Jesus, I just checked this thing out last night at the local library, and could barely crack a smile. I'm a big fan of dry wit and intellectual humor, but this thing really missed its mark.
I'm just so damn surprised that there's over 100 reviews of this thing giving it a major thumbs up. What the heck?
bump
shareI disagree. I've posted a lot on this board. You can read my posts if you like.
Brook's is a one of kind. He is a master at pulling the absurdity out of the mundane. And dipping the same formula into a geo-political context only makes things more uncomfortable. And that is the heart and soul of Brook's style.
I love subtle humor, but there was nothing like that here.
shareYou're spot on Blue. There is nothing subtle about LFCITMW. It's an in your face story about the inherent confusion in human relationships. Brooks always plays the fool. He always pushes his inadequacies to the forefront. If you are looking for subtlety, rent a Hal Hartley film.
shareNo, I mean this film just isn't funny.
Truth be told it's a test market film to see if the director can deliver a competent product. They probably needed to recoup their money somehow, to they released this thing. Oh well. I've bought lemons before.
Oh, sorry, I misunderstood.
I loved the film. I've seen it at least 20 times.
I could, and have on this board, related a dozen hysterical scenes in this film.
My general take on this film, like many films I've posted about on this board, is that it cannot be appreciated in one viewing.
You should judge a film like you would judge a music album. Who listens to a new album by an artist once, and then judges it. You have to listen to a new album by an artist at least a few times before you judge it. It has to sink in.
Why should film be any different?
I remember reading a review in Time magazine from 1968 titled "Beatles White: 90 minute bore". Beatles White - 90 minute bore? How many music fans over the last 45 years would agree that Beatles White is a 90 minute bore?
That review was most likely a one-off by a reporter on a timeline who listened to the album once, and did not have time to really digest it.
I don't know. I only saw this movie once several years ago and thought it was hilarious, and still recount scenes to friends and family. The people I watched it with and who recommended it to me only saw it once and enjoyed it.
shareWell I think that's great Yorick!!
It took me at least a couple of times.
Regardless, it is a great film.
Yeah, definitely. I wonder if most people just don't like (or get) dry humor? Personally, I love it, so I loved this movie. I was telling someone just the other day about the "Polish jokes work anywhere scene."
shareSure Yorick.
But A Brooks takes dry humor to a new level. It's not even dry humor, it's just Brook's originality and daring. Some folks dare there audiences from the top of a cliff. Brooks dares his audiences from the bottom of a trite, inane, everyday conversation.
Hah, true. I kind of wonder how it'd be received in Britain, which is considered to be more accommodating to dry humor.
shareAre you nuts?
share