Episode 055: The Believer (2001) with Henry Bean & Christopher Roberts

Henry Bean, the writer/director of “The Believer” which is based upon the true story of a New York Jew who became a Long Island Nazi and killed himself after being outed by the New York Times…insists his film is a comedy. Bean (and producer Christopher Roberts) join the podcast to unpack the film which launched Ryan Gosling’s film career.

Directed by Henry Bean. Starring Ryan Gosling, Summer Phoenix, Theresa Russell, Billy Zane, Garret Dillahunt, Joel Marsh Garland, Glenn Fitzgerald, A.D. Miles, Eilzabeth Reaser, Tovah Feldshuh, Judah Lazarus and, in a brief uncredited appearance, Natasha Leggero

How is the world wrong about this movie?

From Andras: As a comedy, this film isn’t an easy one to laugh with but once you get its wavelength…once you know laughter is permissible…it only gets darker. Imagine Polanski doing an episode of “Curb Your Enthusiasm” with a young Ryan Gosling and then decide if it’s something you want to see, or notsee.