Comedy – Page 10 – cinemescope

100 Word Review – The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)

June 7, 2015March 6, 2016Posted in 100 Words..., ComedyTagged adaptation, Adrian Brody, art, Bill Murrey, Comedy, Edward Norton, Harvey Keitel, IMDb, Jason Schwartzman, Jeff Goldblum, Jude Law, Oscars, Ralph Fiennes, Saoirse Ronan, Stefan Zwing, Tilda Swinton, Tony Revolori, Wes Anderson, Willem Dafoe2 Comments

Based on the writings of Stefan Zwing, writer and director Wes Anderson (Fantastic Mr. Fox) takes us on a journey into the fictional Republic of Zubrowka in this beautiful comedy.

Ralph Fiennes stars as Gustave, a concierge at The Grand Budapest Hotel, accompanied by his faithful friend Zero (Tony Revolori).

This film is full of all the wonderful actors you could hope for from an Anderson film, and a few more besides. The direction a weird and wonderful work of art, with all the precision of a master. Winner of 4 Oscars and nominated for 5 more, it’s #183 on IMDb’s Top 250 list.

100 Word Review- Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005)

June 5, 2015March 6, 2016Posted in 100 Words..., ComedyTagged adaptation, Brett Halliday, Comedy, Film Noir, Michelle Monaghan, Robert Downey Jr, Val Kilmer6 Comments

Based on the Brett Halliday novel, Bodies Are Where You Find Them, this is one of this films that will keep you thoroughly entertained.

Harry (Robert Downey Jr) is a small time criminal, stealing presents for his kid for Christmas, when he accidentally auditions for a Hollywood film while hiding from the cops.

Val Kilmer and Michelle Monaghan are superb co-stars with wonderful comic timing. Director Shane Black (The Last Boy Scout, The Long Kiss Goodnight) also wrote the screenplay.

What follows is a tangled web of misdirection, misinformation and murder that would rival some of the classic Film Noirs.

100 Word Review – The Hudsucker Proxy (1994)

June 4, 2015March 6, 2016Posted in 100 Words..., ComedyTagged business, Cannes, Coen Brothers, Comedy, Ethan Coen, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Joel Coen, John Mahoney, Paul Newman, Tim Robbins1 Comment

“You know, for kids!” – Norville Barnes

Early Coen Brothers (The Big Lebowski, Fargo, No Country For Old Men) films are always a delight and this is no exception.

Recent business graduate and enthusiastically eccentric inventor Norville Barnes (Tim Robbins) is made president of a manufacturing company by Sydney J Mussburger (Paul Newman) as part of a stock scam.

Jennifer Jason Leigh and John Mahoney co-star in this weird, wonderful and wacky comedy about rare naivety in the business world and the joy of innocence.

It was the opening film at Cannes in 1994 and is still and absolute joy to watch,

100 Word Review – Fight Club (1999)

June 3, 2015March 6, 2016Posted in 100 Words..., Comedy, ThrillerTagged Action, Brad Pitt, Chuck Palahniuk, Comedy, David Fincher, Edward Norton, Fight Club, Helena Bonham Carter, IMDb, Jared Leto, Meat Loaf, Psychological, ThrillerLeave a comment

Knowing that I am breaking the first rule of Fight Club just writing this, proves what a great film this is.

Edward Norton plays an insomniac office worker whose life is disrupted when he meets the formidable, effortlessly cool Tyler Durden (Brad Pitt).

Helena Bonham Carter, Meat Loaf and Jared Leto make up part of the amazing supporting cast to this classic psychological thriller.

Based on the best selling novel by Chuck Palahniuk (Choke, Snuff), directed by the indisputably brilliant David Fincher (Se7en, Gone Girl); it combines paranoia, dark humour and violence and currently proudly sits at #10 of IMDb’s Top 250.

100 Word Review – Sightseers (2012)

June 2, 2015March 6, 2016Posted in 100 Words..., ComedyTagged A Field In England, Alice Lowe, Ben Wheatley, British, Comedy, dark, Kill List, Steve Oram, ThrillerLeave a comment

This film is proof that you don’t have to go far from home to create a truly twisted feature.

In an attempt to show his girlfriend (writer Alice Lowe) the world, Chris (co-writer Steve Oram) takes her on a caravan holiday in the Lake District. But as circumstances seem to conspire against them, they deal with it the only way they can… Murder.

Dark, hilarious and full of those little frustrations that most Brits are too, well, British to confront.

Director Ben Wheatley (Kill List, A Field In England) is a master of the macabre, and one to watch for.

100 Word Review – Man Up (2015)

June 1, 2015March 6, 2016Posted in 100 Words..., Comedy, F-Rated, RomanceTagged Ben Palmer, British, Comedy, Harriet Walter, Lake Bell, Olivia Williams, Ophelia Lovibond, Romance, Sharon Horgan, Simon Pegg, Tess Morris, The Inbetweeners MovieLeave a comment

Currently in cinemas across the UK, buy your tickets now!

Lake Bell (yes, she’s American but she can do a surprisingly good British accent) stars as Nancy, a cynical 30-something who ends up on someone else’s blind date, with not-quite-over-it divorcee Jack (Simon Pegg).

With a whole host of excellent British actors (too many to mention here), this is the debut feature from writer Tess Morris and hopefully the first of many! Director Ben Palmer (The Inbetweeners Movie) has done a marvellous job, taking the audience on a journey that is truly awkward, funny, romantic and just down right wonderful.

100 Word Review – Tank Girl (1995)

May 31, 2015March 6, 2016Posted in 100 Words..., Comedy, F-Rated, Fantasy, Sci FiTagged Action, Alan Martin, Comedy, f-rated, Fantasy, feminist, IMDb, Jamie Hewlett, Lori Petty, Malcolm McDowell, MGM, Naomi Watts, post apocalyptic, Rachel Talalay, Sci FiLeave a comment

This film is the epitome of 1990s grunge.

In a post-apocalyptic world where water is scarce, Rebecca (Lori Petty) teams up with Jet (Naomi Watts) to fight against the mega-corporation (run by Malcolm McDowell) controlling all the water and power. She’s foul mouthed, completely barmy and hilariously funny.

Based on a British comic strip by Alan Martin and Jamie Hewlett, directed by Rachel Talalay, it is a brilliant piece of feminist filmmaking, despite the extensive cuts made by MGM before release (see the trivia on IMDb for some interesting reading!).

It’s brutal yet highly entertaining with a wonderful 1990s soundtrack.

100 Word Review – The Cabin In The Woods (2012)

May 30, 2015March 6, 2016Posted in 100 Words..., ComedyTagged Amy Acker, Anna Hutchison, Bradley Whitford, Chris Hemsworth, Comedy, Drew Goddard, Fran Kranz, Horror, Jesse Williams, Joss Whedon, Kristen Connolly, Richard Jenkins, Thriller, Tom Lenk1 Comment

My love of Joss Whedon is well documented and unsurprisingly this is no exception.

A group of good-looking students (Chris Hemsworth, Kristen Connolly, Jesse Williams, Fran Kranz, Anna Hutchison) decide to take a break in a remote cabin in the woods (see what they did there?) and get more than they expected.

Other members of the Whedon gang make appearances (Amy Acker, Tom Lenk) along with some other classic actors (Bradley Whitford, Richard Jenkins).

Written by Whedon and directed by Drew Goddard (Cloverfield and World War Z writer), this is more than your classic horror. It’s imaginative, creative and thrilling.

100 Word Review – The Truman Show (1998)

May 27, 2015March 6, 2016Posted in 100 Words..., Comedy, RomanceTagged Andrew Niccol, Comedy, Dead Poets Society, Ed Harris, IMDb, Jim Carrey, Laura Linney, Lord of War, Peter Weir, RomanceLeave a comment

I was once told that this film was a warning from Hollywood about the lizards who were controlling the world from their base on the Moon. Whether or not that’s true, this is still a film that everyone should watch.

Jim Carrey stars as Truman, an insurance salesman whose whole life has been part of a reality tv show without his knowledge.

With the marvellous Laura Linney and Ed Harris supporting and director Peter Weir (Dead Poets Society) bringing Andrew Niccol’s (Lord of War) words to life, the Oscar nominations are to be expected. Funny, romantic, sad, paranoia-enducing; simply wonderful.

100 Word Review – The Big Lebowski (1998)

May 24, 2015March 6, 2016Posted in 100 Words..., Comedy, DramaTagged Comedy, Drama, Jeff Bridges, John Goodman, Julianne Moore, Lebowski, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Sam Elliott, Steve Buscemi, surreal, The Coen Brothers2 Comments

“That rug really tied the room together.” – The Dude

Chances are you have quoted this film without even knowing it.

The Dude (Jeff Bridges) a.k.a. Lebowski is mistaken for a millionaire Lebowski, and gets caught up in a series of events made worse by his barmy friends, Walter (John Goodman) and Donny (Steve Buscemi).

Narrated by The Stranger (Sam Elliott), this has all the twists and turns you would hope for from a Coen Brothers feature. With a supporting cast of the likes of Philip Seymour Hoffman and Julianne Moore, it is little surprise that it’s currently in IMDb’s top 250.