Category Archives: Comedy

See How They Run

See How They Run           4 stars

For a fun time you won’t be disappointed with the new whodunit “See How They Run” by director Tom George and writer Mark Chappell. The comedy mystery does a variation of the play within a play theme, using Agatha Christie’s popular stage play “The Mousetrap” that has reached its one hundredth performance in 1953 London’s West End. There is a plan to turn the hit play into a film version to be directed by Hollywood director Leo Kopernick (Adrien Brody who I have not seen in ages) and written by Mervyn Cocker-Norris (David Ayelowo). Early on in the movie one of the film crew turns up dead at the play’s after party, done in by a mysterious dark figure in a coat and hat. In steps Inspector Stoppard (Sam Rockwell of Seven Psychopaths and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri) of Scotland Yard to be aided by rookie officer Constable Stalker (Saoirse Ronan of Brooklyn and Lady Bird) who are tasked with identifying the murderer. Stoppard sets about interviewing the myriad of suspects all of whom seem to have a possible motive while the enthusiastic Stalker tries to help in amusing fashion. (She writes everything down in her notebook including Stoppard’s advice of Do not jump to conclusions.) The suspects even include famous actor Richard Attenborough (Harris Dickinson) who stars in the play. The movie features multiple flashbacks and on screen titles to show the passage of time that all serve to fill in the details. Especially entertaining are the interactions between the experienced but put upon Stoppard and the rookie Stalker who proves to be somewhat annoying, but observant. Of course, we eventually reach the inevitable gathering of the suspects in a room that even includes the famed Miss Christie where the murderer is to be revealed. For Agatha Christie enthusiasts there are many references to her works and characters that I will not go into. The movie is a good time with a story containing many red herrings and a few twists as a good murder mystery should. The advice “Do not Jump to Conclusions” is a very good rule to follow.

Amsterdam

Amsterdam        4 stars

The new comedy mystery drama Amsterdam by writer-director David O. Russell has a very long and winding plot that takes us through three countries over 15 years, involves a murder mystery of a war hero, a murder frame job, an extended love affair, a massive political conspiracy and a truly lasting friendship at the heart of everything. Those familiar with some of Russell’s past works won’t be too surprised at this. (See I Heart Huckabees, American Hustle and Joy for some very involved plots.) In Amsterdam we meet our three close friends who meet as a result of The Great War and the injuries sustained in this war to end all wars. There is Dr. Bert Berendsen (a very talkative Christian Bale) whose mission is to care for all those war veterans suffering after the war and honor them at an annual gala. His best friend is Harold Woodman (John David Washington who we remember from BlacKKKlansman), who he met while commanding a unit of African Americans in France in the war who is to become an accomplished lawyer. And there is the American nurse Valerie (Margot Robbie) who cared for them after they were severely wounded in battle. Together, the three banded together in Amsterdam to care for damaged soldiers from the war. When we jump ahead to 1933 the three of them become ensnared in the suspected murder of their commanding officer from the war that may lead to one of the greatest political conspiracies this country has ever experienced. Did I say that the movie has wandering plot? It needs to have a lot going on to give its all star cast the roles that tell the story. Apparently, Hollywood stars are clamoring to work with Russell as I counted no less than sixteen recognizable names among the cast. This includes Michael Shannon and Mike Myers, as two ornithologists who work for the government (British and American), Matthias Schoenaerts and Alessandro Nivola as two cops investigating a murder and Taylor Swift as the daughter of the murdered victim. Much of the comedy seems to be in the tradition of the zany comedies of the nineteen forties, especially that of Robbie who really lets it fly. You will have to be patient to get to the point when all is revealed. Eventually the climactic scene is reached when a critical choice must be made that will affect the lives of millions. Many people will see it as a cautionary tale about what America is going through today, but the film has been in development for many years so you can judge for yourself. In the end the film is about the friendship of our trio of heroes that wins out in an ending that is reminiscent of Casablanca. You may hear some negative reviews about Amsterdam. Many critics hold the meandering plot against what Russell has done here, but I found it all to be very entertaining.

Triangle of Sadness

Triangle of Sadness         3 ½ stars

If you go to see Ruben Ostlund’s new comedy Triangle of Sadness be ready for a series of excrement related scenes and that means literally. This movie by the maker of Force Majeure and The Square takes aim at the superrich and the world of high fashion and does some serious well-deserved damage. In the early scenes we meet Carl and Yaya (Charlbi Dean who passed away only a couple of months ago), a young celebrity couple who are trying to define their relationship over the payment of the dinner check. Carl sees himself as a feminist while Yaya seems to want a traditional relationship despite the fact that she makes more money than Carl. The pair then receive a cruise on a luxury yacht as a gift where the action among the superrich plays out. We meet several of mega-millionaires and get a dose of how they treat the ship’s crew and see how they can do damage to the common working people without even realizing the pain they cause. The wealthy passengers include a British couple in the arms manufacturing business, a tech genius and a Russian oligarch who sells fertilizer (or shit as he puts it). We also get a dose of the different sociological classes among the crew from the always cheerful servers down to the toilet cleaners. Then there is the captain, Thomas Smith (Woody Harrelson) who is more interested in entertaining the guests and drinking than he is in running the ship. The movie’s centerpiece (a literal shitshow) is the Captain’s Dinner which takes place in the dining hall where gourmet meals are served to the guests. Only it is happening in the middle of a violent storm. This is where seasickness takes over among the passengers resulting in the misery brought on by projectile vomit and overflowing toilets. Through all this the American captain who sees himself as a Marxist and the Russian fertilizer capitalist get into a drunken duel quoting well known figures over the struggle between capitalism and socialism. (You see the irony?) The point of the movie really hits the audience over the head as it skewers the superrich no matter what economic system it is under which they acquired their wealth. Eventually the movie shows that there are situations where having great wealth does not work to the characters’ advantage. Having the skillset of a common laborer can be very valuable, though even that can be abused. Don’t look for much in the way of plot in this movie. In that respect it is similar to Ostlund’s The Square from 2017 which also concerned the behavior of the ultrarich. While I completely approve of the subject matter of the film, it did tend to get repetitive and at two and a half hours, it was too drawn out. Even so, look for it to be talked about when the awards season comes to us.

The One and Only Ivan

The One and Only Ivan   3 stars

The One and Only Ivan was brought to us in 2020 by Disney and stars Sam Rockwell as a silverback gorilla, Ivan who is kept in a cage and serves as the main attraction at a small-time mall, video-arcade managed by Mack (Brian Cranston). This combination live action-CGI film is intended primarily for children and is told in a quiet manner, focusing on how the animals feel about their situation. The computer animation is excellent, but the movie lacks the action one would associate with the usual Disney style for children’s movies. Also included among the mall animals are an elephant named Stella (Angelina Jolie), a chicken named Henrietta (Chaka Khan), a glam poodle named Snickers (Helen Mirren) and Bob, a lovable mutt (Danny DeVito) who provides the comic effect. This unlikely crew vacillates between wanting to put on a good show for a dwindling audience and longing for a better life away from captivity. But it is only when owner Mack tries to get Ruby (Brooklynn Prince), a very young elephant to perform on her own that Ivan feels driven to action. The movie is based on a popular children’s novel by Katherine Applegate which itself is based on a real life gorilla named Ivan who lived for 27 years in a cage in a mall and was ultimately moved to the open spaces of Zoo Atlanta after getting the attention of protesters decrying the living conditions of the ape. The script is by Mike White who also did School of Rock. The movie is a good one for the kids but may go a little light on its subject of animal captivity. It is available on Disney +.

The Banshees of Inisherin

The Banshees of Inisherin            5 stars

One has only to look at the credits of writer/director Martin McDonagh that include In Bruges and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri to know that we must be in for a great story in the movie The Banshees of Inisherin and he certainly does not disappoint. This is a simple story about a friendship between two friends that ends and turns into something tragic. It is one that has been brewing in McDonagh’s mind going back decades. The two friends, Colm (Brendan Gleeson) and Padraic (Colin Farrell) live on an isolated island off the coast of Ireland and have shared conversations over a pint for many years when Colm suddenly wants nothing to do with his friend anymore because as he puts it, “I just don’t like ya no more.” The poor dull Padraic has no idea what it is that he could have said or done to upset Colm and is determined to make things right again. His smart sister Siobhan (Kerry Condon) and the local lovable dimwit Dominic (Barry Keoghan of The Killing of a Sacred Deer) also get involved in the conflict all to no avail. Colm is just as determined to avoid Padraic because he doesn’t want to waste his time on more meaningless chatter, and ultimately issues an ultimatum to show just how serious he is. The setting of the story in 1923 during the Irish Civil War is also significant as it serves to show just how dire the situation has become. The movie is described as a comedy which is true because there is plenty of witty and amusing dialogue between the two great actors as well as among the other actors. And there is plenty of use of the word “feck” in many contexts. But the movie is also a very serious drama in which the director manages to gradually raise the level of tension to the point where things are about to explode. Neither character can be labeled as the bad guy here but that doesn’t mean that things can’t get very tragic. This is actually the second time the pair of Gleeson and Farrell have worked with McDonagh to great success, the first being In Bruges back in 2008. Based on what I have seen The Banshees of Inisherin should be considered a strong contender for Best Picture of the Year. You should not miss it.

The Menu

The Menu           4 stars

I must be hitting a theme this year with movies attacking the habits of the rich and self-absorbed. The latest film in this genre is The Menu, a black comedy-horror (my favorite kind of horror) directed by Mark Mylod (who has done episodes of Game of Thrones and Succession) where we spend an evening with a young couple journeying to an exclusive expensive restaurant on a coastal island, serving twelve guests by invitation only. The restaurant is called Hawthorne where the chef, Slowik (Ralph Fiennes), regarded as a culinary artist introduces each course with detailed descriptions and his personal philosophy and charges $1,250 a plate. Tyler (Nicolas Hoult) can be described as a fanboy of the chef who obsesses over each course while his last minute date Margot (Anya Taylor-Joy) couldn’t be less interested in the food. The rest of the guests includes a restaurant critic (Janet McTeer) and her husband (Paul Adelstein), an older couple (Judith Light and Reed Birney), an aging movie-star (John Leguizamo) and his assistant, three corporate a-holes and one elderly woman in the corner. As the meal progresses it becomes clear that the chef has an agenda for the evening when personal attacks are made on each of the customers. He has a connection to every one of them and feels he has been wronged by each in some fashion. The lone exception is Margot who Slowik says wasn’t supposed to be here. At some point the film becomes full blown horror of the revenge variety when it is revealed that Slowik intends that no one is going to survive the evening, thus making things outright terrifying. Effectively, the movie is preaching about the misdeeds of the rich and privileged and about those seeking retribution. The best scenes involve the personal interactions between Fiennes and Taylor-Joy as they engage in a battle of wits and she tries to find ways to counter his actions. Both are well cast in these roles. Hong Chau of Driveways and The Whale does an excellent job as Elsa, the guide who gives the initial tour for the guests. I had not heard of director Mylod before and hope he has more interesting projects ahead. For fans of satirical comedies, this one is entertaining.

Theater Camp

Theater Camp   4 stars

Somewhere in upstate New York at a place called AdirondACTS children who are theater fans and budding actors and singers gather for a summer filled with putting together classic and original plays with the help of the teachers and staff of this magical place.  This year at the opening however,  its founder,  Joan (Amy Sedaris) collapsed and fell into a coma.  This leaves the operation of the camp including its finances in the hands of her moronic son, Troy (Jimmy Tatro) who sees himself as a business genius,  but is clueless about what it takes to put on a play or musical.  Such is the premise of Theater Camp,  the very campy and probably cult film by Molly Gordon and Nick Lieberman.  The fast paced comedy is put together as a faux documentary much like the Christopher Guest films of the past.  The film really goes overboard with the stereotypes of the theater crowd in an amusing way that is aided by some very talented kids.  Mostly,  the movie creates a preposterous situation using it to produce some very funny moments in what is sure to be a cult classic for years to come. 

The Persian Version

The Persian Version  4 1/2 stars

The Persian Version has to be one of the funniest comedy-dramas at the festival.  It is the story of an Iranian-American family in New York City as told by daughter Leila who has seven brothers.  The story begins with the family gathering when the father has to have a heart transplant.  The movie is about the difference in cultures between the US and Iran and how the characters have to adapt to it. It spans a time from the sixties up to near the present.  As far as the story itself,  it is an amusing way of showing the conflict between mother and daughter,  done brilliantly by actors Layla Mohammadi and Niousha Noor. There are many funny moments including times when the main characters directly address the camera.  Despite their differences we see how mother and daughter are both determined to do things their way and to survive in a foreign culture.  The Persian Version won the Audience Award for US Dramatic and is one of the favorites among fans.

Chanshi

Chanshi,   4 1/2 stars

A category that was recently added to Sundance is the Indie Episodics. These are typically short series that are intended for TV audiences,  the producers of which are hoping will be picked up by some network. I picked Chanshi, a very amusing comedy series written by and starring Aleeza Chanowitz. Chanshi is a Jewish young woman from Brooklyn who is engaged to a young Jewish man that she does not know well.  Everything should be going well for her.  But the first episode starts with Chanshi traveling to Israel to surprise her best friend who is getting married soon.  It seems that Chanshi’s dream is to have sex with lots of Israeli men,  but not only that,  with men who are soldiers.  So she is basically a train wreck who could destroy her own life while being very disruptive to all those around her as well.  The character is very engaging and funny and involved in some interesting story lines bringing in other characters who can’t help being attracted to her and wanting to straighten her out.  Unfortunately I was not able to stay for the Q&A. I hope this one finds a way to a wider audience. 

Sometimes I Think About Dying

Sometimes I Think About Dying  4 stars

Despite the title this movie has a very positive message.  It is a close look at the life and private thoughts of its main character, Fran, a young woman working in a small seaside town in Oregon.  Daisy Ridley stars as the woman who seems to have a rather dull life working in a small office,  only interacting with her coworkers when needed.  The movie starts by showing her normal work and home routine using long stretches of silence,  but blended in are private scenes that convey her thoughts about death or ways to die. One day a new worker, a man in his forties joins the team and he and Fran make a connection and arrange to see each other from time to time.  They find that there are more things that they don’t have in common than things they do,  which leads to some awkward moments in their conversations. Both of the characters are driven to express honest thoughts that can be hurtful.  The film conveys a message of acceptance of others despite the differences we have.  I should also emphasize that Fran’s thoughts on death do not represent any suicidal tendencies.  They are a way of showing the private thoughts we have that are hidden from the outside world. For Ridley this is a real departure from her work on the Star Wars movies. It is one to check out if you find it.