Theater Camp was a perfect comedic film. Molly Gordon, Nick Lieberman and Noah Galvin have written a model script with deadpan humor and heart. The former two directed the film and let’s hope this trio will be the next Christopher Guest in creating a string of mockumentary style comedies. In this case, the title explains… Continue reading Theater Camp, Fire Comedy (as the kids say)
Category: comedy
Women Have Come a Long Way Barbie
Barbie, written (with the help of her “Ken”, Noah Baumbach) and directed by Greta Gerwig was a triumphant feat of creativity. To begin I’ll start with the many positive performances. Cast: Margot Robbie is perfect as Stereotypical Barbie, but possibly only due to the incredible writing and narration of Helen Mirren, who, visa vie Gerwig,… Continue reading Women Have Come a Long Way Barbie
No Hard Feelings: Bringin’ Back the Bawdy
Gene Stupnitsky (Picture Groucho Marx with a cigar saying, “With a last name like that you’ve got to have a sense of humor”) and John Phillips wrote No Hard Feelings with the former (Stupnitsky) directing the movie. They worked together on The Office and Stupnitsky also wrote and directed Bad Teacher, another guilty pleasure of… Continue reading No Hard Feelings: Bringin’ Back the Bawdy
The Return I Was Hoping For: W.A.’s Asteroid City
I’ve always enjoyed Wes Anderson with one exception, French Dispatch. And when I say exception, I hated the depressing black and white, couldn’t relate to any of the characters and the three stories amounted to an emotional zilch. But Wes Anderson, with the help of Roman Coppola, has returned to an artistically creative plateau with… Continue reading The Return I Was Hoping For: W.A.’s Asteroid City
In the Summer Movie Spouse Competition, Javier Wins
Penelope Cruz might be the prettier of the two, but Javier Bardem’s newest film The Good Boss is far better than Cruz’s Official Competition. Sorry Penny! And that’s saying something since I saw The Good Boss after a very long day: running 3 and a half miles, playing an hour and 15 minutes of tennis… Continue reading In the Summer Movie Spouse Competition, Javier Wins
Nick Cage: Commitment & Self-deprecation=Hall Pass
I consider this two year period my renaissance with Nick Cage. First he recaptured my heart with his understated, yet powerful role as washed up chef in Pig. Now, in a far lesser movie, The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, I have to give him a pass for humility and pure fun. The story is… Continue reading Nick Cage: Commitment & Self-deprecation=Hall Pass
Don’t Look Up But Get Down with Your Sense of Humor
Don’t Look Up written (with the help of David Sirota: Guardian Contributor Bernie’s Speech Writer 2020) and directed by Adam McKay consists of a more star studded cast than can be held in the sky reported on by scientists Leo DeCaprio and Jen Lawrence. You name him/her/they and they are also in the movie: Streep,… Continue reading Don’t Look Up But Get Down with Your Sense of Humor
French Dispatch, Just Ca Va
Wes Anderson’s French Dispatch reminds me of me when I’m trying to tell a long story or joke, I talk way too fast, lacking confidence or worried that the person’s listening is bored. So Wes, get thee to a therapist. You’re an artist, but you have to slow down the pace so we can enjoy… Continue reading French Dispatch, Just Ca Va
Sparks*: Joy! *as in The Sparks Brothers Doc
Edgar Wright (Baby Driver, Shaun of the Dead) has done me a great service by nudging me from Boomerism to The Sparks, a rock/pop/electronica duo who has been performing since the 1960’s. To say that the duo, two brothers, Ron and Russell Mael are creative is like saying Picasso used paint. Their avant-garde music was… Continue reading Sparks*: Joy! *as in The Sparks Brothers Doc
Just like a well crafted cocktail, Bad Trip is humorous taken one small dose at a time
I watched Bad Trip over the course of four or five evenings, like a nightly tonic of humor before bed. Hence, I disagree once again, with the fine NY Times critic Jeannette Catsoulis who probably took it all in one sitting. True, it’s the movie’s fault to not forewarn people about portion suggestions. Catsouils writes… Continue reading Just like a well crafted cocktail, Bad Trip is humorous taken one small dose at a time