by Eric Nakamura, Giant Robot Magazine
Patrick Epino’s first feature is ambitious and comedic and has been overlooked by the film festival circuit — especially the Asian American ones. Although it is not the greatest film, it is over-the-top hilarious as it both pays homage and pokes fun at pop culture. In short, a Saddam Hussein lookalike gets stabbed and can no longer be a stand-in for the Iraqi leader. With his job lost and his identity undermined, our hero comes to the U.S. and tries to fit in and find himself at once, only to wind up acting as a Hussein double alongside Ice Cube and Marky Mark! The performance by Al No’mani is goofy and great, and was one of his last. He passed away in 2009. Look for this wild ride of a film at smaller fests alongside much weaker projects.
(note: Ice Cube and Mark Wahlberg are NOT in Mr. Sadman.)