The late Michael Madsen delivers one of his final performances in “Concessions,” a comedy-drama about the closing night of a movie theater, marking what director Mas Bouzidi calls a tribute to “the last of his kind” in cinema. The actor died earlier this month.
Variety has obtained an exclusive clip from the film, which premieres at the Edinburgh International Film Festival in August. The feature showcases Madsen as Rex Fuel, a former stuntman attempting to charm his way into a free ticket to see his old movie and relive his glory days at the Royal Alamo Cinema.
“Working with Michael Madsen was one of the greatest privileges of making ‘Concessions,’” said Bouzidi, who wrote and directed the film. “He was the last of his kind, owning the camera and commanding the audience with nothing but a squint and a sly grin. I still remember the joy I’d get from watching him through the eye-piece. The way he walked across frame to toss a bag of popcorn in the trash was more interesting than what 99% of other actors would have ever come up with.”
The film marks the feature directorial debut of 23-year-old Bouzidi, who filmed and edited the entire movie at age 22. Drawing from his seven years working in New York theaters, Bouzidi crafted an ensemble piece about employees, outcasts, and oddballs crossing paths during the cinema’s final night.
“Concessions” was shot on 16mm film and will be presented on a 35mm print at Edinburgh. The cast includes Steven Ogg (“The Walking Dead,” “Grand Theft Auto V”), Josh Hamilton (“Eighth Grade,” “Manchester by the Sea”), Lana Rockwell, Ivory Aquino, Rob Riordan, and Jonathan Lorenzo Price.
The film weaves together multiple storylines of jaded staff, eccentric patrons, and an unhinged manager navigating their final shift. Bouzidi describes the work as influenced by Richard Linklater’s dialogue-driven approach, Jacques Demy’s vibrant colors, and Robert Altman’s large ensemble films.
“‘Concessions’ is about the universal experience of going to the movies,” Bouzidi said in his director’s statement. “It’s about the people working the concession stands, running the projection booth, taking your tickets, cleaning the bathrooms, and changing the marquees.”
The production companies include Sentenza Film Company, Terra Productions, Kebrado, and Travis Pictures. Ram Khagram, Malcolm Brainerd, and Sophia Winkler served as producers, with executive producers Michael Beckley, Brian Tetsuro Ivie, Harrison Allen, Amit Sinha, Oscar Straus Schafer, Gregory Daniel King, Evan Andrew Winkler, and Ari Benmosche.
“Concessions” is currently seeking acquisition with worldwide territories available. The film pays tribute to the communal tradition of moviegoing while serving as what Bouzidi hopes will be “a wake up call” rather than merely “a eulogy to a bygone way of watching movies.”
For Madsen, known for his collaborations with Quentin Tarantino in “Reservoir Dogs,” “Kill Bill: Volume 2,” “The Hateful Eight,” and “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” the role represents one of his final screen appearances in a career spanning films like “Thelma & Louise,” “Donnie Brasco,” and “Sin City.”
The film was shot on location at the Lafayette Theater and developed by Kodak Film Lab NY and Metropolis Post, with finishing work by Company3.
Watch the clip here:
