A Little Blacklighting for the Soul
Sep 12 '02 (Updated Sep 13 '02)
The Bottom Line Black Comedies are an aquired taste, rather like Dark Chocolate. Probably not good for you, but tasty in a sinful sort of way. :)
What is a black comedy? Hmmm, a good question not so easily defined. To me, a black comedy is one which pokes fun at our human foibles and failings often taking them to extremes, or one that takes something that by all standards of good manners and polite behavior is NOT funny, and makes you laugh anyway! Wasn't it George Carlin who said the best laughter is suppressed laughter? Like when you are kneeling by the casket? That's black humor.
It seems to me, either you love this form or you hate it. I have never known anyone who feels half-hearted either way when it comes to this style of comedy. Me, I started early as a James Thurber fanatic, and just carried that appreciation over into films. If you have never laughed at the dark side of life, you may wish to skip this review altogether. If however, you are looking for something dark and Non-fattening for your Trick-or-Treat bag this Halloween season, you may want to see if there are a few black gems waiting here for you!
If I could ever rate any movie genre from 10 - 1, the first two movies here would STILL be tied for first place...
1.WAR OF THE ROSES:
A man walks into a lawyer's office looking for a divorce, and the lawyer tells him he has to be SURE this is what he really wants.So, the lawyer begins to tell him the story of Mr. and Mrs. Rose...
We watch them meet, fall in love, and get married. Mr.Rose works hard and rises in his business. They have children...overweight, demanding, ungrateful children, but still the standard P.C. number and distribution of 1 boy, 1 girl. We see Mrs. Rose get the Home of her dreams and as the years pass, her children grow up, her husband moves further into his career, and she creates the vision she has always imagined this home could be, but ... then what?
Where do you go in life when you are locked into what everyone else in your life perceives you to be? She must act just SO for the dinners with clients and bosses, and only THIS way for her children. Trapped in her Rapunzel life, Mrs. Rose begins to branch out with a catering business. However, it does not alleviate the pressure that has built up inside her, nor does it change the attitudes of those who have kept her in this "tower" for all these years. Mrs. Rose begins to grow thorns!
What begins as your average domestic dispute escalates to proportions hitherto unheard of either in legend or in any episode of COPS! Their sharp tongues, deadly aim, and battle tactics just get bigger, grander and better while you alternately laugh and cringe! You keep thinking, "This has to stop, right?". Well, by the time they have divided the house between them and their lawyer friend (the narrator, remember?) is trying to express his concern to Mr. Rose - who replies, "I have more square footage!" with a maniacal gleam in his eye, you can be assured it has all edged into the realm of madness!
This one is SO deserving of a number one spot for black comedy just because they carry it all the way through to the very last scene, but then there is ....
2.THE LIFE OF BRIAN:
A gem of a movie from Monty Python. Set in the biblical era, we follow our hero(?) Brian from his birth to his death in a series of unlikely, but highly amusing and even enlightening escapades. He begins life by having the Three Wise Men arrive mistaking him for the Messiah. They take back the gifts when they realize their mistake, of course! His is truly a life story of always being in the right place at the wrong time, or is it the Wrong place at the Right time?
If you have never seen, or heard of this film I suggest you check out some of the excellent reviews written here on epinions. I simply can't do justice to this one in a top ten list.Put most simply, it pokes a lot of fun at peoples' willingness to be blindly following sheep, especially when it comes to religion or politics!
My favorite scene is where a crowd decides he is another Prophet and they not only latch on to different things as being "what He wants us to do" and begin arguing, they chase him down for further explanations!
So, why do I feel it vies for first place? Brian ends his life by being crucified, but he also ends with a song!
Always look on the Bright side of Death!
Just before you draw your terminal breath!..."
"Cheer up, you silly old bugger!"the fellow hanging next to him says,
"You come from nothing, you return to nothing, so what have you lost?.....NOTHING!"
Let's continue with the list, shall we?
3.ROSENCRANTZ AND GUILDENSTERN ARE DEAD!:
Be warned, this is NOT an easy tale to follow, but it is well worth the effort! Rarely are we treated to such an intellectual film with such unrelenting dark humor!
Two men ride along a road to...well, they aren't sure where... or why... or Gee, come to think of it, they aren't even really sure WHO they are! "We were summoned, I remember that much" says Rosencrantz...or is he Guildenstern? They meet The Tragedians, a band of actors from the city, who offer them some entertainment.
"We can give you blood and lust, blood and rhetoric, blood and comedy, or all three! But we cannot give you lust, rhetoric, or comedy without the blood..Blood is compulsory!"
In which they may participate...for a small fee. So, the ride begins! This is the tale of Hamlet as seen through the eyes of two very minor characters in this Shakespearian play, or were they perhaps the ONLY characters?
Done in a bit of a surreal style, people who already have difficulty following Shakespeare's works may get completely lost here. For ardent fans however, this one is a Must! The verbal tennis match is a definite highlight not to be missed! Possibly one of my all-time favorite films.
4.HERO:
Dustin Hoffman plays the incorrigible and unlucky Bernie LaPlante, small time crook. Hurrying from his court case (after duping his novice attorney out of yet more money), Bernie tries to make it to his ex-wife's house to spend some quality time with his much loved son. Fate ties him up though when his car stalls next to the bridge where a plane load of people crash! Reluctantly, Bernie lends a helping hand, but removes his shoes first because Hey, they are very expensive shoes!
After being trampled by the panicked passengers, Bernie gets further roped in by a small boy's plea to find his father who is still trapped on the plane. Bernie pulls out an amazing number of people looking for this one man and one of the passengers saved is Gale Gayley(Geena Davis), ace reporter. Bernie steals her purse in the process, and disappears into the night leaving behind only a single shoe. A rather crude, gruff, blackened, bedraggled, unscrupulous Cinderella!
He hitches a ride with a gentle Vietnam vet (Andy Garcia)living on the edge of homelessness, who ends up taking his shoe and ALL his glory! A million dollar reward offered by Gale's TV station! Who would ever believe that Bernie is the real Hero?! Certainly not his ex! Amusingly played by Joan Cusak. One of the rare performances where she does NOT play opposite John, but that's ok, Bernie's attorney is played by another sibling, Susie Cusak!
Touching, amusing, and yet still a dark comedy, this is another example where they don't really end on an up note! This 1992 release may be one you over looked!
My favorite scene- When his ex is so mad at him she doesn't even comment on his extremely bedraggled appearance for like 5 minutes, she just starts laying into him. Suddenly she pauses as if just noticing his appearance and immediately after asking him what happened to him says, "Never mind! I don't want to know!" and then starts to lay into him again!
5.ELECTION:
Tracy Flick (Reese Witherspoon)is one of those people that every school has at least ONE of- too perfect, too driven, and just a little too deceptively perky! She is running unopposed for class president until Jim McCallister (Matthew Broderick) a teacher who believes in ethics, and is convinced that something sinister lies behind Tracy's smile decides to take a hand by encouraging a popular football player to run also. Let the games begin!
The heights, or depths to which these two sink and the madness that ensues is nearly as viscious and as quick as any Presidential campaign! Nice guys finish last, and people far more demented and seemingly Perfect than Tracy somehow always end up on top. Jim McCallister is not perfect or even the proverbial nice guy, he is merely human. A bit more perceptive than some perhaps, but certainly not gifted or blessed with anything else except Bad Judgement and Bad Luck! Still, he never stood a chance...Tracy eats him alive!
6.AMERICAN BEAUTY:
Suburbanite Lester Burnham (Kevin Spacey) relates the tale of his hum-drum existence and how he chucked it all to put the vitality back into his life. Lusting after his daughter's beautiful "friend", Lester goes through a series of contortions mental, physical, and spiritual that boggle the mind. His overly status-conscious wife Carolyn (Annette Bening) thinks he has flipped, yet she too is going through a mid-life crisis that will have you howling!
Their daughter becomes enamored of Ricky the odd young man who moves in next door. Many of the profound statements made by this movie spring either directly or indirectly from this character, and if you think the Burnhams are dysfunctional, wait till you get a load of Ricky's home life!
My favorite scene is the one where Lester simultaneously quits his boring job and extorts money from the company! I have never seen ANYONE quit with quite this amount of style before, but Man, I laughed so hard I cried! This is a movie that could fit just as easily into the Drama section, but I loved it for it's dark humor as well as it's profound statements. If you haven't seen this one already, please do!
7.HEATHERS:
"My teen angst b*llsh** has a body count!" Veronica Sawyer (Winona Ryder) madly scribbles into her journal at one point of this movie, while wearing a monacle of all things!
At her high school, you are either a Heather, a friend of the Heathers like Veronica, or nobody of importance. Pack leader Heather Chandler (Kim Walker), Heather Duke (Shannon Doherty), and Heather McNamara(Lisanne Falk) rule the school with expertly manicured iron fists. When new student, disturbed young rebel Jason "J.D." Dean (Christian Slater), emphasizes the Heathers' ruthlessness and cruelty to Veronica she begins to look for a way to escape their social clutches.
Popularity War takes on a whole new meaning in this film! The most popular people appear to be committing suicide. Only J.D. and Veronica know that it is murder! "They have to be stopped!" J.D. proclaims at one point. No one, least of all Veronica, realizes just how disturbed J.D. really is until it is almost too late!
The suicide "evidence" left at the scene with the two football players was hysterical, as well as the last words of Heather Chandler! I think the final showdown between J.D. and Veronica is my favorite part though. Riddled with great lines like, "Our love is God, let's go get a slushie!", and "Dear ____, I've had a really great time, but..." this is a cult classic.
8.ADDICTED TO LOVE:
Great comedic performances by all the leads here. This is your basic boy loves girl, boy loses girl to another boy who used another good girl, Jilted girl teams up with Jilted boy to destroy new relationship tale. LOL, thank goodness they aren't all this uncomplicated, right?
Matthew Broderick (Sam)plays the jilted astronomer boyfriend who pursues his sweetheart and finds her in a relationship with a french restauranteer full of pretentious statements, opinions, and himself(his is one of the best performances here)! Sam hides out in the condemned building across the street from their apartment. I was intrigued by his use of astrological equipment to project their images on the walls, like a movie screen, as well as his comparing their behavior to celestial activities! It isn't long before the Frenchman's ticked off former fiancee makes herself known to Sam and the two of them begin a campaign of ruin!
This story takes romantic revenge to it's extreme end! "All I want is his dignity." Meg Ryan's character proclaims and BOY! does she get it! Who was it who sang "..The female is more deadly than the male.."? They were so right. Anyone who has ever fantasized going to one tenth of the lengths THESE two jilted lovers go to to teach their former loved ones a lesson will adore this movie!
9.GROSSE POINT BLANK:
Ok, this one has a way happier ending than most of my dark picks, but where else would I put it?!
Martin Blank (John Cusak) is a free-lance assassin who is dissatisfied with his life. He stood up his girlfriend Debbie (Minnie Driver), left town on prom night, and hasn't been seen in Grosse Point since. His work isn't going well, his biggest rival wants him either in HIS "guild" or dead, Altman-his psychiatrist is terrified of him, and his secretary wants Martin to attend his high school reunion!
Forced to come back to his old hometown to perform one last hit and set things right, Martin is being followed by another assassin and two cops who were tipped off by Martin's rival- Grosser (Dan Akroyd), as well as all his own emotional baggage! This is the high school reunion from Hades!
"Don't forget your identity!" his secretary cheerful reminds him as he sets out.
Loaded with hilarious scenes, lines, and plenty of action this film also has a great little soundtrack! My favorite scene? When Martin comes home to find it has been turned into a...Mini-Mart! "I guess you can't go home again, Altman, but you can shop there!" He relates to his reluctant therapist!
Favorite line- "By the way, thanks for the pen!" (You'll have to see it to know why that is my favorite line!
and finally...
10.ADDAMS FAMILY AND ADDAMS FAMILY VALUES:
OK, I know, a bit of a cheat, but how can I list one and not the other? The Addams family was so wonderfully carried forward for new generations to love and be warped by in both these fun films! A great cast all around however, no one else may ever play Gomez Addams quite so delightfully as Mr. Julia. His death was a great loss to the cinema world for so many reasons.
Well, "they're creepy and they're kooky, they're altogether spooky, They're the Addams Family!". The first film sets scene and tone and brings back beloved Fester to the welcoming arms of his clan. Of course it's not Really Fester, is it? It's all just a scam by Tully Alford, the Addams' destitute lawyer, and a pair of twisted loan sharks. How long can some one Pretend to be an Addams and still convince everyone they really belong...without BECOMING an Addams?! The delights are too many to list in this dark mad cap romp...
Favorite lines- "Gomez,last night, you were unhinged! You were like some desperate, howling demon! You frightened me....Do It Again!"
"How long has it been since we waltzed?...Oh Gomez, hours!"
"Will you buy some of my deliscious Girl Scout cookies?---Are They made from real Girl Scouts?"
Favorite scene- Hmm, that's a tough one because there are so many great ones here and I enjoyed them all. I would probably have to say either the first duel between Tully and Gomez (jeez, what some people won't do to keep a client!), or the scene where Morticia is strapped to the torture wheel and she and Gomez have this intense little scene...Only to be so rudely interupted by "Dr. Pinderschloss"!
Addams Family Values tells the tale of the newest Addams family member, Pubert (I thought this was going to be a real mistake, I couldn't be happier that I was wrong!), and his demented nanny, Debbie - the Black Widow murderess and "delicate, graceful Ballerina Barbie". What a perfect addition to the twisted Addams clan!
The scenes with Wednesday and Pugsley in the WAY too "normal" summer camp are some of my favorites. I loved the twist she put on the perky girls' ghost story, the camp counselors, the Thanksgiving play, and the scenes from the Harmony Hut.
"You won't forget me?", Wednesday asks Joel when she is escaping. "I can't, you're too weird!" Says Wednesdays first love. Ah, first love, is it ever more precious than when he acknowledges the occasion by stealing your nemisis' dental headgear?
Favorite lines- when Lurch wheels in a huge cake at the bachelor party and nobody jumps out, " Lurch, was she in there BEFORE you baked?!"
Debbie's wedding vow after Fester's Heart-felt declaration, "That was nice!...Ditto."
When Wednesday "catches" the bouquet, "Don't worry, it's not binding!" she tells Joel Glickman, her nervous boyfriend.
The Addams' coming to see Fester after Debbie's forced estrangement where Morticia lists all of her evil deeds against the Addams', "I could forgive all that, but Debbie! Pastels?!"
Favorite scenes- When Debbie has them all strapped into electric chairs and we get her life story, and a list of her reasons why "They Had To Go!"...The Addams' agree with her! "What about YOUR needs?"
And of course Wednesday's final scene in the family graveyard with her new beau..."She wasn't crazy, she was sloppy!...I'd scare my husband to death." Too right, she would!
Both are films you just can't miss if you love Black Comedy!
So, if you are looking for something to kick off the Halloween this year, and have rented out the Horror section, try one of these little gems!
HONORABLE MENTIONS:
The Trouble With Harry, Throw Momma From the Train, Feeling Minnesota, High Fidelity, Very Bad Things, Brazil, Better Off Dead, Clerks, Mallrats, America's Sweethearts (perhaps more aptly labeled as a Satire), American Werewolf in London, The Monster Club (with Vincent Price!), Eric the Viking as well as The Meaning of Life (more Monty Python!), The Couch Trip, The End, Arsenic and Old Lace, The 'Burbs, The Producers (a classic Mel Brooks!) Death Becomes Her, I Love You to Death!, Jinxed, Children of the Revolution, and The House Of Yes-(this one was almost a little too twisted for ME!)
For Those Who Have Seen This Review Before: My appologies I merely wished to move it the more appropriate category which did not exist at the time this was posted. Thank you
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Epinions.com ID:
QuinnElaine
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Member: Quinn
Location: Pgh, Pa
Reviews written: 198
Trusted by: 66 members
About Me:
“God is a comedian, playing to an audience too afraid to laugh.” ~Voltaire
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