Ghetto Tim is a film loving dude who always makes interesting choices and has cool stuff to day about most any kind of movie:
You can read him here:
http://cinemasatori.wordpress.com/
Comedy is a very subjective beast. What may tickle the funny bone of one man may also dislocate that of another. It comes at us from all angles, and from varying perspectives, yet in the end succeeds in making us snicker, and sometimes laughing at the most inappropriate moments. While we can all share in laughter, we vary in the subjects that we find humorous. To some, a romantic comedy is about as funny as a prostate exam. Then there’s those who could never understand the comedic genius of Monty Python. To each their own, but at least a hope in the end that you find laughter in something.
1. The Castle (1997)-Rob Sitch
Here’s one that’s distinctly
Australian, and buries all hackneyed notions of chugging Foster’s
lager, and throwing that proverbial shrimp on the barbie. The Castle is a
film about the little guy who stands up to the system, and believes he
will prevail at the end of the day, regardless of the cost. The Kerrigan
family live in a small house near the Melbourne airport, and are
pressed by developers to uproot, and let the airport expand. Never to be
one to comply, the family hires a cheapo lawyer to represent them
against the developers. With the useless lawyer in tow, the Kerrigan’s
go forward to plant a swift foot in the backside of big business, and
keep their homestead. While the plot carries dramatic elements at its
core, it is pure comedy to see simpleton Darryl Kerrigan and his brood
stick it to the man, and plant a flag in the place they call
home. This film is littered with memorable dialogue that’s up there
alongside, ‘Withnail and I’. Despite being set in Australia, in the end
it’s a universal story that will bring some solid belly laughs. Highly
recommended.
2. Freaked (1993) – Alex Winter/Tom Stern
In
the annals of film history there are those specific projects that some
would dub, ‘miracle films’. It was a miracle that they found a budget.
It was a miracle the cast signed on to it. It was a miracle they even
made the damn thing to begin with. In 1993, just two years after
completing the, ‘Bill and Ted’ sequel, Alex Winter, and writing partner
Tom Stern directed one of the greatest, ‘miracle films’ of all time.
Driven by the visual styling of big daddy Roth, and Basil Wolverton, and
the zany insanity of Mad Magazine, Winter and Stern did the incredible,
and spewed, their insane film ‘Freaked’ across the screen. While the
idea of a major studio bankrolling an 11 million dollar film based on a
circus sideshow of freaks led by Randy Quaid sounds ludicrous to begin
with, it says nothing when compared to the cast. Brooke Shields, Bobcat
Goldthwait as a sock puppet, Mr. T as a bearded woman, and Keanu Reeves
in an un-credited role as ‘Ortiz’ the dog boy. The whole film comes
across as a living comic book, and a kaleidoscopic glue sniffing tribute
to Todd Browning’s legendary film, ‘Freaks’. This film not only has its
tongue planted firmly in cheek, but also in its ear, and up its nose.
If you’re the kind of person who would laugh watching a clown blow up
balloon animals with his ass, then, ‘Freaked’ is for you. Must be seen to be believed.
3. The Magic Christian (1969) Joseph Mcgrath
Written
in 1969 by Terry Southern (Screenwriter of Easy Rider, and Dr
Strangelove), ‘The Magic Christian’ is an odd feather in the career of
Peter Sellers, but a cult classic nonetheless. The main notions of the
film play out as more cutting today than they did at the time of its
release. Peter Sellers plays British millionaire, ‘Sir Guy Grand’, who
adopts homeless vagabond Ringo Starr, as the heir to his fortune.
Throughout the film Grand and his son play the role of, ‘Merry
Pranksters’, and set out to ridicule and expose the vile and selfish
nature of the capitalist elite. Through the guise of holding events
and charities, Sellers sets up the gullible public to prove just how
greedy and immoral they truly are. At one point he has people wade
through filth like pigs in a pen, just to grab easy money. There’s no
doubt that Terry Southern succeeded in writing one of the most scathing
social diatribes set to film. On the other hand, ‘The Magic Christian’,
also picks up a lot of influence from the Marx brothers, and the
screwball comedies of the past that rolled from one gag into the next. A
personal favorite, and a mandatory watch for Sellers fanatics.
4. Jabberwocky (1977) Terry Gilliam
While
many felt that Python’s, ‘Holy Grail’ was the end all and be all of
medieval comedies, Python alumnus Terry Gilliam set out to prove that
there was more laughter to be mined out of the dark ages. Just two years
after his directorial debut with ‘Grail’ Terry Gilliam tackled,
‘Jabberwocky’, a loose interpretation of the immortal Lewis Carrol poem.
With Michael Palin as the lead as the bumbling Dennis Cooper, Gilliam
presents an unlikely hero thrown amidst a shit caked filth ridden dark
ages.
The biggest stumbling block with, ‘Jabberwocky’ is that it
is too often eclipsed by, ‘Grail’, and is seen as an inferior film in
comparison. Truth be told, while, ‘Monty Python and the Holy Grail’ was a
film basically comprised of hilarious skits, ‘Jabberwocky’ is more of
an actual tale, and shares it’s focus on humor, along with horror and
fantasy. This is the film that let Gilliam unleash his fevered
imagination, and he truly got into the muck and mire that he loves.
While Python fanatics will generally still cling to, ‘Grail’, there’s a
lot of humor to be found here that many still overlook.
5. Run Ronnie Run (2002) Troy Miller.
Leave
it to David Cross, and Bob Odenkirk, the brains behind, ‘Mr Show’, to
take a swipe at reality tv, and the cult of celebrity with, ‘Run Ronnie
Run’. David Cross plays, ‘Ronnie Dobbs’, a trailer park waste case who
gains media attention by being
arrested multiple times on a
reality tv. police series. The, ‘Ronnie Dobbs’ character initially
evolved from a skit on the, ‘Mr Show’ series, and Cross and Odenkirk do
manage to expand on Ronnie’s exploits and his rise to Hollywood stardom,
and his eventual fall. Bob Odenkirk is particularly funny playing,
‘Terry Twillstein’, Ronnie’s conniving British manager. One surprising
aspect of the film is the staggering number of cameos throughout,
ranging from Jeff Goldblum, and Mandy Patankin, to Jack Black doing a
crass Mary Poppins musical number.
‘Run Ronnie Run’ is not a
film everyone is going to appreciate, as the style of humor is geared
towards those who loved, ‘Mr Show’, in the first place, but if you give
it a chance, you’ll find that the film is packed with memorable quotes,
and little nuggets of ‘so stupid it hurts’ humor. I’m not afraid to say I
enjoyed this one, where many may find it a bit too low brow.
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Favorite Underrated Comedies - Ghetto Tim
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ghetto tim,
underrated comedies
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