What is Harvey?

Holly Reese

4-28-13

Harvey

Serio

             I enjoyed Harvey and the humor it employed. It was funny in an intelligent way. Most of the humor comes from the plot and the dialogue. I like that it wasn’t all about slapstick humor (though at the beginning I thought it might, when the man slips and falls on the wet floor and slides into the door of a surgeon’s office). I also liked that t didn’t have to physically show a six foot white rabbit to get laughs.

             If we had actually seen Harvey talking to Elwood, the film would have been very different. I don’t think it would have been as effective if we saw a man in an Easter bunny suit. It would have taken on a tone of a children's movie or been absurd. Harvey as it is, stays right on the line of intelligent and absurd just as the character of Elwood does.

                Jimmy Stewart really brought the character of Elwood to life in a believable way. When he was first introduced, I found him to be a bit annoying. Why was he always offering people his card? He was so polite and had a very different way of speaking. However, when I realized who he was and what exactly was going on, I started to really appreciate him. I want to know a person like Elwood, who is just genuinely happy and always believes the best in people. While by today’s standards it might be weird to constantly invite strangers over for dinner, I liked how selfless Elwood was. My favorite quote that I believe really sums up Elwood’s character was “I always have a wonderful time, wherever I am, whomever I'm with.”

                 I am still unsure about the point of Harvey. Why could Elwood see him and what was the Harvey’s purpose? He could have just simply been a friend for Elwood. He could have been a psychological disorder that stemmed from Elwood’s repressed memories after the death of his mother. He could have been an actual pooka. Maybe it doesn’t matter what or if Harvey represented anything. I think he is intended to be interpreted in whatever way the audience decided. This movie works because we are never told directly what or who Harvey is. I really enjoyed that there is so much to be inferred from this film.

The Purple Rose of Cairo, a Woody Allen film

Holly Reese

4-21-13

The Purple Rose of Cairo

                    First off, I am one of those people who doesn’t care for Woody Allen films. There is always something about his films that I just don’t care for, so generally I don’t consider myself to be a fan. However, The Purple Rose of Cairo is one of the more tolerable Woody Allen films that I have seen. The comedy is subtle and quirky and though it seemed to move very slowly at times, it was a decent film.

                    While this film isn’t really laugh out loud funny, the humor is apparent throughout. The funniest parts involve the on screen characters after Tom has left the film. The interactions between the theater audiences and the characters abandoned on the screen are funny especially when the movie’s characters are insulting the audience members. Allen invites an interesting concept. When an actor brings a character to life on screen, are they then completely separate from the actor? This film would argue that if an actor so convincingly brings a character to life onscreen, that the character is really alive and no longer attached to the actor. This fantasy is accepted in this movie. Its absurdity is what makes it funny. The theater owners, movie executives, and the actor himself all accept that it is totally possible that a movie character can just walk off of the screen and into real life-- if the actor’s portrayal was convincing enough. It is funny that everyone, most notably Cecilia, can instantly accept that this has happened. Some of the theater patrons were skeptical, but for the most part everyone just agreed that this scenario was possible and could potentially happen again.

                    In my opinion, this film is somewhat like a tribute to all cinema. Cecillia finds refuge from her terrible life in the movie theater watching The Purple Rose of Cairo. This is a literal and metaphorical escape that many people can relate to. It is easy for people (ok, especially women) to fall “in love” with the characters they see in films. Cecilia's husband was mean, drunk, and disgusting so its no wonder she fell for Tom on and off screen. When she finally leaves her husband chooses the “real” actor, Gil, over the movie character, Tom, reality hits her hard when she is left alone in the end. While this would be a very sad time in her life, she resorts to her original escape plan. She returns to a movie theater and gets swept away in a new story. This bittersweet ending really exaggerates the power that movies can have on audiences. I think it is done effectively and I appreciate the point that I believe Allen was trying to make with this film.

The Birdcage

Holly Reese

4-14-13

The Birdcage

              The Birdcage is a character driven film that gets most of its comedic success from Robin Williams and Nathan Lane. The duo of Williams and Lane are more than just gay men who dress up as women, their comedy reaches far beyond sight gags. The comedy also comes from the quick dialogue and situational humor.

                   This film was released in 1996, a time when gay rights movements were not as involved and aggressive as they are now. In the 1990s the question of gay marriage was not entertained in the way it is today. This makes The Birdcage, in my opinion, a film that was ahead of its time. Williams and Lane are an openly gay couple, living and working together. They also have raised a son who is not by any means gay. While this film is a comedy, I can see why anti-gay or religious groups might not like this film for those aspects alone. But because it is comedy, it might make the gay jokes and drag queen aspect less uncomfortable for people who can’t handle people like this real life. The parents of Val’s fiance are so snotty and proper that they become the villains in some way. The audience does not like them because they are against our protagonists. Also, because of the comedy aspect, we are given a happy ending with a feel good vibe.

                     I really enjoy this film and its rhetorical comedy. I always find myself laughing out loud at not only the men dressed as women but also the dialogue. It is a dynamic film that addresses many issues that are still being discussed today.

Harold Loves Maude

Holly Reese

Harold and Maude

4-6-13

                 Harold and Maude is a quirky, character driven film. It has many elements of mise-en-scene, cinematography, and dark comedy that make it an excellent film to analyze. Hal Ashby does a wonderful job with this film. It is funny and sincere. Bud Cort and Ruth Gordon bring the complex characters of Harold and Maude to life to make this film interesting and intricate.

                 The dark humor of this film makes it hard for me to consider it a comedy. The humor is very subtle and addresses subject matter that some people may not find humorous. Firstly, Harold is obsessed with death and is constantly finding ways to fake his suicide. His mother is very blase about his antics which can make his attempts comical. My personal favorite is when he lights himself on fire to freak out the blind date that his mother has set up from a computer dating program. Suicide can be a sensitive subject and difficult to joke about but the way Harold is proud about his 15 attempts gives it a peculiar comedic spin.

                    Another taboo subject matter that Harold and Maude jokes about is the idea of a young boy falling in love with an eighty year old woman. The relationship between Harold and Maude is sometimes hard to watch. Bud Cort’s acting is very convincing and his character’s admiration for Maude is apparent when they are first introduced to each other. This relationship between Harold and Maude can be uncomfortable at times simply because of their obvious age difference. I can understand why some people would not enjoy this film only because of this awkward relationship.

                 Each time I watch this film I think something different about its ending. If it would have just ended with Harold’s car plummeting off of a cliff, the film would have left audiences with a tragic, depressed reaction. But because the car falls from the cliff and Harold can be seen with the banjo dancing along with Cat Stevens’ song, it has a somewhat happy ending. Perhaps Harold has learned the meaning of life from Maude, and this keeps the film within the “comedy” genre rather than “drama” genre of film. I always enjoy this film as as I mentioned before, it has many elements to analyze and deserves multiple viewings.

Never Been Thawed

Holly Reese

3-24-13

Never Been Thawed

      I usually enjoy terrible films. My favorite genre of film is cult and one of my favorite writers and directors is John Waters. I have never really found a movie that I didn’t find something to like. Well, the search is over. Never Been Thawed is a film that I have no interest in ever watching again. I wasn’t horrified by the jokes about religion or sex. The humor was crude, but it was nothing I was offended by. I simply did not like this film. I did not like how it was filmed and I did not like the acting. I found the pacing to be very boring. That being said, I understand what the filmmakers were trying to achieve through their comedy and mise-en-scene.

     Fake documentary films can be very funny when they are done correctly. This is Spinal Tap, Best In Show, and even Borat are ‘mock-umentary’ films that are very funny. Never Been Thawed makes fun of obsessive collectors. In this case, these people collect boxes of frozen foods. It is a funny premise, I can admit that. I also liked that it was filmed in a way that doesn’t look professional in any way. The low quality camera work makes this film seem more believable. The awkwardness of the characters also added to this realistic style.

      The mise-en-scene was very interesting in this film. In backgrounds of many of the scenes, there were clues and jokes about the characters and their situations. The magazines, pamphlets, artwork, and other objects that the characters interacted around were full of sight gags and jokes that could go unnoticed if the viewer was not paying attention. I think I caught many of these jokes, but I’m sure if I watched it again I would see many more. However, I don’t really want to watch this film again.

Idiocrazy

Holly Reese
3-17-13
Idiocracy

Idiocrazy

     The humor of the film Idiocracy is idiotic-- but in a good way. When the film began and the premise was introduced I was hesitant. I am not usually a fan of humor that relies heavily on bathroom and sexual jokes. Even though Idiocracy was heavy on this style of humor, it was effective it telling its story and making its point.

     Idiocracy reminded me of post apocalyptic films but it’s idea of the future was much more frightening. A world of idiots constantly reproducing and living in filth is much more terrifying than a world that has been overtaken by machines or aliens. I can’t imagine anyone seeing this film and thinking, “Wow, a future like that seems awesome!” This film was made in 2006, but criticism of mass media and advertising has been around long before this film portrayed it in its extreme. This issue is still relevant today. Idiocracy criticizes media and advertising throughout the film’s entirety. One obvious example is the secretary of state who gets paid every time he says “Brought to you by Carl’s Jr.” In the future, there is an overload of advertisements and sponsorship and while this may be absurd as we watch the film today, the obvious exaggeration makes a valid argument about the media of our culture today.

       As ridiculous as this film might be, it makes the audience think. At one point in the beginning of the film, the narrator says “The years passed, mankind became stupider at a frightening rate. Some had high hopes the genetic engineering would correct this trend in evolution, but sadly the greatest minds and resources where focused on conquering hair loss and prolonging erections.” This scene of the film is humorous, but when you really think about it there is some truth within it. Today, there are still no cures for cancer, the common cold, or other life threatening ailments but there are a vast majority of treatments and cures for erectile dysfunction and hair loss. Granted, cancer is a much more serious issue than erectile dysfunction (some people may disagree) but what if the money and efforts that are put forth in research of erectile dysfunction was switched to cancer research? Wouldn’t having more doctors and scientists work towards the bigger issues help to solve the problem? Maybe, maybe not. This is just one idea that was sparked as I watched Idiocracy.
 
       While I don’t think this film was made for the sole purpose of warning people about the world’s future, I do think that Mike Judge does an effective job criticizing the “what ifs.” Society is constantly wondering about what the future holds for mankind. There are dozens of theories and Idiocracy’s cannot be counted out as a possibility. This film used humor effectively to force audiences to think about mankind’s potential humor. I enjoyed Idiocracy, and even though I was laughing as I was watching it, I also cringed at the thought that someone would want a recliner with a toilet built into it. I enjoyed that this film made me laugh but also made me think.

Mobile Army Surgical Hospital

Holly Reese
3-3-13
MASH

Mobile Army Surgical Hospital

       As a fan of dark humor, I really enjoyed watching M.A.S.H. From the very beginning with the theme “Suicide is Painless” this film is full of questionable humor. Having seen the television show, I was expecting similar jokes (i.e. a man dressed in women’s clothing). I was pleasantly surprised that this film was a little deeper than the television show and it pushed the boundaries of humor.
       
This film is interesting because it set in a very traumatic environment and the filmmakers don’t hold any of the setting back. When the film opens we are shown wounded soldiers being carted off of helicopters. The soldiers are bloody and beaten up and the scenery is very harsh. The authentication of the mis-en-scene aides the dark humor throughout this film. If the costumes, sets, or setting had been unrealistic the humor would have been very different. The grittiness and dirtiness of the doctors and their home environments went well with their crude personalities. The dark humor of this film often comes from the scenes where the doctors are actually in the operating rooms. In most of these scenes, the doctors are wrist deep in a wounded soldier’s body and yet they are constantly commenting on the nurses. These men are in a serious situation  but not treating it as such. The environment is very harsh and unpleasant and yet the men are severely focused on one main issue: sex.
        
 While this film makes light of many taboo subjects-- like suicide, war, and homosexuality-- one of the main themes that is joked about is sex. It seems that the men only focused on sex from the moment they get to their camp. Trapper John and Hawkeye joke about sex constantly with each other. The harassment of the nurses isn’t overly crude thought, considering the filmmakers could have made much dirtier jokes. Most of the jokes about sex were fairly subtle and not overly vulgar. I think this worked for the film because the sexual jokes could be funny without overwhelming the audience with erotic language. For example, when Hawkeye is in the operating room and says, “It's a good thing you have a nice body, nurse, otherwise they'd get rid of you quick.” This is just a quick one-liner and didn’t have to be explained or exaggerated to be funny. While I think that most of the sexual jokes were not too vulgar or crude, I will acknowledge that some moments during the film were blunt and over-the-top (“Sixty-nine is divine!)
         
 I really enjoyed this movie. It did have moments that slowed it down but I was entertained throughout its entirety. In an interesting way I think I enjoyed it more than the television show, but that might just be because I like Donald Sutherland as Hawkeye. The humor mixed with the goriness of war was done effectively without being too excessive. I would recommend this film to anyone, whether they’ve seen the original television show or not.

How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Dr. Strangelove

Holly Reese
2-24-13

             Dr. Srtangelove

           Stanley Kubric is one of those directors who can do no wrong in my eyes. While Dr. Strangelove is not my favorite Kubric film, it is still a beautiful film especially in terms of mis-en-scene. Each shot of this film is is complex and interesting. The first time I watched this film, admittedly I didn't know it was a comedy until almost an hour into it. It took the line "Gentlemen, there's no fighting in here! This is the war room!" for me to actually laugh out loud and understand the satirical comedy that composed this film.
             
           The subtle humor of this film is unlike any of the others we have watched this semester. Peter Sellers does a very effective job playing the roles of Mandrake, the President, and Dr. Strangelove. Mandrake and the President aren't necessarily funny characters, they are the voices of reason amongst the more outrageous characters. Dr. Strangelove is a very over-the-top character. His accent and voice was ridiculous and his uncontrollable arm was hilarious. This is a film that gets funnier with each viewing. When you understand the plot, it gives you the chance to pay closer attention to the funnier parts of the film.
            
            The most obvious theme of this film is the critique of government military organizations. When the men in the war room are worried about the Russian ambassador entering the war room, their main concern is that he will the the big boards. This kind of joke is funny because it is so subtle. There are many small jokes sprinkled throughout this film. They are so small that they can be missed and almost seem believable. Even the emergency kit that the pilots on the plane are equipped with seem legitimate (well, maybe not the nylons and lipstick).

             This film is definitely one that deserves multiple viewings. While this is very unlike the Kubric films that people are more familiar with (A Clockwork Orange and The Shining), it is still a carefully crafted comedy. It might take sitting through this film to give it full appreciation, but it is definitely worth it in the end.

The Gods Must Be Crazy

Holly Reese
2-16-13
The Gods Must Be Crazy

         Before I watch a movie, I always check its IMDB online entry to learn about it and get context about the filmmakers and actors. The tagline for this film is “A Sly Comedy from Africa” which made me skeptical. I had high expectations when I began watching this film. It began at a very slow pace with almost the first 45 minutes of the film being just setting and character development of the bushmen in Africa. It took until the scene with the scientist visiting the school teacher for me to finally get into the comedy of the film and become interested. Once the premise of the film was established and I was able to appreciate the sly comedy involved throughout this film.
                         
               I am always wary of watching films that revolve around issues of race and racial stereotypes. When the bushmen of this film were introduced I couldn’t decide if it was inappropriate or not. I knew this film was made in Africa and I am unfamiliar with indigenous cultures so I did not know if this portrayal was satirical or in any way accurate. The language of these people seemed to be exaggerated and stereotypical but I was not totally unbelievable. didn’t find them to be funny but their situation and interactions were funny. Our main character was comical because he was an innocent player in each situation. His humor came from his lack of knowledge of civilized culture. He wasn't funny because he was stupid, he was funny because he was in an unfamilar situation.

                 Beside the obvious humor of the bushmen and the revolutionaries, I liked the subplot involving the school teacher and the scientist. It was the typical situation with a clumsy, foolish man and a beautiful woman, but it was funny nontheless. My favorite scene was when he was trying to deliver flowers to her and the children were laughing hysterically at his failures. Again, he was an intelligent man but his unfamiliar situation made him funny.

                 I would agree with this movies tagline in saying that it is a sly comedy. The narrator and documentary style added another level of humor and rhetoric. Once the viewer understood the kind of humor that was being presented, it ultimately became effective.

What's Important about Earnest?

Holly Reese
2-10-13

  What’s Important about Earnest?

           I have never met a man named Earnest, and if I ever do, I won’t ever gush over his name. The name will always remind me of this film and that is not necessarily a good thing. The Importance of Being Earnest is one of my mom’s favorite films and when I told her that I was watching it for class, she went on and on about how funny it was. I’m not sure if it was her talking it up or my inability to pay proper attention to the dialogue, but this film was not especially interesting to me. The 1890s London setting and the old english dialect threw me off at the beginning. Usually, I am more open to something this unique, but for this film it was impossible for me to follow along. I think I need to rewatch it because I probably missed many of the jokes. It was a very different type of humor from Monty Python or Charlie Chaplin. The language was not the only issue I had with the film. I also found that I was not drawn to any of the characters.
          The two main women of this film, Gwendolen and Cecily, were very weak characters. I am not a feminist or women’s rights activist, but these women and their obsession with their men and the name Earnest was very annoying. Cecily, John’s ward, always fantasized about her fairy tale life and her life with Earnest-- actually Algy-- and fell head over heels for him as soon as she met him. Gwendolen was also obsessed with Earnest-- actually John-- and couldn’t make it in the city on her own. Both women tried to be upset with the men’s lying but they were never really mad. While I realize that this film was set in the 19th century and the main goals of women of that time were to get married and have babies, I didn’t like the women of this film. They weren’t funny. However, I did enjoy Judi Dench as Lady Bracknell. Judi Dench is an amazing actress (see A Study in Terror or a recent James Bond film) and I always like watching her on screen, regardless of the role.
            The men of this film were more tolerable. Algy and John had several moments of funny dialogue when they were arguing back and forth. Once I understood the premise of the film and the fact that they were both using the name Earnest as a pseudonym, I liked the confusion that followed. This film was very character driven through Jack and Algy. They made the film watchable, and the plot was very predictable and absurd. I like absurdity, but the humor here was might have too subtle for the strangeness of the plot. For example, the issue of Jack not knowing who his parents were because he had been left in a handbag. I can’t quite explain the exact things that I didn’t like about the humor of this film. I think it was either too weird or not weird enough.I never thought it was important to be Earnest.

Rock Hunter Isn't Spoiled by Success

 Holly Reese
1-27-13
English 220
Serio

            The only thing business executives care about is money and a nice, private bathroom. At least, this is what I learned from the film “Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?” I am personally not familiar with the lifestyles of the wealthy business class, but Rock Hunter’s satirical critique of the executives of a big advertising firm gave me some pretty good ideas. Tony Randall’s portrayal of Rock Hunter was critical and humorous. The entire film is full of subtle jokes and sight gags that make fun of success.
             While the main focus of this film is a critique of the business class, the character and storyline that struck me was the interesting relationship Rock Hunter had with his secretary, Jenny. When Rock get swept up in his relationship with Rita and becomes her “Lover Doll,” his girlfriend and future fiancee, Jenny, drives herself crazy trying to meet Rita’s standard of stardom. One of the funniest scenes of the film is when Jenny is working out so much that she has to be taken to the hospital and has her arms stuck in the push-up position. Rock continuously tells her that he loves her the way she is, but it doesn’t stop Jenny from trying to impersonate and become Rita. This is a strong critique of Hollywood actresses and starlets of the time and I think it is still a relevant commentary today. It is impossible these days to turn on a television or getting on the internet without seeing stories about celebrities. These stories can range from how terrible a celebrity’s new haircut is to another celebrity’s workout routine. There has always been pressure for the average person to live up to the physical standards that Hollywood sets. Rita Marlowe is a complete exaggeration of this celebrity complex and Jenny’s reactions to Rock’s situation may seem silly, but I think it has a some truth in its critique.
          Ultimately, I don’t think Rock Hunter’s accidental success spoils him. Throughout the entire film he somewhat remains a good guy. While he is enticed by becoming president of the advertising agency and the perks of a private bathroom, he always seems to be out of his element. While he likes success and believes it is what he wants, he never really fits into the role of an executive or of a movie star’s boyfriend. He is simply a man who has to deal with extraordinary circumstances, and he never really loses himself. I enjoyed the light hearted comedy of this film and that my opinion of Rock Hunter was not disappointed by success.