Suckers Home Film Information About the Cast Filmmakers Photos Videos Reviews Links	SUCKERS The Hollywood Reporter 10-22-99 Review by David Hunter Director/co-writer Roger Nygard's abrasive comedy about car salesmen is one of those laugh-yourself-sick movies about things most people hate. A modest theatrical release may be in the cards. It's not something to wake up to or dream about, but starring Daniel Benzali (ABC's "Murder One") as a monstrous example of the evolution of predatory businessmen, "Suckers" certainly tries to sell us on it's complete package -- from long scenes of customers getting screwed over auto financing to the off-lot problems of the newest recruit (Louis Mandylor), a young married man with debts but still possessing some scruples. The appropriately slimeballish cast includes Michael D. Roberts, Wayne Duvall, Darren Gray Ward and Eli Danker -- the last as an ex-Afghan commando who has one hilarious bit with a customer who refuses to enter the salesroom. Indeed, as a string of jokes about how traditional American Greed and friendly backstabbing can turn into a workplace meltdown and violence, "Suckers" is a smoothly running used model with some style. Best known for his documentary "Trekkies," Nygard also has a new documentary playing in the festival, "Six Days in Roswell." With "Suckers," he's been blessed with Benzali going as far as possible with the role and then some, while overall, there are enough jokes and authentic details to keep one pleasantly amused and passively outraged. SUCKERS LA WEEKLY 10-22-99 Review by Paul Cullum Roger Nygard, whose Trekkies documentary was one of the highlights of the last AFI festival, returns this year with his aliens-in-America doc, Six Days In Roswell, and Suckers, a gleefully misanthropic take on new-car salesmen. Virtually a comic adaptation of the Alec Baldwin speeches in the screen version of Glengarry Glen Ross, a fulsome rainbow coalition of greed and rancor coalesces around Daniel Benzali (of TV's Murder One), the bullet-headed master salesman on a Rod Steiger diet of steroids and scenery who sets everyone's priorities straight, or else. The 2000 San Jose' Film Festival book described SUCKERS as: "The Casablanca of car dealers, this funny and edgy film will make you think twice next time you want to test drive the latest Mustang. Suckers is an absolutely hilarious comedy about the birth of a car salesman. Bobby (Louis Mandylor) and his lovely wife need cash to pay back a couple of shady loan sharks. But as Bobby patiently explains, money isn't available for the asking, and he's looking for a career, not just a job. There's a difference, you know. Bobby's looking for a true calling. Unfortunately, loan sharks don't really care about long-term career satisfaction. Sacrifices must be made. Bobby grudgingly reports to work at a car lot, a neophyte salesman falling into the clutches of the scruple-less manager, Reggie (Daniel Benzali). The story is fast paced and engaging, with an unlikely edge and a wide variety of well-drawn characters. If you've ever wondered what those car salesmen say about you in the back room, take a look at director Roger Nygard's vision. Apparently they're not complimenting your hair." SUCKERS The San Jose' Metro 2-24-00 Michael S. Gant "Buy Low, Sell High: Daniel Benzali exhorts his fleet of car salesmen to new lows in customer browbeating in Roger Nygard's 'Suckers.' Anyone who's ever sweated through a session with a car salesman will wince at the only slightly exaggerated hard-sell techniques on display in Suckers. Director Roger Nygard's top-notch comedy follows a diverse crew of salesmen through one month of high-pressure wheeling and grinding ("If I said only $9,750 down, would we have a deal right now?") at a big-city dealership. Lording over the lot is a bald-headed master/monster of motivational invective--"The customer wants you to fuck him!"--played by Daniel Benzali (the scary defense lawyer from TV's Murder One a few seasons back). Benzali's bellowing and bullying alternate with vignettes of hapless boobs being escorted into the living hell known as 'leasing.'" SUCKERS The Dallas Morning News 4-24-99 By Al Brumley Highlights of this year's USA Film Festival As Reggie the car salesman supervisor, Daniel Benzali bellows, blusters and bullies his underlings into squeezing every dime possible out of the poor souls who wander into their offices. It's an awesome performance, wrapped around a great movie that'll make you think twice before buying that next car. The 1999 USA Festival book described SUCKERS as: What really goes on behind the scenes at a new car dealership? To pay off loan sharks, Bobby (Louis Mandylor, "Martial Law") reluctantly applies for a job as a car salesman. Reggie (Daniel Benzali, "NYPD Blue"), the lot's devious general sales manager, teaches Bobby how to steal every last penny from his unsuspecting clientele. Caught in the midst of fast-paced car-sales mayhem, Bobby discovers, to his dismay, that he's very, very good at screwing people. In a world that's part Mamet and part Billy Wilder, you can't watch your back enough - especially when everyone else is watching it for you. Suckers matches a powerful cast with an electrifying script, resulting in a very dark and very funny look at the extremes of capitalism, and how far guys will go to sell themselves. SUCKERS The Minneapolis Star/Tribune 4-23-99 Susan Eaton Hopper/Features Editor The Short List Movies At the Minneapolis/St. Paul International Film Festival, Roger Nygard's exhilaratingly cynical car salesman film "Suckers" has the macho punch of a David Mamet drama. Daniel Benzali ("Murder One") stars as a dealer who fires up his troops with Patton-like speeches and torrents of abuse. Louis Mandylor is his newest salesman, desperate to dig himself out of his own debts. The 1999 Minneapolis/St. Paul International Film Festival book described SUCKERS as: If you ever thought that you were screwed over when buying a car, you have no idea how bad it really was. Through a combination of hilarity and horror, Roger Nygard's feature shows the true makings of a car salesman. When Bobby DeLuca's luck hits rock bottom he is forced to take a job at the local car dealership. He learns from salesmen who compete with and hate one another but find a common bond in their greed. Before long, Bobby learns the tricks of the trade and the potential that it offers. The result is a realistic portrayal of a salesman that may scare viewers as much as it entertains. Director Roger Nygard is most widely known for his HBO Original motion picture Back to Back, Paramount's documentary Trekkies, and his work with NEO Motion Pictures (Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure).