Take 4: Four Random Comedies

The Talent Given Us (2004)

The Basics: A comedy/drama written and directed by Andrew Wagner, and starring his parents and two sisters. Kind of a strange casting decision, but I think he was looking for a realistic portrayal of an American family.

In 25 Words or Less: The parents of a reclusive Hollywood writer take a spontaneous cross-country trip to visit their son, dragging along their two daughters on the adventure.

Curt’s Take – Not a Priority: I didn’t realize until the end of the film that the writer/director threw his parents, Judy and Allen Wagner, into the main roles of this film…two folks who didn’t have any prior acting experience (that I can tell). Both of his sisters (Emily and Maggie) have had acting roles…and they all pretty much just play themselves in the film. To that end, this just kind of becomes an exploration of family issues, from fidelity and commitment to resentment and forgiveness…all while trapped in a minivan traveling across the nation from New Jersey to California. It feels real, I’ll give it that…and Wagner went to great ends to ensure that. But, was I entertained and sucked in? Not so much. I felt I was supposed to connect and empathize with his mom, Judy, but she is such a rollercoaster of emotions that she bounces back and forth between being relatable and slightly crazy. So, while it was an interesting approach…I can’t recommend it in good faith.

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Death at a Funeral (2007)

The Basics: A comedy starring Matthew MacFadyen and Keeley Hawes (both of the BBC’s MI-5). Also starring a bunch of other Brits, plus Alan Tudyk (of Serenity and Firefly) and Peter Dinklage (of The Station Agent). Rated R for language and drug content.

In 25 Words or Less: The death of Daniel’s father draws his extended dysfunctional family together, leading to one of the more interesting funerals any of them have ever attended.

Top IMDB Plot Keywords: Hallucination; Parking Space; Midget; Aunt

And I Quote: Jane: “Would you like a cup of tea, Sandra?” Sandra: “Tea can do many things, Jane, but it can't bring back the dead.”

Curt’s Take – Worth Considering: Truth be told, I do kind of have a thing for subtle British humor, so this was bound to be something I would enjoy. It’s a very good ensemble film, with several interwoven plotlines, clever writing and a subtle brand of comedy that permeates everything. All I can say is that if these sorts of things generally appeal to you, check it out…you’ll have a good time and come away smiling.

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Keeping Mum (2005)

The Basics: A dark comedy starring Kristin Scott Thomas, Maggie Smith, Rowan Atkinson and Patrick Swayze. Rated R for language and some sexual content/nudity.

In 25 Words or Less: The Goodfellows hire a new housekeeper, an elderly woman whose past holds a dark secret that begins to hold sway over their family and community.

Top IMDB Plot Keywords: Car; American Abroad; Blood; Animal in Cast Credits; Death

And I Quote: Petey Goodfellow: “Billy Martin's dead! Billy Martin's dead!” Gloria Goodfellow [whispering to Grace]: “Is Billy Martin really dead?” Grace Hawkins: “No, just unconscious. But don't tell Petey; he's very excited.”

Curt’s Take – Worth Considering: This was a lot of fun. Again, a British comedy, so that was a check in the “plus” column. And I also like dark comedies, so that’s two for two. The idea of an elderly woman you don’t want to cross, especially as played by the excellent Maggie Smith, was reminiscent of Arsenic and Old Lace, but with a bit more edge. Again, would recommend checking this one out.

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Stranger than Fiction (2006)

The Basics: A comedy/drama/fantasy, starring Will Ferrell, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Emma Thompson, Dustin Hoffman and Queen Latifah. Rated PG-13 for some disturbing images, sexuality, brief language and nudity.

In 25 Words or Less: Harold Crick wakes up one day to find that a mysterious voice is narrating his life…and predicting his demise.

Top IMDB Plot Keywords: IRS Agent; Brushing Teeth; Surreal; Car in Water

Random Trivia: While filming, Will Ferrell had an earpiece that fed him Emma Thompson's narrative line in order to ensure the other actors reacted more naturally to Ferrell's seemingly non-sequitur reactions and lines.

And I Quote: Dr. Hilbert: “Well is it possible at one time that you were made of stone, wood, lye, varied corpse parts? Or, earth made holy by rabbinical elders?” Harold: “No. Look, look. I'm sorry, but what do these questions have to do with anything?” Dr. Hilbert: “Nothing. The only way to find out what story you're in is to determine what stories you're not in. Odd as it may seem, I've just ruled out half of Greek literature, seven fairy tales, ten Chinese fables, and determined conclusively that you are not King Hamlet, Scout Finch, Miss Marple, Frankenstein's Monster, or a golem. Hmm? Aren't you relieved to know you're not a golem?” Harold: “Yes. I am relieved to know that I am not a golem.” Dr. Hilbert: “Good. Do you have magical powers?”

Curt’s Take – Must See: Saying I’m not a Will Ferrell fan is like saying that PETA wouldn’t exactly take to Cruella DeVille’s approach to fashion. A bit of an understatement. To that end, choosing to sit through this was a big step for me. Many folks had recommended I check this out, though, so figured I’d give it a shot. And they were right. It was great to see that Will Ferrell could tackle a somewhat serious role. The story was fantastical and surreal enough for me to really get into, and you come to really care about the characters...and to question whether or not to think of them as “characters.” It’s really quite meta. And you should see it.

Take 4 TV: Touched

Touching Evil: Season 1 (1997)

The Basics: A crime/drama from the UK starring Robson Green and Nicola Walker. It also aired on PBS’s program Mystery! The first season is comprised of three two-hour long episodes, each split into two parts.

What’s Going On?: Detective Inspector Dave Creegan works for (and helped establish) the Organized and Serial Crimes Unit in London, which focuses on…well…organized and serial crimes. After getting shot in the head, surviving, and taking a leave of absence, Creegan comes back to the OSC, only to find that many of the faces have changed. He still takes his job seriously, though, and his co-workers soon come to find that, if Creegan’s on the case, justice will be served…one way or another.

Top IMDB Plot Keywords: Murder; Police; TV Mini-Series

Life Lessons from Touching Evil: 1) Dogs are man’s best friend. Usually. 2) Near-death experiences are better than dead experiences. 3) Acid and video games don’t mix.

Curt’s Take – Worth Considering: I really grew to immediately like the characters as I was watching the first disc of this series. I got sucked into the mystery, too...the mystery of a serial kidnapper. While I was less enthralled by the next two discs, they were still engaging, containing a good mix of mystery, character development, and the continuation of previous storylines. There’s nothing that really sets this crime drama significantly apart, device-wise, from other shows on television…it’s just great casting, directing and writing. I’d check it out.

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Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Touch of Satan (1998)

The Basics: Mystery Science Theater 3000 (or MST3K, as it’s known by fans) is a television show starring a humble janitor, stranded on a satellite in space by mad scientists, and forced to watch some of the worst movies of all time as part of their evil experiments. Mike, the janitor, built a couple robot pals to help pass the time, keep him company, and join him in mercilessly mocking the movies that are meant to torture him.

What’s Going On?: In this episode, Pearl (the mad scientist) has to leave her humble castle, placing a babysitter in charge of her henchmen…and in charge of delivering this episodes stinker of a movie, The Touch of Satan, to Mike, Crow, and Tom (Mike’s two robot friends). The Touch of Satan is a lovely little gem where a young man, traveling the country, stops at a lonely walnut ranch for some rest, only to find that evil resides on this nut farm. The three weather the film, in spite of an appearance made by Tom’s psychotic great-grandmother.

Top IMDB Plot Keywords: Babysitter; Ape; Good Versus Evil; Android; Mad Scientist

Life Lessons from The Touch of Satan: 1) Fire isn’t good for one’s complexion. 2) Some great-grandmothers are better left locked in the attic. 3) A little touch of Satan goes a long way.

And I Quote: Jodie [a character in the movie]: “Does your father mind if I skip rocks across his pond?” Melissa [also in the movie]: “You'll have to ask him. Is that your car?” Jodie: “Yeah.” Mike [mocking Melissa]: “Mind if I skip rocks across it?”

Curt’s Take – Not a Priority: I’ve reviewed several episodes of MST3K before. This one was okay. There have been funnier, there have been worse. If you’re going to catch the show (and I highly recommend that you do), I’d start with a different episode, such as Mitchell or Pod People.

Take 4: Spectrum

In honor of Bastille Day last month (July 14), below is a review of the French Trois Couleurs trilogy. Well…to be honest…I watched these films and wrote up this review sometime in mid-June, and am finally getting around to sending it out now. But…it would definitely have been appropriate for the French holiday. Oh…plus one more film to round out the quartet. Thanks to Matt for recommending the trilogy.

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Blue (1993)

The Basics: The first installment in the Three Colors trilogy, this French drama stars Juliette Binoche, plays with subtitles, and is unrated…but I’d guess it would get a PG-13 rated if it was released in theaters in the U.S. (maybe even a PG). Not much in the way of violence, language, sexuality, etc.

What’s Going On?: Julie, her husband (a famous composer) and her young daughter are in a terrible car accident, leaving Julie a childless widow. Never fully confronting her grief, Julie resigns herself to disconnecting from the world around her, living in solitude and anonymity in busy downtown Paris. This turns out to be more difficult than she first imagines, as life continues on around her, drawing her into the lives of those she encounters. Will she be able to cope with her loss, or will she completely detach from society and vanish in a spiral of despair?

Top IMDB Plot Keywords: Polish; Part of Trilogy; Color in Title; Death of Daughter; Death of Husband

Random Trivia: The trilogy explores the meaning behind the three colors of the French flag…liberty, equality, and fraternity. In Blue, writer/director Krzysztof Kieslowski interprets “liberty” as “being free from anything and everything, having no ties and no commitments to anyone.”

And I Quote: Julie: “Now I have only one thing left to do: nothing. I don't want any belongings, any memories. No friends, no love. Those are all traps.”

Curt’s Take – Not a Priority (w/Caveat): First off, this isn’t an extremely exciting film. It’s a pretty basic drama, and not much of an emotional rollercoaster. The artistic use of color, though, was extremely interesting. The color blue, for example, is used quite frequently…often to depict moments of isolation. Shots will be set up so that blue, white and red appear concurrently or one after another. So, for this movie on its own, I’d give this a rating of Not a Priority, but in actuality, you should likely watch it. Why? Read on.

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White (1994)

The Basics: The second installment in the Three Colors trilogy, starring Zbigniew Zamachowki (seriously) and Julie Delpy is a comedy/drama. Again, this has subtitles, but this time because it’s in both Polish and French. Again, thinking this would get a PG-13.

What’s Going On?: Karol Karol, a Polish hairdresser and immigrant to France, isn’t sure how to handle the fact that his new bride, Dominque, wants a divorce…just because he’s having trouble performing in bed. He ends up traveling back to Warsaw, re-establishing himself in his profession…and through uncharacteristic risk and guile, ends up advancing pretty rapidly up the socioeconomic ladder. But through all this, he can’t help but think about Dominque...

Top IMDB Plot Keywords: Cuckold; Thieves; Sex Scene; Telephone Call; Part of Trilogy

Random Trivia: Although almost every shot in the film contains at least one white object, the color itself doesn’t hold symbolic significance, as the colors blue and red do in the other movies of the trilogy. Indeed, here, white is more used to represent an absence of color.

And I Quote: Karol Karol [pointing a gun at a man who wants help committing suicide]: “That was a blank. The next one's real. Are you sure?”

Curt’s Take – Worth Considering: I really enjoyed this one…especially compared to Blue. You almost immediately feel sympathy for Karol, the main character, and want nothing more for him than for him to succeed. The tone is also completely different than in Blue…ironically, White is sort of a dark comedy. And this is where the “equality” sort of comes into play: Karol Karol hasn’t exactly been treated fairly since he left Poland for France…and what better way to gain equality than through revenge?

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Red (1994)

The Basics: The final installment of the Three Colors trilogy, a drama starring Irene Jacob and Jean-Louis Trintignant, with subtitles. Would peg this as a PG-13 film, as well.

What’s Going On?: Valentine, a young commercial model living in France, accidentally hits a dog with her car. She tracks down the owner, and finds him to be 1) a recluse, 2) a retired judge, and 3) listening in on the phone conversations of his neighbors through sophisticated surveillance equipment. At first she is disgusted with his actions, but then slowly comes to learn more about the man behind the façade, and they grow to become good friends (“fraternity”).

Top IMDB Plot Keywords: Color in Title; Trilogy; Part of Trilogy; Geneva, Switzerland

Random Trivia: This was the final movie for filmmaker Krzysztof Kieslowski. After completion, he stated that he felt there was nothing left for him to say.

And I Quote: Valentine: “I feel something important is happening around me. And it scares me.”

Curt’s Take – Must See: For something that is pretty much a straight-up drama with a romantic bent, I was surprised how much I fell in love with this film. The use of the color red throughout the movie is both eye-catching and breathtaking, while the story of a simple, good-hearted woman ends up evolving into something much, much more. The story grows slowly, capturing you, and by the time it reaches the end, you’re just sitting there in rapt attention. But now the tough part…this IS a trilogy and you do get the most out of this by seeing all three films. So, my advice: sit through Blue…to enjoy White…and ultimately really, really get sucked into Red.

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Colors (1988)

The Basics: A crime drama starring Sean Penn and Robert Duvall, as well as Maria Conchita Alonso, Don Cheadle and Damon Wayans; While the rating isn’t listed online, this has to be Rated R – we’re talking nudity, language, violence, drug use…the works.

What’s Going On?: A newcomer to the LAPD, Danny McGavin, gets partnered up with long-time veteran, Bob Hodges. Their job? To patrol the mean streets of Los Angeles and put an end to the gang warfare between the Bloods (wearing red) and the Crips (wearing blue). No easy task.

Top IMDB Plot Keywords: Buddy Cop; Rap Music; Graffiti; Cop; Female Nudity

Random Trivia: Perhaps not that surprisingly, Sean Penn was arrested and spent close to a month in jail after hitting an extra on the set of this film who was taking snapshots of Penn without his permission.

And I Quote: Dr. Feelgood: “Hey man, these handcuffs are too tight.” Danny McGavin: “Well they ain't built for comfort, pal.”

Curt’s Take – Worth Considering: I wasn’t expecting too much from this one…the dated rap music during the opening credits was especially hard to take seriously. It proved, however, to be a decent “buddy film,” not unlike the Lethal Weapon series (although less funny). In addition, for it being early in his career, Sean Penn does a pretty good job in this role. It paints a pretty grim picture of the fight against street violence in Los Angeles, but the fact that at different points you start feeling pangs of sympathy for different gang factions…well, it’s something worth checking out.