Scott Alexander was born June 16, 1963, in Los Angeles, and Larry Karaszewski was born November 20, 1961, in South Bend, Indiana. Both had childhoods with a deep fascination with movies, and getting lost in the land of make-believe. Their paths crossed for the first time at USC, where they were roommates. They both got involved with the school’s film program, and remain writing partners to this day.
Their first notable screenwriting effort is the 1990 film, Problem Child. Though not a critical success, it planted the seed of what the majority of their writing efforts would focus on: rebels. In Problem Child, Junior is a bratty kid that torments the adults and authority figures around him. In short, Junior did not play by the rules, he did what would make him happy. To the dismay of those around him.
Alexander and Karaszewski would apply this principle to the biopic. In their interview with Mick Garris on his podcast, Post Mortem, they felt biopics were (paraphrasing here) long, tedious movies about almost mythical figures. So, why not make biopics about unconventional American figures? Public figures who were rebels, played by their own rules, at times controversial, or were unusual choices as biopic subjects. Well, it paid off, both are now the go-to guys for the “anti-biopic” or whatever you want to call these wildlife stories.
Ed Wood (1994)
At one point, Ed Wood was considered the creator of the worst movies ever made. Movies done in single takes, with cheap effects, and clunky/laughable dialogue. He is constantly mocked for his lack of filmmaking talent, but that did not stop him. Wood is a man with a dream, and with an almost supernatural optimism for achieving success.
Wood is a rebel, he made movies outside of the Hollywood system, even though he desperately wanted to be a part of it. However, he had the opportunity to make what he thought were good movies, to the dismay of investors. His movies, filled with outsiders and misfits like himself, brought him joy and joy to so many “so bad, it’s good” movie fans.
Ed Wood is the first of Alexander and Karaszewski’s unconventional biopic subjects and an excellent choice. The cinematic life story of a Z-grade director, not exactly a mythical figure, but an entertaining one. This, and other films, give these odd figures fair and respectable treatment and fill them with humor. Even the figures that are controversial ones.
The People vs. Larry Flynt (1996)
Larry Flynt is the founder and publisher of Hustler magazine. Unlike Hugh Hefner, he wanted to capture the entire female anatomy in his publications. This led to controversy and numerous court trials on what constitutes free speech and expression. First a biopic about a bad director, now we have one on a porno magazine founder. As stated earlier, this writing team sure picks unique subject matter.
The movie contains material familiar to the news-consuming public (such as the court cases and his attempted murder outside a courthouse), but also things we might not know about him. For example, he ran moonshine as a kid. Even as a little boy, he started life in a questionable line of work. Continuing to do so until he passed away.
Regardless of how you may feel about Flynt, this biopic shows him as a defender of free speech. Like Wood, Flynt’s line of work is not what would be considered a celebrated profession, but it gave viewers another opportunity to see a dreamer follow his path, and learn about an untraditional subject for a biopic. Their next figure is not as controversial as Flynt but still angered numerous people.
Man on the Moon (1999)
Andy Kaufman, best known for the series Taxi, gets his own biopic treatment. Focusing not just on his portrayal of his iconic sitcom character, but most of his work outside of the show. Doing what we now call anti-comedy, and many comedians make a living doing this brand of comedy, but this was not really a thing during Kaufman’s time.
Kaufman sets would include reading The Great Gatsby in its entirety, challenging female audience members in pro-wrestling matches, and showing up as character Tony Clifton from time to time, insulting everyone. Many comedy fans did not know what to make of him, but others saw a genius to it. Like any good comic, Kaufman went by his own set of rules to create groundbreaking comedy. Seriously, Adult Swim would not exist without Andy Kaufman.
Thus far, we’ve seen a Z-grade director, a porn distributor, and now a quirky comedian gets the biopic treatment. All refused to play by the rules and made a mark in their respected fields. All were met with ridicule or disgust, but the writers were able to humanize them. Additionally, some were met with controversy, especially this next figure.
American Crime Story: The People V. O.J. Simpson (2016)
Well, Alexander and Karaszewski have now tackled the, as the media dubbed it, “The Trial of the Century”. This true story is far too large to condense into a single two-hour movie, so thank goodness for the era of prestige television. This time, they applied their biopic technique with the luxury of a ten-episode limited series. Enough time and space to let their subjects breathe.
The series shows viewers many familiar sights with the O.J. Simpson trial. The infamous white Bronco chase (episode two is dedicated to this), trying on the gloves, the paparazzi circus in front of the Simpson residence, and even a brief acknowledgment to the “Dancing Itos” from The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Additionally, the series gives us a glimpse at the hardships faced by both sides involved with this infamous court case.
Regardless of your view on the featured subject, O.J. Simpson shares qualities of other selected figures used by this writing team. He had a dream of sport and movie stardom and worked hard to achieve it, but ultimately became a controversial figure. As shown toward the end of the series when he enters a restaurant, and the patrons and employees show obvious discomfort. Like the other subjects, his story is an engaging one to tell. The same can be said when the writing team comes full circle with their next project.
Dolemite Is My Name (2019)
With Dolemite Is My Name, their most recent unconventional biopic, the team went back to their Ed Wood beginnings. We have a story about a man with a dream, who tries to achieve it despite those that mock him. Rudy Ray Moore, like Ed Wood, hopes to be a big star but produces questionable content. Also like Wood, Moore got famous for his…um, “so bad, it’s good” content.
Struggling comic Rudy Ray Moore felt it was time for his onstage character, Dolemite, to have a movie centered around his shenanigans. Unfortunately, Moore and his friends lacked the experience to make a movie. Boom mic appearances, laughable kung fu scenes, head-scratching acting choices, and bizarre dialogue are just the tip of the iceberg for this masterpiece. Again, whatever your opinion is, Moore is another rebel playing by his own rules, and secondly, it makes for exciting storytelling.
You as a viewer want Moore and co. to succeed in their dream. Along the way, we laugh at the terrible filmmaking choices made, but you have to admire that ability to never give up. Like Ed Wood, Dolemite Is My Name goes back to celebrating the dreamer and the outsider. More stories are needed for both celebrating, and bring attention to, these unique public figures.
Final Thoughts on Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski
Alexander and Karaszewski, thank goodness, will continue their fascination with quirky public figures. According to IMDB, the next project is a movie titled King of the Jungle, about John McAfee, creator of the antivirus software of the same name. The current status of the movie says “in development”, hope it changes to “pre-production” soon. I’m curious about the exploits of the antivirus guy.
In the meantime, I encourage everyone to listen to their podcast interview on Post Mortem. They’re funny and entertaining guys, who have an obvious love for movies and storytelling. Plus, it’s a good way to learn about their childhoods and jump into the entertainment industry, both the highs and the lows.
With the arrival of summer, let’s watch an Alexander and Karaszewski joint. Not only are they filled with humor (well, not the O.J. one), but it gives viewers a chance to learn about often ignored or questionable individuals. It’s time to open your minds and give their stories a chance.
Who should be the next subject of a biopic? Do you have a favorite from this list? Please leave a comment below!
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