MovieChat Forums > The Comedy (2012) Discussion > If you're a fan of film, you should embr...

If you're a fan of film, you should embrace this

posted 12 years ago by miko-19
6 replies | jump to latest

Even if you didn't like it, we haven't seen a film like this in a very long time. Personally, I enjoyed it. It's brave, unapologetic, honest and emotionally tragic.

If we're not supporting this film for that merit alone, we're telling producers and people who would consider putting money towards other fresh, new voices that: People don't like this stuff, so why see more of it? Why support it, if people are acting negatively towards stuff like this?

Embrace the attempt and intent of Alverson and the boys to have some balls to show you something new... Even if it made you upset or uncomfortable.

The Comedy is a breath of fresh air that really tried to deconstruct the idea of "protagonist" and the 21st century white male adult.

If enough people get behind this, it could spark a Dogma 95 movement... I would like to see a wave of stripped down films come out that really embrace this style of film making.

[–] Penisinfurs46 11 years ago

I may be wrong as it appears to still (sadly) be in its infancy but the "Remodernist" film movement seem to fit this film and your sentiments.

"All I want, is to enter my hoes justified"

[–] tylerjohnson3-1 11 years ago

I agree. I had little idea of what to expect going into this film, but based on the title and the talent involved, I expected some light frivolity. What I got was one of the most emotionally affecting cinematic experiences I've enjoyed in some time. For those who are open to it, this film has some brilliantly funny moments and some scathing commentary about the current zeitgeist of ironic detachment. It harkens back to the most stripped-down character studies of the 1970s and early 1990s and it's the exact kind of film we need more of.

[–] Max-319 11 years ago

I don't know if I would call this a Dogma 95 type flick. It had deft precision in its cinematography, it wasn't just some open format verite garbage. Also, I don't know that it was a deconstruction of the idea of a protagonist at all, I think it was more of a deconstruction of a certain social attitude than anything else. But I do agree that more films like The Comedy should be made.

[–] miko-19 11 years ago

Maybe Dogma 95 isn't the greatest reference, since the cinematography is really good, but I'm speaking more in terms of sensibility.

It's a far better comparision than people saying it's "mumblecore" or a "70's type flick." The Comedy is really fresh and conteporary, and isn't shot on some *beep* handi-cam where it zooms in and out for no apparent reason.

But yes, at the end of the day, let's see more of this stuff.

[–] rsiacobelli-1 11 years ago

I think you nailed it with your analysis. Sadly seeing really mixed reviews on this one, Rotten was positive and now critics are hammering it a bit. I suppose you need to be a bit connected or familiar with the nihilistic/ironic/hipster worldview to really see serious value here, which i see as being pretty damn relevant in contemporary america by laying out the existential meltdown that many young Americans are always just a new iPhone or reality show away from...

This state of mind has been difficult to point out with clarity as a specific cultural issue ( being mostly emptiness, absurdism and self-loathing as the only "substance" behind it )...but the comedy has done this effectively, and hopefully people who are feeling pulled into this orbit may get something out of this film, maybe not pleasure, but appreciation of it's artistic merit, clarity of vision, and cautionary social commentary.

While Nihilism is hardly a new sentiment, and writers from Dostoevsky, to Nietzsche, and a bit more similarly to Sartre have been on top of it for the last century, but I believe this is different...maybe more absurdism than the actual philosophy of nihilism...and it's a major issue that needs some artistic intervention.

sorry for the length...i just happen to think this topic deserves some serious attention, aside from scape-goating by talking heads ;)

[–] miko-19 11 years ago

I don't mind the mixed reviews, as long as people are talking about it. I also find that films that have really opposed views on it, last much longer.

The "artistic intervention" line is right on the money.