Category Archives: Comedy

2013 Films, Biography, Comedy, Crime Drama, Dark Comedy, Drama, Epic

The Wolf of Wall Street-2013

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The Wolf of Wall Street-2013

Director Martin Scorsese

Starring Leonardo DiCaprio

Scott’s Review #33

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Reviewed June 17, 2014 

Grade: A

Martin Scorsese’s latest offering, The Wolf of Wall Street (2013), is a tale of overindulgence, chaos, and debauchery in the world of stockbroking during the 1980s.

The film is superb.

It is a drug-filled, sex-filled, over-the-top, loud, testosterone-fueled, frenetic extravaganza that works on so many levels.

Humorous, jaw-dropping scenes occur throughout the film.

The casting is flawless- Leonardo DiCaprio and Jonah Hill deserve the praise and Oscar nominations heaped on them.

The supporting actors are perfect- Rob Reiner, Matthew McConaughey, Jean Dujardin, and Kyle Chandler.

With Scorsese, you get an intelligent film, though it’s very R-rated.

It’s similar in style to another of his masterpieces, Goodfellas (1990), as it is narrated by the main character (DiCaprio).

Comparisons to the 1987 film Wall Street are silly. This film is much deeper, grittier, and frankly, much better.

Do not let the unfathomable running time of three hours discourage you- the time goes by very fast.

Oscar Nominations: Best Picture, Best Director-Martin Scorsese, Best Actor-Leonardo DiCaprio, Best Supporting Actor-Jonah Hill, Best Adapted Screenplay

2013 Films, Comedy, Dark Comedy, Drama

August: Osage County-2013

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August: Osage County-2013

Director John Wells

Starring Meryl Streep

Scott’s Review #32

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Reviewed June 17, 2014

Grade: B+

Based on the play of the same name, August: Osage County (2013) is a family drama/dark comedy led by the incomparable Meryl Streep.

The family reunites after the patriarch disappears, and drama and sniping ensue quickly.

The stifling-hot Oklahoma setting works well and adds a smothering, suffocating feel to the film, much like many of the characters.

It’s a bleak, depressing film, and reminded me of Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf (1966), or A Streetcar Named Desire (1951) in tone.

This film has exceptional acting all around, especially Streep and Julia Roberts, as well as Chris Cooper and Margo Martindale.

It’s a raw, angry movie, and the intensity builds throughout.

Oscar Nominations: Best Actress-Meryl Streep, Best Supporting Actress-Julia Roberts

2013 Films, Black & White, Comedy, Drama, Independent, Independent Comedy, Independent Drama

Nebraska-2013

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Nebraska-2013

Director Alexander Payne

Starring Bruce Dern

Scott’s Review #31

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Reviewed June 17, 2014

Grade: B+

Deservedly earning a handful of Oscar nominations, Nebraska (2013) tells the story of a senior citizen who mistakenly believes he has won a million dollars.

He is determined to travel from Montana to Nebraska to collect the coveted prize.

On the surface, this film sounds like a downer, and the black-and-white cinematography does wonders to set an atmosphere of coldness and bleakness in the wintry Midwest.

There are moments of humor, and little-known June Squibb is a delight as the saucy wife of lead actor Bruce Dern, also wonderful as boozy, curmudgeonly Woody Grant.

A few unnecessary Midwestern stereotypes, commonplace in director Alexander Payne’s films, make this a heartbreaking, comical experience worth watching.

Oscar Nominations: Best Picture, Best Director-Alexander Payne, Best Actor-Bruce Dern, Best Supporting Actress-June Squibb, Best Original Screenplay, Best Cinematography

Independent Spirit Award Nominations: 1 win-Best Feature, Best Director-Alexander Payne, Best Male Lead-Bruce Dern, Best Supporting Male-Will Forte, Best Supporting Female-June Squibb, Best First Screenplay (won)

2013 Films, Comedy, Drama, Independent, Independent Comedy, Independent Drama, Independent Romantic Comedy, Romantic Comedy, Romantic Drama

Don Jon-2013

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Don Jon-2013

Director Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Scarlett Johansson, Julianne Moore

Scott’s Review #27

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Reviewed June 17, 2014

Grade: B+

 I did not expect Don Jon (2013) to be as good as it is.

Frankly, I was expecting a by-the-numbers romantic comedy.

Written, directed by, and starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, it tells the story of a twenty-something New Jersey bartender who is addicted to porn despite receiving all the female attention he can imagine.

Scarlett Johansson and Julianne Moore play two completely different women in his life.

The film contains stereotypical, though hilarious and spot-on, New Jersey trademarks. Tony Danza is effective as the brash father.

In the last thirty minutes, the film turns into a wonderful, yet hardly sappy or traditional, love story that makes Don Jon (2013) a positive experience.

Gordon-Levitt is a breath of fresh air and a young Hollywood talent getting the recognition he deserves.

Independent Spirit Award Nominations: Best First Screenplay

2013 Films, Camp, Comedy, Independent, Independent Comedy, International, International Comedy, Spanish

I’m So Excited-2013

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I’m So Excited-2013

Director Pedro Almodovar

Starring Javier Cámara, Antonio de la Torre

Scott’s Review #25

Reviewed June 17, 2014

Grade: B-

The latest offering by superb Spanish director Pedro Almodovar, who directed the brilliantly disturbing The Skin I Live In (2011) a few years ago, returns with a vast departure.

He delves into a campy, lighthearted yarn about a group of passengers and crew aboard a troubled flight in I’m So Excited (2013).

The group turns to booze and drugs to console themselves, and a circus ensues.

Someone described this as the gay Airplane! (1980), and that is fitting. Everyone on board is gay, bi-curious, or otherwise sexually confused, and the one-liners keep coming.

The premise sounds hysterical, but sadly, the film does not measure up to expectations.

FYI: I felt Airplane! was overrated.

Funny moments, but the “over-the-topness” was too much to take remotely seriously and somehow did not hold my attention throughout.

Not Almodóvar’s best work by a long shot.

1973 Films, Comedy, Drama, Musical, Musical Comedy, Musical Drama, New York City

Godspell-1973

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Godspell-1973

Director David Greene

Starring Victor Garber, David Haskell

Scott’s Review #23

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Reviewed June 17, 2014

Grade: B

Although Godspell (1973) is a popular and legendary Broadway musical production, the film left me with very mixed reactions.

The positives for me are the songs- they are memorable, and they stay in your head for days to come.

My absolute favorite is “Day by Day”.

I also enjoy the cast traveling throughout NYC, as I love it when films are set here.

For the first thirty minutes of the film, I did not get it at all.

There is no plot, but simply a group of college-aged people leaving their crummy jobs and celebrating Jesus as they aimlessly flit about the city, with nobody else in sight, singing songs of salvation and celebration.

Then I realized this is not a “message” movie or an attempt to convert people to religion. Many devout Christians despise the film.

The film left me with questions.

Is it tongue-in-cheek or meant to be taken seriously?

By the end of the film, I took it for a fun musical with great songs. It offers nothing more, nothing less.

2012 Films, Comedy, Independent, Independent Comedy

Bachelorette-2012

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Bachelorette-2012

Director Leslye Headland

Starring Kirsten Dunst, Lizzy Caplan, Isla Fisher

Scott’s Review #22

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Reviewed June 17, 2014

Grade: D

I’m not sure how to pinpoint exactly what is wrong with Bachelorette (2012) except for just about everything.

It tries to be a Bridesmaids (2011) meets Hangover (2009) copycat but fails miserably. What made those films entertaining was that they were funny.

This film attempts many jokes and falls flat almost every time. The set-ups are there, but there is no follow-through.

Almost every character is unlikable and hateful to everyone else, and there is nobody to root for.

Worse yet, the film is bland. Dumb comedies are not my favorite genre, but this was lackluster.

I adore Kirsten Dunst, but sadly she picked a dud she’s likely soon to forget. Isla Fisher seems to always be in films like this, and the male actors (James Marsden, Adam Scott) have little to do.

The talented cast is wasted, and Bachelorette (2012) is not worth seeing.

1988 Films, Comedy, Horror, Horror-Camp, Horror-Comedy

The Lair of the White Worm-1988

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The Lair of the White Worm-1988

Director Ken Russell

Starring Amanda Donohoe, Hugh Grant

Scott’s Review #15

Reviewed June 17, 2014

Grade: C+

The Lair of the White Worm (1988) is a very strange film.

Set in Scotland, it tells the tale of a giant snake skeleton unearthed in the ground, which leads to a series of strange events.

A wealthy Lady, brilliantly played by Amanda Donohue, begins a sinister plot to sacrifice the townspeople.

The film is campy and way over the top, though Donohue is delicious and seems to have fun with the role of a slithering, sexy, bisexual creature.

The gloomy ambiance is fantastic, mixed with many psychedelic sequences that are entertaining.

It’s a somewhat fun, late-night B-movie, to be sure, but the plot did not seem to make much sense to me, especially in the final act.

Lair of the White Worm (1988) is a trippy experience to say the very least.

I may need to see it again.

1972 Films, Best International Film Oscar Winners, Comedy, Dark Comedy, French, International, Satire

The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie-1972

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The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie-1972

Director Luis Buñuel

Starring Fernando Rey, Paul Frankeur

Scott’s Review #13

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Reviewed June 17, 2014

Grade: A-

The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie (1972) is a wonderful French satire by Director Luis Buñuel.

The movie is very strange- three well-to-do couples meander from dinner party to dinner party and, due to circumstances beyond their control (an incorrect date, a mysterious corpse, and a military raid), never end up sitting down and enjoying a meal together.

Their wealth is a bit vague, though there is mention of drug smuggling.

It’s unclear who is matched with whom, since frolicking among them is commonplace. Several of them experience odd fantasy/dream sequences throughout and are often seen wandering down the road.

The entire film is tongue-in-cheek, poking fun at the wealthy class.

It’s offbeat but delightful.

Oscar Nominations: 1 win-Best Screenplay Based on Factual Material or Material Not Previously Produced or Published, Best Foreign Language Film (won)

Golden Globe Nominations: Best Foreign Film (Foreign Language)

1960 Films, Best Picture Oscar Winners, Best Picture-Comedy or Musical Golden Globe Winners, Comedy, Drama, New York City, Romantic Comedy, Romantic Drama

The Apartment-1960

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The Apartment-1960

Director Billy Wilder

Starring Jack Lemmon, Shirley MacLaine

Scott’s Review #7

Reviewed June 17, 2014

Grade: A-

The Apartment (1960) is another gem by Billy Wilder (Sunset Boulevard-1950, The Lost Weekend-1946).

This one is set in 1959 New York City, a setting and period I adore.

The black-and-white images effectively portray the loneliness and bleakness of the characters, who are all friendless, sad, and starved for love.

It questions social morality and getting ahead in the corporate world but goes from drama to romantic comedy with no sappiness.

Quite the contrary, as the film has dark moments of despair and angst.

The film influenced the television series “Mad Men”. As with most Billy Wilder films, there is a darkness of humanity, which is fascinating to watch.

Jack Lemmon and Shirley MacLaine are terrific, but their chemistry is lacking. Despite this, the film is still excellent.

The Apartment (1960) won the Best Picture Oscar.

Oscar Nominations: 5 wins-Best Motion Picture (won), Best Director-Billy Wilder (won), Best Actor-Jack Lemmon, Best Actress-Shirley MacLaine, Best Supporting Actor-Jack Kruschen, Best Story and Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen (won), Best Sound, Best Art Direction, Black-and-White (won), Best Cinematography, Black-and-White, Best Film Editing (won)

Golden Globe Nominations: 3 wins-Best Picture-Comedy (won), Best Director-Billy Wilder, Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture-Musical or Comedy-Jack Lemmon (won), Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role-Musical or Comedy-Shirley MacLaine (won)