Best in Show (2000)

Best in Show: Directed by Christopher Guest. With Jay Brazeau, Parker Posey, Michael Hitchcock, Catherine O’Hara. A behind-the-scenes look into the highly competitive and cut-throat world of dog shows through the eyes of a group of ruthless dog owners.

“Right before turning in, the girlfriend said that if I was still up working into the wee hours I should take a break and turn on the telly. Best in Show would be on and although she hadnu0026#39;t seen it, sheu0026#39;d heard it got great reviews.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eI kept working and forgot the time. The telly was on but I ignored it. All of a sudden I began hearing this very weird dialog. u0026#39;We like the same things – soup, snow peas, talking – and not talking.u0026#39; I thought to myself u0026#39;what is this – some kind of weird porn movie?u0026#39; And I continued ignoring it for a while longer until I heard the voices of Levy and Begley Jr. It was then I remembered what the girlfriend had said.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eI looked the movie up at the IMDb quickly and was surprised to see who was behind it: Christopher Guest aka Nigel Tufnel, the man with the extra loud guitar amplifier. I knew then I was lucky to still be awake to witness this one.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eI made two more checks at the IMDb before getting back to the movie: the number of awards and nominations and the box office. Not surprisingly this was a low budget venture, and not surprisingly either itu0026#39;s garnered tonnes of awards and nominations. The studio made a profit off this one, but itu0026#39;s pocket change in comparison to the big blockbusters. Still, it must be a kind of Woody Allen and Orion kind of thing: movies like this make the studio look good.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eOn to the movie: itu0026#39;s a riot, a bloody riot. It might not be your cuppa, but then OK – turn it off or watch something else. But there is so much in this one – it plays a bit like an Altman. Lots of hand-held too. And when you finally get to the show itself on comes Fred Willard and takes it away. He uses Jim Piddock as a foil – actually he uses almost everything as a foil. And if you think his portrayal is too much over the top, reflect on the fact itu0026#39;s supposedly a copy of an actual commentator at shows of this kind.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThis type of movie is either extraordinarily difficult or admirably easy to make, and I suspect itu0026#39;s a bit of both. Some of the skits are just too much, and everywhere you turn the acting is inspired. One scene with I believe Posey in a pet shop is precious – and not only her work but the shop assistantu0026#39;s. Amazing stuff.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eMostly my sympathies went to Begley Jr who was the receptionist at the hotel. Meeting all these weird types and trying to remain accommodating and representative – it must be difficult if not impossible. There are some very weird characters in this one.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eAnd you may be asking yourselves u0026#39;watch a mockumentary about a dog show and its participants?u0026#39; And thatu0026#39;s the whole point – itu0026#39;s hilarious; itu0026#39;s a riot.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eI give it an 11.”