Posts Tagged ‘Comedy’
Friday, July 30th, 2010
Review:
When a tell-all autobiography leads to a libel suit, both parties tell conflicting stories about their time with “Barry Nichols (Gene Kelly) and Les Girls”. Told in flashback, both Kay Kendall and Taina Elg tell about the other’s love for Barry, while third girl Mitzi Gaynor seems uninvolved. Naturally, a third story is needed. The film is quite funny, more a comedy than a musical or dance film. It’s not the most original idea, but it’s decently executed and allows all stars a time to shine.
Random Observations:
Les Girls at the IMDb
I would be very surprised to learn that Rashômon was not the inspiration for the film.
I couldn’t help but be reminded of Joan Cusack by both Kay Kendall and Taina Elg, despite the fact that none of the three looks anything like the other two.
Last film for which Cole Porter wrote the music, although of course his songs have been featured in a large number of films since then.
Directed by George Cukor, possibly one of the greatest American comedy directors of all time. His credits also include films like The Philadelphia Story and Holiday.
This concludes week three of our four week focus on American Cinema of the 1950s. So far, we have seen some great suspenseful comedies and musical thrillers, while we also learned that neither Hitchcock nor Kelly make for engaging melodrama.
Tags: 1957, American Film, Cole Porter, Comedy, english, Gene Kelly, George Cukor, Henry Daniell, Holiday, Jacques Bergerac, Joan Cusack, John Patrick, Kay Kendall, Les Girls, Leslie Phillips, minute movie review, Mitzi Gaynor, movie review, Movies, musical, Patrick Macnee, Philip Tonge, Rashomon, Stephen Vercoe, Taina Elg, The Philadelphia Story, Vera Caspary
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Wednesday, July 21st, 2010
Review:
Even if you haven’t seen the film, you know the song and you probably know the iconic scene where Gene Kelly sings it while dancing through the rain. What you might not yet know is that the surrounding film is pretty great. Kelly plays a silent film star that has to deal with the move to the talkies, which proves easier for him that for his co-star Jean Hagen, who not only has a horrible voice, but also a horrible personality. Meanwhile, he also falls in love with a woman who doesn’t fawn all over him, which hasn’t happened since he was four. The film is a great comedy filled with good to bearable musical numbers, one of those films where the kitsch doesn’t bother you all that much because it’s just too much fun.
Random Observations:
Singin’ in the Rain at the IMDb
The film was “suggested by the song Singin’ in the Rain“, possibly making it the only film in history to be based on a song.
The best thing about the film is Donald O’Connor as Kelly’s sidekick, who can not only sing and dance, but is also extremely funny.
There is one lengthy (five minutes plus) dance sequence that I personally could have done without, but the film manages to get back on track pretty quickly.
I have decided that Gene Kelly’s charm is best described as “rakish”.
Tags: 1952, Adolph Green, American Film, Arthur Freed, Betty Comden, Comedy, Cyd Charisse, Debbie Reynolds, Donald O'Connor, Douglas Fowley, english, Gene Kelly, Jean Hagen, Millard Mitchell, minute movie review, movie review, Movies, musical, Nacio Herb Brown, Rita Moreno, romance, Singin' in the Rain, Singing in the Rain, Stanley Donen
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Monday, July 12th, 2010
Review:
Three sailors on shore leave have only twenty-four hours in New York; time they plan to use to see all the sights and get a date for the night. Naturally, that doesn’t prove quite as easy as planned. The plot of the film - based on the stage show - is little more than an excuse for Gene Kelly, Frank Sinatra et al to sing and dance and have fun. The film is corny, campy, cheesy and silly, but it’s also good, innocent, light-hearted entertainment. You’ll be hard-pressed not to simply enjoy their antics, which is all the film asks for and is exactly what it delivers.
Random Observations:
On the Town at the IMDb
The next four weeks will be a celebration of American Cinema of the 1950s here at Fabricated Truth. For that purpose, we will take a closer look at two very different icons who shaped that decade, alternating between their films: Gene Kelly and Alfred Hitchcock. I hope you’ll enjoy the ride - and maybe we’ll learn something about cinema history along the way.
And yes, I am aware that this film was made in 1949.
I’m still having a little trouble getting used to seeing Frank Sinatra in this incredibly cheesy films, what with his mob connections and tough guy persona and all.
The first film where Gene Kelly is credited as a director, together with Stanley Donen.
Tags: 1949, Adolph Green, Alice Pearce, American Film, Ann Miller, based on stage musical, Betty Comden, Betty Garrett, Comedy, english, Florence Bates, Frank Sinatra, Gene Kelly, George Meader, Jerome Robbins, Jules Munshin, minute movie review, movie review, Movies, musical, On the Town, romance, Stanley Donen, Vera Ellen
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Friday, June 25th, 2010
Review:
When ageing businessman Cary Grant arrives in Tokyo two days early, he can’t get a hotel room. Desperate, he convinces young American Samantha Eggar to let him stay in her room. The next day, he meets athlete Jim Hutton, who also arrived two days early and needs a place to stay, offering him the second couch. What follows is classic Grant: he does everything he can to manipulate the woman to fall in love - but this time not with him, but with Hutton. The film is a supremely silly slapstick comedy, a vastly underrated swansong to Grant’s career and a great portrayal of his infinite charm and personality. The supporting cast is rather weak, but Grant alone makes the film worth watching.
Random Observations:
Walk Don’t Run at the IMDb
This is a remake of the 1941 film The More the Merrier, moving the location from Washington affected by the WW II housing shortage, to Tokyo during the Olympics.
The film was actually shot on location during the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.
This is Cary Grant’s last film. At 61, he had become to old as the romantic lead, so he decided to retire instead of doing supporting parts.
Tags: 1966, American Film, Ben Astar, Charles Walters, Comedy, english, Frank Ross, George Takei, Jim Hutton, John Standing, Lois Kiuchi, Miiko Taka, minute movie review, movie review, Movies, remake, Robert Russell, romance, romantic comedy, Samantha Eggar, Sol Saks, Ted Hartley, Teru Shimada, The More the Merrier, Walk Don't Run
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Monday, June 21st, 2010
Review:
Fast talking guys and gals, witty repartee and doing anything to get a story - those were the heydays of journalism. In this update of the stage play The Front Page, Cary Grant’s Walter tries everything to convince his colleague Hildy to stay - not just for professional reasons, but also because he can’t stand the idea of his ex-wife Rosalind Russell marrying another man. Director Howard Hawks creates an immensely funny romantic comedy that focuses on the comedy and delegates the romance to the back-seat, making it all the more effective. The story might be largely preposterous, but just to hear these newspapermen (and-women) talk for 90 minutes is sheer delight.
Random Observations:
His Girl Friday at the IMDb
Many critics at the time thought that Grant was miscast, stating that Clark Gable would have been a better choice. Considering the similar character Gable played in You Can’t Take It with You, I’ll take Grant any day.
Quite possibly the best line in the film: “He looks like that actor…Ralph Bellamy!”
I also quite like that the last person who said he would get the better of him to Cary Grant was Archie Leach.
The play had previously been adapted for a 1930 film and has served as the inspiration for any number of remakes and updates, including Billy Wilder’s 1974 version starring Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon.
Tags: 1940, Abner Biberman, Alma Kruger, American Film, based on play, Ben Hecht, Billy Gilbert, Billy Wilder, Cary Grant, Charles Lederer, Charles MacArthur, Clarence Kolb, Clark Gable, Cliff Edwards, Comedy, Edwin Maxwell, english, Ernest Truex, Frank Jenks, Frank Orth, Gene Lockhart, Helen Mack, His Girl Friday, Howard Hawks, Jack Lemmon, John Qualen, minute movie review, movie review, Movies, Pat West, Porter Hall, Ralph Bellamy, Regis Toomey, remake, romance, romantic comedy, Rosalind Russell, Roscoe Karns, The Front Page, Walter Matthau, You Can't Take It with You
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Friday, June 18th, 2010
Review:
On the last day of summer 1962, four teenage friends cruise the strip of their home town. One of them is going East to go to college, a second might just follow, the third has to stay and the fourth is still in school. The 1973 teen comedy/drama is less about the plot or even the characters, and more about the feeling of the early 60s. Beautifully shot, featuring the greatest selection of vintage cars possible, and set to a great soundtrack, the film by director George Lucas captures the era when the US and the world as a whole was a lot more innocent.
Random Observations:
American Graffiti at the IMDb
The end title card drives that last point almost painfully home.
Some of the actors in this film went on to great careers: Richard Dreyfuss, Ron Howard (although more as a director) and especially Lucas’ go-to cool guy Harrison Ford.
It’s very odd to think that geek George Lucas, who you might best remember as that guy behind Star Wars and Indiana Jones, made such a very different film.
One of five micro-budget indie films financed by Paramount after the success of Easy Rider, in hopes of making another boatload of money. In this case, with a reported budget of $777,777.77, this was entirely possible.
I especially enjoyed the bantering between drag racer Paul Le Mat and 13-year-old Mackenzie Phillips. Definitely the comic highlight of the film.
Tags: 1973, American Film, American Graffiti, Beau Gentry, Bo Hopkins, Candy Clark, Charles Martin Smith, Cindy Williams, Comedy, Deby Celiz, Drama, Easy Rider, english, George Lucas, Gloria Katz, Harrison Ford, Indiana Jones, Jana Bellan, Jim Bohan, Kathleen Quinlan, Lynne Marie Stewart, Mackenzie Phillips, Manuel Padilla Jr., minute movie review, movie review, Movies, Paramount, Paul Le Mat, Richard Dreyfuss, romance, Ron Howard, Star Wars, Terence McGovern, Willard Huyck, Wolfman Jack
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Monday, June 14th, 2010
Review:
Reviled by critics and ignored by audiences, this adaptation of characters from the Archie comics is actually a clever satire of pop music and teenage culture. It’s hilariously over-the-top in almost every way, features surprisingly good (and delightfully silly) music and the most unpaid product placement in film history, all in order to parody the world we used to live in back in the good old days 0f 2001 - not that much has changed. After boy group Du Jour catch onto the fact that their music features subliminal messages to get teenage fans to part with their allowance, the “Chevy is taken to the levy” and svengali Alan Cumming quickly has to find a new band, finding aspiring rock musicians Rachael Leigh Cook, Rosario Dawson and Tara Reid (in the best performance of her lifetime, even if she wasn’t in on the joke) who jump at the chance to become superstars. The film deteriorates a bit in the second half when the satire has to make way for some silly plot, but overall it’s a vastly underrated and clever film.
Random Observations:
Josie and the Pussycats at the IMDb
The first scenes with Du Jour, starring Breckin Meyer and Seth Green, are amongst the funniest in the film, perfectly setting the tone for what is to come. Their hit song “Backdoor Lover” is also quite hilarious. And yes, it’s about exactly what you think it is about.
I don’t really know, but I’m fairly certain that apart from character names, the film has nothing to do with it’s comic book origins.
I think the problem many critics had with the film was that they could not spot that in order to satire certain things, the film actually had to do them. On the other hand, I would like to believe that professional film critics are smart enough to realize that having the logos of 73 companies featured prominently throughout the film (including the McDonalds logo on a shower wall) is not product placement, but satire thereof.
Tags: 2001, Alan Cumming, Alex Martin, American Film, Archie, Aries Spears, based on previously published material, Breckin Meyer, Carson Daly, Comedy, Deborah Kaplan, Donald Faison, english, Eugene Levy, Gabriel Mann, Harry Elfont, Josie and the Pussycats, minute movie review, Missi Pyle, movie review, Movies, music film, Parker Posey, Paulo Costanzo, Rachael Leigh Cook, Rosario Dawson, Seth Green, Tara Reid, Tom Butler
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Friday, June 11th, 2010
Review:
Cary Grant is about to get married, but when he discovers that his love Doris Nolan is a very rich woman, things get a little complicated. But he is accepted by her family despite his working class origins - especially by her sister Katherine Hepburn, who soon has more interest in him than Nolan. The film is a combination of comedy and drama, combining funny lines and fish-out-of-water scenes with a dramatic touch that gives the whole undertaking emotional resonance. Grant and Hepburn are brilliant together, creating a couple almost without flaws. The ending is a little too sappy for my best taste, but at least it stays true to the characters.
Random Observations:
Holiday at the IMDb
The film is actually a remake, the first film adaptation of the play was done eight years previously.
Former circus acrobat Cary Grant does his own back-flips in this film.
Utterly brilliant: Lew Ayres as the sisters’ brother, whose need to be a part of the family business has turned him into a heavy drinker.
The film is directed by George Cukor, one of those directors that really knew how to use the studio system of early Hollywood to their advantage. He might not have been as versatile as some of his peers, but he made some very good films.
Tags: 1938, American Film, based on play, Binnie Barnes, Cary Grant, Comedy, Donald Ogden Stewart, Doris Nolan, Drama, Edward Everett Horton, english, George Cukor, Henry Daniell, Henry Kolker, Holiday, Jean Dixon, Katharine Hepburn, Lew Ayres, minute movie review, movie review, Movies, Philip Barry, remake, romance, romantic comedy, Sidney Buchman
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Tuesday, June 1st, 2010
Review:
Jim Carrey starts out life as a good family man, but then he decides to openly declare his homosexuality and live the life he wanted. This is a good idea, but it turns out that being gay is very expensive (at least if you lead Jim Carrey’s lifestyle). So he becomes a con man, constantly increasing the games to make more money. When he is finally caught and sent to prison, he meets fellow inmate Phillip Morris, more commonly known as Ewan McGregor, and, you can have guessed it, falls hopelessly in love with him. The film, based on a true story (in Texas, of all places!), is a good mix of comedy and drama, but often slips on that fine line. Jim Carrey is a far cry from his best dramatic work and the depressing ending casts a pallor over the light entertainment the film often is. But hey, it’s still extremely funny and certainly pushing the boundaries for main-stream Hollywood cinema, which is always a good thing.
Random Observations:
I Love You Phillip Morris at the IMDb
This unscheduled post was brought to you by the fact that this film is currently in theatres in many countries and it would be a real shame to deprive people from reading my expert opinion on it before they see it, so I wasn’t going to push it to September 17th…
Speaking of pushing the boundaries for main-stream Hollywood cinema: the US release was postponed several times and it now looks like the film will at best get a limited release. It would be certainly interesting, what the regular Jim Carrey fans would think of this film - and one scene in particular. If you’ve seen the film, you know which one I’m talking about.
Ewan McGregor in blond and with a disappearing Texas accent is very odd. Good, but a far cry from his best work, which is truly great.
Best bit: when the hardened prison inmates pass along love notes between the two men.
In real life, con men are horrible. In films, they are amazing fun!
Tags: 2009, American Film, Antoni Corone, based on true story, book adaptation, Brennan Brown, Comedy, Drama, english, Ewan McGregor, Glenn Ficarra, I Love You Phillip Morris, Jim Carrey, John Requa, Leslie Mann, Michael Mandell, minute movie review, movie review, Movies, Rodrigo Santoro, Steve McVicker
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Monday, May 31st, 2010
Review:
Unemployed and unemployable actor Dustin Hoffman decides to dress up as a woman in order to get work. Surprisingly, this works out as he is given a part in a daytime drama (those things commonly known as “daily soaps”). Through it, he discovers the sexism of men, the advantages of being a woman and the gentler side in himself. Too bad that he falls in love with one of his co-stars… The film, directed by the legendary Sidney Pollack, is both extremely funny and an engaging examination of gender roles. Hoffman is utterly brilliant as both a man and a woman and with a great supporting cast he makes this film truly memorable.
Random Observations:
Tootsie at the IMDb
This continues Dustin Hoffman Week. Two more instalments to come!
Bill Murray plays Hoffman’s room-mate - his name was omitted from the opening credits so that audience wouldn’t think this was one of his typical comedies. He is also extremely funny, playing the straight man to Hoffman’s antics.
“I was a better man with you as a woman than I ever was with a woman as a man. Know what I mean?”
This was the first film for Geena Davis, who went on to an illustrious career (and less appearances in her underwear).
Tags: 1982, American Film, Bill Murray, Charles Durning, Comedy, Dabney Coleman, Don McGuire, Doris Belack, Drama, Dustin Hoffman, Dustin Hoffman Week, english, Geena Davis, George Gaynes, Jessica Lange, Larry Gelbart, minute movie review, movie review, Movies, Murray Schisgal, Oscar, romance, Sydney Pollack, Teri Garr, Tootsie
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