Konterr Brilliant and touching

Teddie Blake The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

Bessie Smyth Great story, amazing characters, superb action, enthralling cinematography. Yes, this is something I am glad I spent money on.

Kimball Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

Python Hyena Private Parts (1997): Dir: Betty Thomas / Cast: Howard Stern, Robin Quivers, Mary McCormack, Paul Giamatti, Carol Alt: Intimate look at controversial radio personality Howard Stern and our commitment to listen. According to the film Stern wanted to be in radio since childhood inspiration of his father. It chronicles his childhood to college where he meets his wife, to small radio jobs. He is soon partnered with Robin Quivers and has bitter battles with station managers. Although it seems self gratifying the film is insightful despite Stern's questionable antics. The film takes its subject seriously as when he attempts to mend his marriage, and the miscarriage that led to unfavourable discussions on his show. Directed by Betty Thomas and easily one of the greatest achievements of her career. Stern is convincing in his self portrait blending reality and humour. Quivers plays herself in her loyalty with Stern as well as her struggle to maintain sane even at the cost of her job. Mary McCormack plays his supportive yet frustrated wife who would like to believe that her husband's on air rantings are just a joke. Paul Giamatti steal scenes as a station manager who falls victim to Stern's perseverance. Carol Alt makes a cameo as a woman reluctantly seated by Stern on a plane but eventually becomes won over. The film argues that there is an ordinary side to Stern that challenges viewers to look beyond the cover. Score: 9 / 10

GeoPierpont Big fan since DC 101 days and the 'let it all out' format leads listeners to believe they have a clue about his life. I recall thinking this confidently until I read a very obscure clip in a Palm Springs newspaper that he was divorcing his first wife, wtf? He complained incessantly about his lack of privacy at home, his daughter demanding ice water before bed and things of that nature. However, every married man has marital complaints and the topic did make good radio fodder, especially for the lovelorn, henpecked demographic.I enjoyed this film immensely as the characters were played mostly by themselves with surprising ability. I had no idea that Howard was so handsome during this timeframe as well as gorgeous Robin.I appreciate one man's victory to overcome the staid radio format and share more personal information with various ostracized groups. I have never met a porn star and found it fascinating to hear their life adventures. Same with many of the wild, zany characters that littered his program daily.My biggest disappointment of the script is that it did not portray how he treats his assistants with great disdain. I never found that entertaining, but this aspect is an integral part of his show. I know Howard expects perfection but pays poorly and takes advantage of those who are competent. My only real complaint about his persona. He invites all into a secret world of misfits, outcasts, and miscreants that otherwise would have no voice. I applaud his effort to mainstream the outliers of society and attempt to humanize them. I was extremely shocked and saddened that he remarried, albeit to a beautiful, gracious model, that made the major theme of this film fall flat. He started therapy with the famous Dr. Sarno which relies heavily on expressing your deepest emotions and suppressed rage. I believe this is what precipitated his need to live a different life.I did not follow his program to satellite radio and have missed his crazy antics but after so many years of the same shock jock tactics, now with the F word, I am bored.If you were ever a fan of the show this is a delightful Horatio Alger like tale with caveats. Be prepared for blunt discussions on sex and variant behavior. I felt Mary McCormacks role was so underplayed and mousy. Her voice barely registered and her lines were spoken so quickly like a scared cat. Her beauty carried the role but did not suffice to play against such a hard boiled character like Howard. Most likely intentional direction by Thomas as every scene is dubbed with construction noise or traffic, extremely annoying! The FCC story was never mentioned when Howard, supportive of the war post 9/11 (his most memorable broadcast fyi), takes a turn to defile the leaders decisions and suddenly licensing issues prevail.This film was a delightful surprise in that it portrayed the radio persona well with insight into the personal realm. High Recommend!

Carson Trent I was watching this one recently with friends and I realized I was the only one being amused. I just realized why. This is Scarface, not a comedy, but a dramatic account of foul taste with balls taking over. It's Tony Montana p***ing everything in his path.It's the logical outcome when ratings decide who stays and who leaves. But why do I find it amusing? Well, I don't, really. I guess it was just the anticipation of Giamatti's performance I had forgotten was so short spanned.I write the comment just in case I get the urge to watch this again in the future.

davidee88 I decided I needed to watch this film again, a while after the last viewing, after constantly hearing the praise of the film from the rather biased source of the Howard Stern show.The film was as I remembered it. Pretty standard entertainment, slightly raised for those who are followers of the show.I wonder how differently this story would be told if it weren't based on material written by Howard Stern himself. Possibly as a result of this, the entire film comes across as self-promoting propaganda for Stern, which, naturally, feels a little immodest and most probably embellished.However, what surprised me was that all the praise that Stern lathers on himself for his performance in this film is well deserved. Howard slips into actor mode with the greatest of ease. Within ten minutes he has conquered the hardest hurdle of his transition: people know him too well when he's NOT acting.Why I consider this such a feat is because the audience expects a rather inorganic performance from him (or at least I did), due to the ability to compare it to his true relaxed state, every day, for five hours.Stern must be commended for the believability and immersion his performance allows the audience to enjoy. Although, one may argue that to play oneself is not that difficult to capture.Paul Giamatti also gives a stellar performance, with his red-hot outbursts being particularly memorable. ("YOU ARE THE MOTHERFUCKING ANTI-Christ!") All in all, a fun film for Stern fans. Perhaps still enjoyable for those that aren't, perhaps not.