User Reviews

Props for doing what you love to the writer, director and lead but to be perfectly honest, this effort totally stinks. Bad acting. Bad editing. Bad writing and a bad movie. I can't believe I'm still watching it after 45 minutes. There is no story and the lead is flat. Very flat. Even the camera work stinks. I wish I could find one redeeming quality but I can't. Waste of $1,000,000. Sigh. At least the rental was only .50 cents. Ok, here's one good thing to learn from this. How not to make a movie.

In the past 3 years I have heard a lot of hype about several Houston local low budget films. Due to the hype I had to check them out! All of them didn't live up to the hype, but finally this one did. Now keep in mind when you go to an indie and there is hype it still is an indie with no money. A lot of people hear hype about an indie and they expect Lord of the Rings.

I saw "The Waiter" at WorldFest Houston along with about 5 other films. It was really cool to see parts of Houston used. Other parts of Houston I didn't recognize, but it said it was entirely filmed in Houston. Before I saw the film I really didn't hear much about it. The plot was cool, but the main thing was IT LOOKED LIKE A REAL MOVIE!!! I was like wow, this is a real movie. I heard the budget after the film and was pretty impressed. The acting was really strong and I recognized almost the entire cast from other stuff, including the priest from EveryOne Loves Raymond. There were a couple cool effects that you don't expect on the budget and all in all I would say if you are an indie film buff it is a must see!

After the film the director thanked us all for coming, and shook my hand. He seemed really nice and humble. Which none of the other directors I have met seemed to be. I would highly recommend this film. Don't expect a huge blockbuster action film, but you get a lot of bang for your buck!

I met the director via a good friend of mine in Austin. We were able to see one of the last cuts of the film, the director said there was one more round of edits to be made. I typically don't take the time to put my two cents into the world, but we asked him to see the film and I promised I would give him an honest review of the film. Overall the film was very interesting, I am a big conspiracy theory buff. The film requires a great deal of attention and deliberation, but for those who aren't into that there is some flash and a TREMENDOUS amount of killing. The sound had some problems, but he said that that was being taken care of, it didn't strike me as anything that someone with experience couldn't fix. For the budget I thought the film was very impressive, the locations, the look, and especially the cast. I really was pretty blown away by the cast, really well constructed and solid actors. Didn't care for the lead female's acting, but she was eye candy 'enough' for the part. Probably the best part of the film is the story behind it, and the making of the film. I suppose this will get some sort of distribution and they will include the extras about how they made it, and if they do I would recommend that highly. The director talked to us for about 3 hours about it and it put the film in an entirely different light. Judging the film among it's peers that I have seen from the Austin indie world in this budget range, I would say it's a strong 9... or maybe a 10.

This film premiered at Palm Beach Film Festival, which I attended in Boca. I was attracted to this film as a fan of the work of Charles Durning. The film, however, was a far different film than I was use to and expected from him. The festival did a poor job of informing the attendees of what the film was about. The film was very violent and hard. Not at all my cup of tea, I was expecting a film paying homage to film noir from the way it was presented.

I can understand how this might please a much younger crowd, however I found it difficult to keep up with. I will say that the dialogue was clever, acting very strong, and the shot composition was really impressive.

Despite my mixed feelings about the 'raw' nature of the film I have to give it very high marks. The director spoke after the screening and explained the film and it honestly brought my feelings of it to a higher level. Honestly, I wasn't expecting to actually have to think about what I was seeing. It was a refreshing change of perspective, but it made me appreciate what I had dismissed before as mindless killings and vulgarity.

For the amount of money and experience that the director had the film looked very sharp and sent a powerful message.

Several months ago an article caught my eye in the Chronicle, it was a showcase of Charles Durning and being a huge fan of Attica and Dog Day I read on. From this article an interest in a locally produced independent film spawned and I have followed that film for quite some time. I am a student of cinema and often I take great interest in the beginning works of directors. I was able to view the film and converse with the director and found it quite refreshing for the budget. He asked that I not repeat the budget, so I will honor that request. However, I will say that the accomplishment of producing this film is in relevant terms one of brilliance. Yes, the film has some faults, but I would have to give many of them a pass due to the limited funds. To those true cinephiles and beginning film directors I would highly recommend you view this film.

Let me just say that if Entertainment Tonight got wind of the budget of this film and the cast it has and the story it tells, they would be running to do interviews with the people behind it. Most every commercial you see has a bigger budget than this film but not a fraction of the entertainment value. I think if it was marketed right it could become one of the biggest profit margins in movie history and people would look back and say, "The Waiter" pioneered in a new era in movie making.

What I really love about the film itself is the way you need to think while you are watching it. If you are one of those mindless zombie types watching a movie, this may not be the film for you. This movie is so deep on so many different levels. It's one of those movies that you will catch something different every time you watch it. I can't wait to see it in the theater again like I did at the World Premiere in Houston.

Don't let the studio looks or stars fool you. The Waiter is a labor of love "indie" style. Shot outside the confines of LA and overblown budgets of the millions with similar results...this LOW six figure production takes...and clearly makes it's mark with a stellar cast (unheard of for the budget constraints) and helmed by the very able Producers including Jason Konopisos on his Directorial debut. With his remarkable and seasoned crew, Mr. Konopisos takes the audience on a journey into the viceral elements of the human soul. "The Waiter's" crippled take on redemption through the eyes of this true anti-hero is one only Dante could relate to in the midst of Purgatory. A sweet blend of mythology and modern Western society. Joseph Campbell fans...this is a must see. Filmmakers...this is a true lesson in making an indie film.

I attended a private screening of this film in Los Angeles last week. The screening went very well and the director took time to talk to everyone that was willing to talk to him. I was very impressed with the overall production of this film. Many of the people attending were a bit over the top with praise of the film. However, this is not to say that I think they were wrong in this level of praise. The film was a good film, very deep yet still entertaining. The most remarkable aspect of the film was the budget and the conditions by which these filmmakers completed this monumental task. I have been in production for nearly 15 years and the only comparison I could draw would be that of El Mariachi. I would say that this film wins out in acting performances and level of talent they were able to attract for little money. The look and production value also were outstanding. With that said, the film had the typical low budget production flaws. The lighting was good, the picture the camera gave was great, sound was good (however they said it hadn't been completed yet so I expect it will be very good), coverage could have been better, however the shots were at times very captivating. The thing that struck me most about the film and the reason why everyone seemed to be jumping on the band wagon was more about the charisma of the director. The film at times was vague and obtuse and demanded the audiences full attention. Many attendees I literally saw light bulbs appear above their heads during the Q&A. The director had a very strong vision and was extremely articulate in his answers. All in all, I would say that this film will probably have a strong DVD release, there is some dark humor so maybe even a cult following. I do think that the director and his partners will be very successful given the projects to come that he presented at the screening. I recommend any aspiring film makers or students rent this film, or buy it, it will show you a lot about how to do it right the first time.

I am not one to watch a film several times, especially within the same night, but I had to watch it twice. Watching this film through very conservative eyes with a military and oil industry background gives me a fairly different perspective from most film festival viewers. But I agree with most of the previous comments in that it is a must see.

I personally know several people involved in the creation of this film. I have heard about it for quite a while, but never saw any footage or really understood the films premise until I saw it.

I was really impressed with the high quality of the filming as well as the acting for considering the budget. The film has many levels of thought, as well as a significant entertainment value.

The director/writer has created a strong foundation for future cuts and sequels. I am looking forward to seeing what can be done with more time and resources...as long as the production is able to maintain the depth and quality of this artistic film.

THE WAITER was a SOLID film with a great and recognizable cast that delivered amazing performances. Totally an underdog that surprised me. I was also impressed with this new writer/director JASON KONOPISOS, I've never heard of this dude but he sure as hell did an excellent job with making the film. Especially after I read about all of the obstacles they faced during the production of the film, I'm amazed with the result. I'm sure we will be seeing a lot more of this guy's work. Not only does this movie serves it's pure purpose with entertainment but it's interesting as well cause it makes you think. Which this kind of genre of film sometimes lacks, but not THE WAITER.

Just so there ain't haters coming down on this review, this is my boys film but I would say if it sucked and I will say if any of my boys film sucks. This film was done with no money and they made some crazy stuff, the hit-man is cold and ruthless. If they had a lot of money this could be an action blockbuster. I like that the fight scenes are quick and realistic, with no Jean Clodvandamn BS. The film is sharp and it shows skills my boy is gonna make it big, just don't forget your boys. Somebody said that the ckicks in this movie aren't got and he (or maybe he is a sheeeee) is stupid and don't know what hot is. I met a couple of the girls and they are hot, more that girls that guy can get. So you better see this movie!

The Waiter was one of the best indie films I've seen. The cast was outstanding including Charles Durning and Glenn Morshower, not to mention Jason Konopisos who not only starred in it, but did an amazing job of directing. The story was compelling and it kept you moving along with great rhythm and intensity. The photography was awesome, and the shots of the city were magnificent. The music was an ideal back drop to this fast-paced tale as well. All in all, an excellent, well rounded film that kept my attention throughout the entirety of it!

I highly recommend The Waiter,and look forward to seeing a lot more work from Mr. Konopisos.

A great film about how corrupted Corporate America is. I had never heard of it until a buddy of mine told me to check it out. And I have to be honest and say that I was very pleased. What I really love about the film itself is the way you know the protagonist is the anti hero but you are still rooting for him all the way. This movie has depth. I am sure if I can go back and watch it again, I will find things that I missed the first time, just because it has so many levels. There is a reason why this film has won so many awards at the film festivals. Great Acting. Great script. Great directing. Great group of well known actors. most of all, a Great Film.

I think the producer/directors acquired a fantastic balance of actors including Charles Durning, Glenn Morshower, Dan Lauria and Robert Z'Dar, and Julie Martin. They all played the parts in the film perfectly. The movie was a little hard to follow in some areas, but showed the corruption in corporate America and how this man can be pushed to the end. It has violent parts and contains strong language, which is not particularly suitable for a younger audience. For a low budget film, the film is intriguing, and you're not sure how it's going to end, with different little twists that you need to watch for throughout the movie that keeps you wondering "what's next."

Most action films require BIG budget and many months of filming; these guys pulled this off with a LOW budget and less than a month of filming, and STILL got big named actors. When I viewed this film at the Houston WorldFest it was a rough cut. Once they finished editing and adding more sound the film was even better and more intriguing to watch.

Jason Konopisos did a great job of writing/directing/and acting in the movie. This was probably not an easy task to pull off, and still produce a great film. Shot in Houston with some great location shots. They even brought in special advisor's to make sure certain action shots were done correctly and not just thrown together. Whether you like the film content or not; the filming, production, acting, directing and writing are GREAT!

This movie was Excellent! I was very impressed with the casting, completely an awesome ensemble group of actors. The direction of the film was innovative. The film's original score was not too shabby either. Most of all I was impressed with the writing and how unique the storytelling was. When I discovered how small of a budget they had to work with, especially with such a huge cast (some big names might I add, such as 2008 SAG Lifetime Achievement Award recipient CHARLES DURNING)I was just impressed. They had actors from every major film starring in this. Also, I wonder if they will continue this story, cause even though it was ended well, I can see how they can make a sequel out of this. Overall, very nicely done. Who would of thought Houston could deliver such great talent. You definitely get a bang for your buck!

Interesting film dealing with many of the modern dilemmas our society is facing currently. I really enjoyed the film from every angle it presented the viewer. I thought the imagery of the skyscrapers was a very soothing start to the film, well done. As a true enthusiast for Indie films Id like to thank the people that made this film and wish them luck in the future. I cant wait to see more of their work. It was very well done and I was amazed after reading about the amount of money it cost to make the film. I also noticed several scenes that seemed to contain content that might relate to other story lines. I guess I just have to check the internet for more information about certain scenes. Lastly, the shot at the beach was very interesting and thought provoking.Cheers!!!

I first saw this film in Houston at the Houston WorldFest. The film is intriguing and deep in thought, which may be too much for some folks. The writer/director/actor, Jason Konopisos, put the movie together on a low budget, and was able to get great well know name actors like Glenn Morshower, Charles Durning, and Robert Z'Dar to appear in the film, and shot entirely in Texas! It has since been edited to correct small deficiencies and made even better. The trailer comprises enough information that you "want" to see the movie, just to see where it's going and what it's about, and why well known actors would be a part of this movie. You rarely see known actors in movies that would tarnish their reputation and good name, which again says something for the movie and its producers and directors. The movie has won several awards, which should say something right there! I have been following the comments made on IMDb and cannot understand how anyone who actually watched the movie would give it anything less than a 7. The content may not be to your liking, but judging the script, filming, realism, time in filming & production, and keeping within budget, this film should be rated a 10+. Anyone interested in getting into the filming business, should contact the Mr. Konopisos and the producers of this film, as they have done a great job for the first time out! My best wishes to all involved and hope Sony, Paramount, or First Line picks up your movie and makes you all stars!