"Enter A Darkly Comic World Where Oddwins Reign Supreme". This is the OFFICIAL blog site for Bowler Hat Productions dot com. News, updates, images, stories, relays, guest testimonials and postings, and the occasional SPURT of Random Madness courtesy of Max Koch & The Counselor. Let's go...
Good documentary? You better Hong Kong believe it!
Growing up without a dad then with an abusive stepdad can drive any young man to any number of outlets. Fortunately for us, Max Koch chose creative ones, including filmmaking -- specifically, this documentary, Gramps: Beneath the Surface. In it, Koch ostensibly searches for some kind of paternal connection with his grandmother's second husband, Dick Surface, a hard-drinking retiree living in the desert outside L.A. Surface, a hybrid of Ralph Kramden and Archie Bunker with a dash of redneck, happily -- and fearlessly -- obliges Max's every question during a drunken weekend at Surface's house. In addition to revealing a few whoppers that Max never knew, Surface shows us to be a "dying breed" of tough guy, a Bukowski without the poems; a man who can brag about his days as a cock-hound (or is it "pussy-hound"?), laugh about near-death bar fights, yet tear up discussing his granddaughter, the only person in the family that nothing bad has happened to. (And his artistic analysis of his frog-and-golf-ball statuette is only priceless.)
Koch serves up one of his other creative talents: illustrating. His gothic renderings, Adam Sholder's effortless camerawork, and several evocative original songs by a number of artists are all standouts -- which, in the hands of Sholder's skillful editing, fill out what would have been little more than a patchwork of interview footage in the hands of less-skilled storytellers. But while Koch's deconstruction of his grandfather gives the film its depth, Koch is often quick to put the "fun" in "profundity." He detaches from his involvement in the subject matter often enough to engage his twisted, highly irreverent sense of humor without making a joke out of the journey. The commentary track removes him a further degree; he and Sholder, who complements Koch's dark wit with the ease only a longtime friend and colleague can possess, revel in machine-gun-fire wisecrackery from beginning to end. Future docu-portraits from these two -- particularly of famous figures -- would be most welcome.
Order your Deluxe DVD Edition of "Gramps: Beneath the Surface (Now With More Dick!)" HERE!
Big doins in the world of BHP. For starters, "Gramps: Beneath the Surface" DVD is now ON SALE! Oh, boy, oh, boy.
Join Max and The Counselor as they head to the California Desert to spend the weekend with Max's Grandparents. What they get, however, goes far beneath the surface - in this case, Dick Surface, Max's step-granddad, who lets Max in on the personal paradox of his rambunctious youth and conservative philosophy. Women, sex, bar brawls, booze, Bush, and the American Way are just a few of the topics covered in this sometimes hysterical, sometimes tragic Docu-Portrait.
The Deluxe DVD Edition - Now With More Dick! features deleted scenes, Max Koch's original cartoon art gallery, and a commentary track featuring filmmakers Max Koch & The Counselor.
And for an ALL-NEW, ONE-HOUR episode of "Max Koch's Mimosa" (Show 82) where Max and The Counselor talk about the "Gramps" DVD, car accidents, back pain, chiropractors, to love or hate the New Years holiday, The Counselor's big romantic news and much, much more, go HERE.
"Hi! I'm Lisa Arch, Max's right-hand woman, and I'm taking over the next two episodes of 'Max Koch's Mimosa'. I thought it was time that Max's friends, fans, and foes got to know the real Max Koch, so I'm going to ask him the tough questions. Sex? Covered. Religion? Taken care of. His marriage? I'll get the dirt on that, too. And it won't be pretty. So listen to 'Lisa Arch's Mimosa' to learn a little about the guy you want to know a lot about. There might even be some channeling... If you play your cards right."
