Auto Focus (2002)
Directed by Paul Schrader
Written by Michael Gerbosi, Paul Schrader, and Trevor Macy

Better than Man On the Moon and The People Vs. Larry Flynt, less engaging than Confessions of a Dangerous Mind and Ed Wood, but similar to all of these, Auto Focus traces the seedy downfall of "Hogan's Heroes" star Bob Crane, now more widely known for his sex addiction than his work in Hollywood.

I love movies that chart the downfall of a peripheral celebrity figure, and this one is sort of like an Ed Wood II, had they made one about that guy's truly wretched years. It's fascinating to see how people use their celebrity to open forbidden doors and/or unlock their darkest versions of self.

Greg Kinnear does a spot-on Crane, Willem Defoe portrays his creepiest character since The Last Temptation of Christ, and the cinematography is excellent.

The DVD has an alternate opening/closing scene that is superior to the finished cut, for what that's worth.

Review by La Feé