Chuck & Buck | |
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Promotional poster
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Directed by | Miguel Arteta |
Produced by | Jason Kliot Thomas Brown Michael Escott Charles J. Rusbasan Judith Zarin |
Written by | Mike White |
Starring | Mike White Chris Weitz Lupe Ontiveros |
Music by |
Joey Waronker Tony Maxwell Josh Mancell Gwendolyn Sanford Gregory Hormel |
Cinematography | Chuy Chávez |
Edited by | Jeff Betancourt |
Production
company |
Blow Up Pictures
Flan de Coco Films |
Distributed by | Artisan Entertainment |
Release date
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January 21, 2000Sundance) July 14, 2000 |
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Running time
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96 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Budget | $250,000 |
Box office | $1,182,065 |
Chuck & Buck is a 2000 American black comedy drama film directed by Miguel Arteta. It was written by and starring Mike White.
Buck O'Brien (Mike White) is a 27-year-old amateur playwright with the maturity level of an adolescent. When Buck's mother dies unexpectedly, he invites his close childhood friend Chuck (Chris Weitz) to the funeral. Chuck (who is now calling himself "Charlie") is a successful music industry exec with a fiancée, Carlyn (Beth Colt). He and Buck experimented sexually with each other when they were 11, but Charlie has repressed these memories and acts as if they had not occurred. Chuck had moved away while they were still children, and Buck has pined after him ever since. During their awkward reunion, Buck makes a sexual advance on Charlie in the bathroom. Charlie rebuffs him, and returns to Los Angeles with Carlyn, but not before extending an obligatory invitation for Buck to visit him there. Buck then withdraws $10,000 from his bank account, packs up his car, and takes up residence in a motel in Los Angeles. He also begins scripting a play on a yellow legal pad: titled "Hank and Frank and the Witch", it is an obvious plea for Charlie's love.
Too shy to announce his presence right away, Buck starts trying to see Charlie at his office at Trimorph Entertainment. Buck also surreptitiously follows Charlie to find out where he lives. While standing in front of the playhouse across the street from Charlie's job, he strikes up a conversation with Beverly (Lupe Ontiveros), the house manager. Buck hires Beverly to produce his play, and casts Sam (Paul Weitz), a talentless actor who bears a strong resemblance to Charlie, in the lead. Buck then works up the nerve to approach Charlie and his girlfriend. After being invited to a party that Charlie and Carlyn host, Buck becomes aware of just how far apart he and Chuck have grown; he feels rejected by Charlie's new friends. He also becomes resentful of Carlyn, who he erroneously believes is interfering with their friendship. As a result of this mind-set, Buck's behavior becomes increasingly erratic and obsessive.