Cinema undone

Here's one for your Netflix queue: The Corndog Man (1999), dir. Andrew Shea.  Came upon this gem in '03 and can't believe I haven't mentioned it on here.  It's one of a handful movies that's literally impossible to turn off, even with subsequent viewings.  Right 'off a bat' the oddities begin to pile up.  Redneck boat seller Ace Barker gets a strange phone call one morning from a voice claiming interest in purchasing a boat.  A few minutes later he gets another call and the exchange gets a little weirder. Then he gets another call.  And another one.  And so forth for the remainder of the film.  What's it all leading to? Some pretty shocking material, that's what. The film's highest point is a scene where the anonymous caller puts Paul Butterfield's "It all comes back" on the record player, which uses music in ways that would make Wes Anderson envious. It's also a great big sin Noble Willingham's role as the bullheaded South Carolinan bigot remains unnoticed, and probably will forever.  I see these great movies which look like they were made for about $50 and it's all so inspiring.  Do me a favor and see it, and tell them Abysmal sent you.