Miscellaneous Movie Musings - Page 34

Not Afraid · 06-06-2006, 09:32 PM

Well, other than the dis of David Sedaris, I am completely in agreement with you on type of comedy I respond to. For me, Sedaris has such strange powers of observing the absurd, which is one of the things I find funny. There are times when Woody Allen fits into this broad generalization and I greatly enjoy him at those times as well.

As far as AFI's list, there are films on the list I absolutely LOVE but I don't think of them as "comedies" in the strict sense. My list would include:

The Philadelphia Story
Arsenic and Old Lace
Sullivan's Travels
The Lady Eve (Love Sturges)
The Thin Man
Fargo and
Groundhog Day

When pressed to find other films that make me laugh, Whit Stillman comes to mind (Barcelona has scenes which kill me every time), but I also like Gilliam's Brazil but, again, it is absurdist.

Now, the common argument is that, if I like the absurd, why don't I like Python? I don't know. I find it annoying. I prefer the comedy to sneak into a scene in a subtle way rather than be hit over the head with it.

The comment I always get is that, it is odd that someone who laughes so often is not a fan of comedy.

CoasterMatt · 06-06-2006, 09:51 PM

Odd is somebody who laughs at anything shoved their way just because somebody else said it's funny.

BarTopDancer · 06-06-2006, 10:11 PM

I don't find anything even remotely funny about Rodney Dangerfeild.

Alex · 06-06-2006, 10:25 PM

I never found any of his scripted appearances funny (though the Triple Lindy has a certain genius). But my step father had a couple of his (very) old LPs when I was growing up and there was some very funny stuff on them.

Gemini Cricket · 06-07-2006, 05:45 AM

I find David Sedaris to be very funny. But some of his material isn't meant to be. Love him.

I don't necessarily classify what's funny and what isn't and then analyze the crud out of it. If I did that, nothing would be funny.

I'm not a big Eddie Murphy fan, but I loved the two table scenes in 'The Nutty Professor'. Completely "low brow" but I loved it all the same.

'Bringing Up Baby' is hysterical. It's all silly and slapstick and I love that. Is it a perfect film, no. Is it repeatable? Yes. Is it fun to watch stuffy Cary Grant slide down a hill on his ass and then fall into a river with Kate Hepburn, totally.

A movie I love is 'Defending Your Life'. Albert Brooks is often funny. I guess it's "high-brow" but who cares. Funny is funny. Shirley McLaine's appearance in that film is classic. Not to mention Meryl Streep, she throws away half of her lines and they're still brilliant.

I find 'Young Frankenstein' to be a great film. It's a homage to old b/w horror films and it's funny in many, many places. Madeline Kahn is extremely funny in that.

Matterhorn Fan · 06-07-2006, 08:28 AM

I watched "Jersey Girl" last night. It's not funny.

Stan4dSteph · 06-07-2006, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matterhorn Fan

I watched "Jersey Girl" last night. It's not funny.

I hope you didn't actually pay to see it. Affleck blows!

Gemini Cricket · 06-07-2006, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stan4dSteph

Affleck blows!

Not surprised. That explains that winning smile of Matt Damon's...

Alex · 06-07-2006, 09:36 AM

I find David Sedaris funny when he is talking but, for me, all that seems to go away once he has written it down. And his sister is many times more funny than he is.

I also don't tend to analyze what is funny and what is not. It isn't like you can control what you find funny. But I was asked.

Gemini Cricket · 06-07-2006, 09:41 AM

Sedaris has a great voice. And, of course, when he's impersonating his brother, that's hysterical. I find his writings funny, though.

Amy Sedaris is hysterical. They should cast her in more films.

06-06-2006, 09:32 PM	#331
Not Afraid HI! Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 17,108	Well, other than the dis of David Sedaris, I am completely in agreement with you on type of comedy I respond to. For me, Sedaris has such strange powers of observing the absurd, which is one of the things I find funny. There are times when Woody Allen fits into this broad generalization and I greatly enjoy him at those times as well. As far as AFI's list, there are films on the list I absolutely LOVE but I don't think of them as "comedies" in the strict sense. My list would include: The Philadelphia Story Arsenic and Old Lace Sullivan's Travels The Lady Eve (Love Sturges) The Thin Man Fargo and Groundhog Day When pressed to find other films that make me laugh, Whit Stillman comes to mind (Barcelona has scenes which kill me every time), but I also like Gilliam's Brazil but, again, it is absurdist. Now, the common argument is that, if I like the absurd, why don't I like Python? I don't know. I find it annoying. I prefer the comedy to sneak into a scene in a subtle way rather than be hit over the head with it. The comment I always get is that, it is odd that someone who laughes so often is not a fan of comedy.
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06-06-2006, 09:51 PM	#332
CoasterMatt BRAAAAAAAINS! Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: One Step Beyond... Posts: 8,802	Odd is somebody who laughs at anything shoved their way just because somebody else said it's funny. __________________ Do you like my photography? Visit photosbymatt.tumblr.com to purchase prints!
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06-06-2006, 10:11 PM	#333
BarTopDancer Prepping... Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Here, there, everywhere Posts: 11,405	I don't find anything even remotely funny about Rodney Dangerfeild. __________________ Spork is the new MacGyver Postcards From My Edge
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06-06-2006, 10:25 PM	#334
Alex . Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 13,354	I never found any of his scripted appearances funny (though the Triple Lindy has a certain genius). But my step father had a couple of his (very) old LPs when I was growing up and there was some very funny stuff on them.
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06-07-2006, 05:45 AM	#335
Gemini Cricket ... Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 13,244	I find David Sedaris to be very funny. But some of his material isn't meant to be. Love him. I don't necessarily classify what's funny and what isn't and then analyze the crud out of it. If I did that, nothing would be funny. I'm not a big Eddie Murphy fan, but I loved the two table scenes in 'The Nutty Professor'. Completely "low brow" but I loved it all the same. 'Bringing Up Baby' is hysterical. It's all silly and slapstick and I love that. Is it a perfect film, no. Is it repeatable? Yes. Is it fun to watch stuffy Cary Grant slide down a hill on his ass and then fall into a river with Kate Hepburn, totally. A movie I love is 'Defending Your Life'. Albert Brooks is often funny. I guess it's "high-brow" but who cares. Funny is funny. Shirley McLaine's appearance in that film is classic. Not to mention Meryl Streep, she throws away half of her lines and they're still brilliant. I find 'Young Frankenstein' to be a great film. It's a homage to old b/w horror films and it's funny in many, many places. Madeline Kahn is extremely funny in that.
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06-07-2006, 08:28 AM	#336
Matterhorn Fan Double Agent Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Back East Posts: 2,071	I watched "Jersey Girl" last night. It's not funny.
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06-07-2006, 09:36 AM	#339
Alex . Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 13,354	I find David Sedaris funny when he is talking but, for me, all that seems to go away once he has written it down. And his sister is many times more funny than he is. I also don't tend to analyze what is funny and what is not. It isn't like you can control what you find funny. But I was asked.
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06-07-2006, 09:41 AM	#340
Gemini Cricket ... Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 13,244	Sedaris has a great voice. And, of course, when he's impersonating his brother, that's hysterical. I find his writings funny, though. Amy Sedaris is hysterical. They should cast her in more films.
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