movie- he's a delight start to finish, although of course, the string of cameos don't hurt either. Fun both because of and in spite of it's bizarre alternative-reality vibes, which is to say, exactly the kind of thing I love. Not for everyone, but if you want your reminders that you're a cog in a capitalist machine to be funny, weird, and endlessly confusing... you might like Motorama.

Josh Lewis4.0

Did you know that Larry Cohen's producer and the writer of After Hours teamed up for one of the funniest and most surreal road movies ever? One that stars an eye-patched, tattoo'd 10-year-old who swears, rips around in his dad's red mustang, and gets into an episodic series of odd, eccentric and R-rated violently abusive gag-filled shenanigans inside a bizarre and juvenile alternate universe dream logic highway featuring delightfully random supporting character actor appearances from (among others): John Diehl as sweet doofas gas station attendant, Jack Nance as an eccentric squirrel-hunting motel clerk, Meat Loaf as a sadistic arm-wrestling biker, and the goat Dick Miller who arguably gets the most insanely cruel moment directed towards children in an already unhinged movie full of them. All while the boy is on a larger absurdist and symbolic quest to discovering that every individualist get-rich-quick promise of America is actually a never-ending scam/death trap designed by a faceless corporation to keep us busy and hopeful, and maybe we'd be better off just enjoying being kind slackers together waiting to be paid our dues in the next life. Anyway, I was not aware of this. Glad I am now though! [35mm]

Edith4.0

Joseph Minion is one of the few men totally equipped to envision a road movie with the warped sense of purpose found in a Paul Auster or DeLillo novel. A runaway kid embarks on a mission inspired by the faded Vegas sign proclaiming, "Motorama" a McDonald's monopoly game of gas station lodging. How your dreams and desires to turn into a rags-to-riches American tale is the Sisyphean struggle you'll play until the end of your life. It's a little dark, a little funny, a little absurd, the road open, and the barbarous cameos aplenty. Reminds me more of Miracle Mile, one person's journey through the cosmic riddles and complexities of modern civilization, as the movie slowly twists from fun kid-on-the-road movie into a dystopian nightmare. There's really no escape from this struggle other than accepting your fate, your ticket in life, and wait around for cars to stop by.