Harmony Korine’s new film THE BEACH BUM was screen-tested last night in NYC. The film follows a rebellious stoner named Moondog (played by Matthew McConaughey) who lives life by his own rules.Our new source ‘J‘ has got all the details on it:

“Even by Harmony Korine’s twisted standards, “The Beach Bum” is truly wild. This is Korine at his most provocative and absurd. It’s a candy-colored explosion fused together by a crackling jukebox soundtrack featuring the likes of Jimmy Buffet (who also appears in the film as a friend to Snoop Dogg’s character) and The Cure. The hectic camera blissfully swarms the A-list ensemble as they deliver the wackiest performances of their entire careers. Zac Efron has a scene-stealing cameo as a demonic and troublemaking rehab patient. His motto is “Jesus already died for our sins.” Jonah Hill boisterously goes over the top with a thick southern Cajun accent. Martin Lawrence is a sailboat captain obsessed with dolphins. His scene is an instant all-timer that had the entire theater engulfed by the audience’s out loud laughter. Isla Fisher is the feisty and overwhelmingly wealthy wife to the titular beach bum. Isla Fisher’s relationship with McConaughey’s Moondog includes him sticking a joint between her toes and smoking it. But of course, this brings us to Moondog himself. McConaughey was born to play this role of a slurring, beer-guzzling, free-spirited poet. It’s almost as if his anxious Wolf of Wall Street character had been granted his 90-minute spin-off. It is a career-defining performance for McConaughey. He effortlessly slips into the mischievous title character with his trademark swagger.

Due to some iffy morals regarding the total admiration and glorification of Moondog’s rambunctious behavior (the film has nearly character endlessly insist to the audience how brilliant a mind Moondog has), this is a film best experienced at the neon-soaked surface level. Its overall aimless vibes are threatened whenever the script suggests character arcs or more narrative progression, but Korine quickly abandons that desire and is too disinterested in the plot. This is a mostly vignette-driven film which means some ideas such as Moondog’s relationship with his daughter never honestly take off the way they should. The film aims for poignancy but lacks the development to earn it. Whatever thin plot there is consists of McConaughey attempting to receive his share in Isla Fisher’s fortune under the condition that he publishes a new book. Along the way, he adopts a pet cat, enters and breaks out of rehab, and flees from the police by disguising himself in women’s clothing and dresses.

Since this was the first screening, the film is noticeably unfinished in specific areas such as color-grading and sound mixing.”