Other Titles • The Anarchist Cookbook • The Anarchist (2001)
Synopses for The Anarchist Cookbook (2002)
1.
This leisurely, sometimes-hilarious, sometimes-harrowing dramedy by Jordan Susman concerns the misadventures of college dropout Puck (Devon Gummersall), a would-be anarchist who lives in a commune with other free spirits and whose anti-authoritarian misdeeds amount to low-key street theatre. That changes with the arrival of Johnny Black (Dylan Bruno), a violent militant who eventually controls Puck and his friends, briefly lands them all in jail, and later develops a monstrous confederacy of skinheads, gun nuts, and environmental extremists. The marvel of this film is that with so much harrowing stuff going on, The Anarchist Cookbook is a gentle yet solid character piece set against a peculiar history--a modern-day Flaubert tale of a young man's sentimental education. Standout performances from John Savage as Puck's supplanted guru, Katharine Towne as the hero's unlikely Republican girlfriend, and Gina Philips as an omni-sexual monster who sleeps with everyone but the hero. --Tom Keogh
2.
Inspired by the legendary 1960s radical handbook of the same name, this debut film from director-screenwriter Jordan Susman tells the coming-of-age story of a group of friends living in a slackerish, anarchist commune in Dallas, Texas. The film is narrated in voice-overs from the film's antihero, the group leader, Puck (Devon Gummersall). Puck is a genius college dropout who inspires the group with a relatively low-key, utopian view of radical existence. Together with pranksters Double D (Steve Van Wormer) and Sweeney (Johnny Whitworth); sexy swinging feminist Karla (Gina Philips); and aging hippie Johnny Red (John Savage); Puck rails against globalization, Starbucks, and other stereotypical anticapitalist concerns. Their idea of anarchy is primarily about freedom and fun; more peace than protest. That is, until their commune is invaded by newcomer Johnny Black (Dylan Bruno), a nihilistic anarchist who favors a more violent, guerilla-warfare approach. Toting explosives, Johnny Black turns Puck's peaceful utopia upside down. Black's influence sets off a series of violent events, which land Puck in his hometown of Plano, Texas under house arrest. Once there, he meets and falls in love with Jody (Katharine Towne), a sexy Young Republican. Together with Jody, Puck plots the downfall of Johnny Black in a darkly comic and satirical finale.
3.
Puck & his friends live in an unhibited world, peacefully rebelling against the system, until the ominous arrival of Johnny Black. Armed with "The Anarchist Cookbook" Johnny Black conjures up recipes for madness and chos, manipulating the groups' non-violent protests and ideologies to escalate to destructive and dangerous acts.
Mooviees.com is not the official site for this film.
All editorial views and opinions expressed here are for entertainment purposes only.
<>
Movie Database
In Theaters
