Absolutely hilarious- one of the funniest movies of the 21st century
The laughs are layered in and it gets funnier with every rewatch — it was probably the fifth time I saw it before I started just randomly telling friends and strangers alike that “these empanadas are starting to sweat”
It doesn’t have all of Adam McKay’s marks of authorship (as we’d see later in The Big Short, Vice) but we start with a ludicrous quote like all of his films—and it’s about comically selfish and absurd characters.
It doesn’t have all of Adam McKay’s marks of authorship (as we’d see later in The Big Short, Vice) but we start with a ludicrous quote like all of his films
I like some of the twinning in the mise-en-scene like the wide shot during the titles and the overhead reoccurring shot of them talking in bed (not to mention the mirroring of the ridiculous T-shirt’s, perms, etc).
like some of the twinning in the mise-en-scene like the wide shot during the titles and the overhead reoccurring shot of them talking in bed (not to mention the mirroring of the ridiculous T-shirt’s, perms, etc).
McKay’s (this is after Anchorman, Talladega Nights) third pairing with Will Ferrell – they obviously feed off each other with the writing and the atmosphere of improvisation and second pairing of Ferrell with John C. Reilly. But it’s not just a two-man act. Reliable dramatic veterans like Mary Steenburgen and Richard Jenkins are great — as are standout comic performances by Kathryn Hahn and Adam Scott
@AP– good question. Tough to tell– it seems like a fair number. Like always, I follow the auteurs (and the companies that are supporting them right now like A24 and Netflix)- here’s 10-12 I’m dying to see. i’m sure i’m missing another 10-20
Christopher Nolan – Tenent
Wes Anderson – The French Dispatch
David Fincher – Netflix –Mank
Sofia Coppola – On the Rocks
Apichatpong Weerasethakul- Memoria
Koganada- After Yang
Leos Carax– Annette – Adam Driver, Marion Cotillard
Andrew Dominik – Blonde- Netflix
Spike Lee- Da 5 Bloods- Netflix
Villeneuve – Dune
Edgar Wright – Last Night in Soho
@AP– of course- exciting to look forward to. Not only am i missing some put stuff will pop up that just isn’t on our radar right now. I think Sundance starts soon, there’s usually some good films at the Berlin film festival — then it’s not long until we get the releases heading to Cannes.
Comedy is always tricky, particularly comedy that doesn’t attempt to transcend the genre. If a film is perhaps the most hilarious of the young century, does that not speak to triumphs of writing and performance that perhaps warrant higher estimation? A puzzler.
@Matt Harris…. hmmm. I mean that is a worthy debate. But I’d argue “funny” or “scary” doesn’t always translate to great art or cinema. Hereditary isn’t the best horror movie of the decade because it’s the scariest. And I love Step Brothers– but when you go to compare it with other works in 2008 — Nolan, Demme, James Gray, McQueen’s debut– and 2008 is a weak year compared to some others. I just can’t get Step Brothers past those (and then some) regardless of the laughs.
the one about welles and kane sounds super interesting and the fact fncher is directing looks fun. anyways have you seen el camino dir. vince gilligan. its really good, a follow up to breaking bad which is a masterful televison show.
Jesse Plemons is only in the last season of the show and I think he’s solid. I don’t feel he’s used entirely to his potential however. I remember you mentioning having seen the first season of Breaking Bad in a few places; I caught the whole show over a few months at the beginning of the pandemic and I think it’s worth watching.
What are you looking forward to in 2020? Doesn’t seem at first glance that there are many big films. What do you think?
@AP– good question. Tough to tell– it seems like a fair number. Like always, I follow the auteurs (and the companies that are supporting them right now like A24 and Netflix)- here’s 10-12 I’m dying to see. i’m sure i’m missing another 10-20
Christopher Nolan – Tenent
Wes Anderson – The French Dispatch
David Fincher – Netflix –Mank
Sofia Coppola – On the Rocks
Apichatpong Weerasethakul- Memoria
Koganada- After Yang
Leos Carax– Annette – Adam Driver, Marion Cotillard
Andrew Dominik – Blonde- Netflix
Spike Lee- Da 5 Bloods- Netflix
Villeneuve – Dune
Edgar Wright – Last Night in Soho
@ Drake. That is a very good list. Thank you.
@AP– of course- exciting to look forward to. Not only am i missing some put stuff will pop up that just isn’t on our radar right now. I think Sundance starts soon, there’s usually some good films at the Berlin film festival — then it’s not long until we get the releases heading to Cannes.
Comedy is always tricky, particularly comedy that doesn’t attempt to transcend the genre. If a film is perhaps the most hilarious of the young century, does that not speak to triumphs of writing and performance that perhaps warrant higher estimation? A puzzler.
@Matt Harris…. hmmm. I mean that is a worthy debate. But I’d argue “funny” or “scary” doesn’t always translate to great art or cinema. Hereditary isn’t the best horror movie of the decade because it’s the scariest. And I love Step Brothers– but when you go to compare it with other works in 2008 — Nolan, Demme, James Gray, McQueen’s debut– and 2008 is a weak year compared to some others. I just can’t get Step Brothers past those (and then some) regardless of the laughs.
the one about welles and kane sounds super interesting and the fact fncher is directing looks fun. anyways have you seen el camino dir. vince gilligan. its really good, a follow up to breaking bad which is a masterful televison show.
@m — I did catch El Camino– it’s solid. How good is Jesse Plemons?
Jesse Plemons is only in the last season of the show and I think he’s solid. I don’t feel he’s used entirely to his potential however. I remember you mentioning having seen the first season of Breaking Bad in a few places; I caught the whole show over a few months at the beginning of the pandemic and I think it’s worth watching.