Movies: Comedy

Showing Saturday May 19, Thursday May 31, 8PM Eastern, on TCM This otherwise conventional comedy; girl tricks boy, boy falls for girl, girl falls for boy; would have been unremarkable except for the lead role played by the inimitable Barbara Stanwyck. Remade ten years later by Hawks with the repressively adorable Danny Kaye and a b-list ac... (See the whole review)

Preface Objectivism considers a given work of art as a concretization of the artist's metaphysical value judgments.  Ayn Rand considered good art as fuel for the human spirit.  By contrast, bad art drains the spirit of those who consume it.  In his book Objectivism: The Philosophy of Ayn Rand, Leonard Peikoff cites three broad standards by w... (See the whole review)

I saw some clips from this movie and it looked good. Then I saw it was directed by Lasse Hallström who directed the excellent Chocolat and I was sold. Unfortunately it was in and out of theaters locally in a heartbeat. After the first weekend, one local theater showed it only at midnight on Friday and Saturday night. Another showed it only at 10 a.... (See the whole review)

Things start off quietly when unpublished novelist Miles (Paul Giamatti) and his old buddy Jack (Thomas Haden Church) decide to spend the final week before Jack's wedding on a tour of California's Santa Ynez wine country. While afficionado Miles sees the trip as a good opportunity to educate his friend in the subtleties of wine appreciation, Jack d... (See the whole review)

Life is Beautiful is the tale of an Italian-Jewish shopkeeper, Guido, and his wife Dora and son Giosue. Though set against the backdrop of World War II and the Holocaust, the film amazingly manages to convey an optimistic, dignified sense of life, as Guido uses his irrepressible sense of humor to woo the beautiful Dora and, later, to preserve his s... (See the whole review)

This is a really eccentric and fun movie. The cast is amazing. In addition to Grant's Chopin, Davis' George Sand, Sands' Liszt, there are some unusual but superb casting choices. I particularly like Mandy Patinkin's Alfred De Musset, the poet and George Sands' ex-lover.  Most surprising is Bernadette Peters's Countess D'Agoult, Liszt's mistress. Th... (See the whole review)

It is REALLY funny. But - really offensive. There was an interesting article recently about how the South Park guys, Trey Parker and Matt Stone, (who are the same ones that did this movie) are some kind of "puzzle" becuase they mock the left and the right. It seems rather obvious that the reason that SP mocks both right and left is because they're ... (See the whole review)

One of my favorite movies. Silly and fun. ... (See the whole review)

As is said at Amazon.com, this is "a family story about a chef and his three daughters through the meals the chef prepares and serves his family." If this is not enough to stimulate your appetite, then please take note that director Ang Lee was chosen to direct Jane Austen's "Sense and Sensibility" the year after, largely because of, well, the sens... (See the whole review)

This was the movie that first made me realize that love didn't automatically have to be shallow and stupid, as it so often had been cheaply demonstrated by those around me. Although just about everybody in this forum has probably already seen this movie at least once, I think it bears mentioning in a forum such as this one, because When Harr... (See the whole review)

Sullivan's Travels is a masterpiece combining comedy, drama, and social satire. Sullivan (McCrea) is a successful Hollywood director of comedies who, seeing the depression-era suffering of the common people around him, aspires to make a drama about the poor and oppressed. His producers object, explaining that he has never experienced hardship in hi... (See the whole review)

From Amazon: "Bill and Stan are mistaken for murderers while on vacation. Bill's family sends his cousin, Vinny Gambini, to defend them in his first case as a lawyer. Vinny's girlfriend, Mona Lisa Vito, joins him to help win the case because of a promise he made to her that he would marry her when he won his first case. Marisa Tomei won the... (See the whole review)

This movie has everything - action, adventure, comedy, fantasy, monsters, suspense, sword play and, of course, true love. Cary Elwes stars as Wesley as he tries to rescue his love, Buttercup, from becoming the princess bride of the title. Billy Crystal and Carol Kane are hysterical as the old jewish couple who try to magically revive the dea... (See the whole review)

Like a good dream, Sofia Coppola's Lost in Translation envelops you with an aura of fantastic light, moody sound, head-turning love, and a feeling of déjà vu, even though you've probably never been to this neon-fused version of Tokyo. Certainly Bob Harris has not. The 50-ish actor has signed on for big money shooting whiskey ads instead of doing so... (See the whole review)

Lindsay Perigo's essay, "In Praise of Anger" got me talking about Sam Kinison, so here we go. While so many people deeply loved him, I don't think that too many people would see him for the strong Objectivist tendencies that he displayed:  a hatred of unfair compromise, a devotion to the quest for truth, and a love of happiness and profound ... (See the whole review)

With the possible exception of Monty Python's The Meaning of Life, I consider this the funniest movie that I've ever seen.  Here is a review from Amazon:  ... (See the whole review)

This fantastic romantic comedy tells the tale of a chauffer's daughter who falls in love with the younger playboy son of her father's employer.The daughter, Sabrina (Audrey Hepburn), goes off to cooking school in Europe and returns "all grown up". The younger brother, David (William Holden), then becomes quite interested in her but he is slated to ... (See the whole review)

Amazon.com Danny Kaye spoofs Robin Hood and Scaramouche in this inventive slapstick swashbuckler. Portraying the clownish but good-hearted entertainer Hawkins, he infiltrates the court of the corrupt Basil Rathbone (up to his usual brand of cruel villainy) disguised as the legendary king of jesters, Giacomo. After a court sorceress hypnotizes Ha... (See the whole review)

Peter Venkman, Ray Stantz, and Egon Spengler are scientists conducting research in parapsychology. When their research is defunded and they get kicked off campus, Ray remarks, "Personally, I like the University. They gave us money and facilities, we didn't have to produce anything. You've never been out of college. You don't know what it's like out... (See the whole review)

'What will they do to me?' 'Oh, you'll probably get away with crucifixion.' 'Crucifixion?!' 'Yeah, first offence … Crucifixion lasts hours, it's a slow horrible death. Well, at least it gets you out in the open air.' ... (See the whole review)

Aussie battler, tow-truck driver, and certified eccentric Darryl Kerrigan finds his ramshackle yet much-cherished house perched upon a toxic dump is about to be taken by the State government for an airport expansion. Darryl protests "It’s not a house – it’s a home," and takes them on. The Kerrigan family’s story is an uproarious yet also gen... (See the whole review)

PLOT: Alcoholic and womanizing writer Zachary Hutton's (John Ritter) life spins out of control and he attempts to change for the better. COMMENTARY: This movie has tons of funny scenes and great lines. It helped me laugh my way out of the worst period of my life!  Not only is it funny, but it shows you that if you want to change somet... (See the whole review)

Dickie gets a briliant idea:  sell the 'fertilizer' at his parent's ranch to the local golf courses and farms.  They undercut the competition and make a giant killing.  But when the competition doesnt like it he gets the Tax Board and the State involved.  I'll bet you can guess what happens next....  The movie ends in a fantastic courtroom scene st... (See the whole review)

My Fair Lady is the musical adaptation of the Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw's famous stage play, Pygmalion, which itself takes and runs with the Greek mythological story of the figure Pygmalion, a brilliant sculptor who is disgusted with the choice of females around him, and who sculpts his perfect woman from clay, and to whom the gods grant... (See the whole review)

Spaceballs is a parody of Lucas' first Star Wars trilogy on the surface. The characters make this fact obvious -- especially Rick Moranis as the arrogant, puling brat Dark Helmet. However, having grown up on this film I think it's reasonable to say that Spaceballs is a bit more than a parody. Brooks makes it clear who the villains are, but also end... (See the whole review)

Okay, it's French. But despite that considerable drawback, this movie has a wonderful sense of life.