It’s time for ‘Brief Interviews with Hideous Men.”

Editor’s note: Peter Lewis, who since November 2008 has written about the culinary and cultural aspects of the Fort Smith/Van Buren region, continues to write for The City Wire from his new address in Austin, Texas. As he did with his previous delicious essays, Peter humbly attempts to move beyond the conventional and expose, entertain and enthuse. If anything Peter proffers in this space results in the expansion of cultural awareness of the world around us, we apologize in advance.

This past weekend I had the distinct pleasure of attending a special screening of a film titled, “Brief Interviews with Hideous Men.” Based on a series of short stories by the late David Foster Wallace, the film version was adapted for the screen and directed by John Krasinski.

Though the film was an official selection at the Sundance Film Festival this year, there is no word on a nationwide release of the film, making the series of screenings over the weekend in Austin, Cambridge, and Philadelphia that much more special. Further adding to the import of the screenings was the appearance of the widely adored John Krasinski at the Friday and Saturday showings.

Yet, despite this wonderful opportunity, I was admittedly torn on whether I would attend.  The only screening for which I could procure tickets directly conflicted with a concert I wanted to see (Son Volt w/Jason Isbell). In the end, my decision to attend was based in economy and camaraderie as much as anything else (I had friends going and the tickets were a fraction of what I would have paid to see Son Volt and Isbell). After experiencing the film, I have absolutely no reservations about my choice of activity.

Most people associate Mr. Krasinski with his affable yet sardonic character, Jim Halpert, on the Office. He appeared before the show delivering a short monologue before delving into a Q&A session with the audience. Naturally funny, his monologue immediately had the audience laughing. And perhaps even wondering at how similar he was in real life to his most famous character.

This connection quickly dissolved into the murky waters of uncertainty soon after the film began. In the film, a female graduate student seeks to uncover the true reality of men through a series of interviews with men themselves. Spurned onwards by a besetting desire for actual truths, no matter how licentious, lewd, lascivious, or humorous, she interviews countless subjects almost to the detriment of her academic standing.

From wildly hilarious ejaculatory exclamations (Subject #14, Ben Shenkman) to an agonizing attempt at reconciliation with one’s past (Subject 42, the great Frankie Faison), the movie is powerfully emotional and almost unfathomably diverse for an 80 minute film.

Prior to Brief Interviews, Krasinski’s leading film roles have all been romantic comedies (and would perhaps explain the sheer number of ladies at the screenings). Also prior to Brief Interviews, he had never written or directed a film. Taking the above factors into consideration along with his affable personality, I was struck by how bold of a leap this film was for him. By the time of its riveting conclusion, I was moved almost to the point of speechlessness. Only with effort was I able to even think much beyond the word, “wow.”

For those on the sidelines it is all too easy to deride the earnest efforts of others. So not only do I sincerely applaud this cinematic effort, but I applaud the aforementioned “leap” it took to create it. John Krasinski put himself out there, really out there. All too often we are content to play it safe, to hedge our bets, to cower in complacency. Mr. Krasniski had the gumption to proudly and earnestly create.

It is this earnestness, the almost naïve desire to build something for the sake of nothing at all beyond an ideal that drives culture. And it is the ensuing dynamism of creation that embodies the essence of culture in life, the transcendent ideals of which were on full display this past weekend in Austin thanks to the wonderful creation of John Krasniski. I sincerely hope that “Brief Interviews with Hideous Men” turns out to be the first in a long line of compelling projects to come.

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