Greatest comedy films (1)
1. KING OF COMEDY (1983).
Aspiring comic, Rupert Pupkin, wants to achieve success in showbusiness but resorts to stalking his comic idol, a late night talk show host who craves his own privacy, in order to achieve this success. This is proof that De Niro really can do anything – gangster, comedian, serial killer, Vietnam soldier, The Devil, etc. I love Pacino, but if I had to choose between them, hands down De Niro takes it – maybe not by much though. He is not known too much for his comedy; however, his comedic timing, along with Scorsese's usual, brilliant self, makes this film an absolute must-see.
2. SIDEWAYS (2004).
Two men reaching middle age, with not much to show but disappointment, embark on a week-long road trip through California's wine country, just as one is about to take a trip down the aisle. If you haven't seen this, please run out and buy it now! All I wanted to do after watching this film was assemble a bunch of friends, hire a car and live the Californian wine country road trip life. Sideways leaves you with the same free-spirited, care-free feeling that reading Kerouac's On The Road leaves you with. This is nothing short of magnificent.
3. AMERICAN PSYCHO (2000).
A wealthy New York investment banking executive hides his alternate psychopathic ego from his co-workers and friends as he escalates deeper into his illogical, gratuitous fantasies. Straight off the bat, I'm not quite sure whether this is supposed to be seen as a comedy. However, I never stopped laughing throughout the whole film, so this has to rank in my list. Bret Easton Ellis' masterpiece is the epitome of a dark/black comedy. I don't think you are meant to be laughing, but you are!
4. PORKY'S (1982).
Set in 1954, a group of Florida high schoolers seek out losing their virginity, which leads them to seek revenge on a sleazy nightclub owner and his redneck sheriff brother for harassing them. Before there was American Pie, there was Porky's, a film which showed what men are really like. This is full of laugh-out-loud moments and Kim Cattrall's performance is very memorable, to say the least.
5. OFFICE SPACE (1999). A comedic tale of company workers who hate their jobs and decide to rebel against their greedy boss. A truly funny, compellingly light-hearted sitcom-like film with a masterful cast comprising such lovable and genuine characters. I never took to Beavis & Butthead or King of the Hill, so I was dubious as to whether I should watch yet another project by Mike Judge. By god, I'm glad I did. Despite its really eye-opening, depressing depiction of life in a bog-standard computer company, the characters alone, even without dialogue, have you in stitches!
6. HIGH FIDELITY (2000).
Rob, a record store owner and compulsive list maker, recounts his top five breakups, including the one in progress. With a combination of Nick Hornby's warming storytelling as well as Cusack's portrayal of the dopey, low-life goofball and Jack Black's of the annoying friend you can't get rid of, you have a real gem of a film.
7. SW*NGERS (1996).
Wannabe actors become regulars in the stylish neo-lounge scene; Trent teaches his friend Mike the unwritten rules of the scene. It is difficult to describe what this film is actually about. All I know is that I love it. A bunch of real nothing, burnout aspiring actors float around California waiting for that next huge film role to land on their doorsteps. If you are a fan of Bukowski-style nothingness and emptiness, you'll love it.
8. ADAPTATION (2002).
A lovelorn screenwriter turns to his less talented twin brother for help when his efforts to adapt a non-fiction book go nowhere. Without a doubt, Charlie Kaufman is my favourite person in Hollywood. Adaptation is certainly not a conventional comedy, yet Kaufman's typically genius, complex mind as well as Nicolas Cage's fidgety, neurotic portrayals of Charlie Kaufman and his fictional twin brother, Donald, allow this film to just work. I'd recommend going out and watching everything he has ever written, apart from maybe Human Nature. Such a genius!
9. DEAD MEN DON'T WEAR PLAID (1982).
Film noir parody with a detective uncovering a sinister plot. Characters from real noirs appear as scenes from various films are intercut. As well as Steve Martin being his usual, brilliant comedic self, the reason I have to add this film is simply that it is so original. Never before has a film managed to effortlessly chop together clips from old classics with an original fictitious storyline. What results is a hilarious, truly believable film noir, which stars some of the greats – Bogart, Bergman, Lancaster, etc. A must-see for true cineastes.
10. THE ODD COUPLE (1968).
Two friends try sharing an apartment, but their ideas of housekeeping and lifestyle are as different as night and day. Simply put, these two actors were born to act opposite one another. Their chemistry and energy as well as their ability to piss each other off make for a fabulous watch. You wouldn't want one of these on this picture without the other. The way they play off each other is priceless.
GREATEST FILMS
Aspiring comic, Rupert Pupkin, wants to achieve success in showbusiness but resorts to stalking his comic idol, a late night talk show host who craves his own privacy, in order to achieve this success. This is proof that De Niro really can do anything – gangster, comedian, serial killer, Vietnam soldier, The Devil, etc. I love Pacino, but if I had to choose between them, hands down De Niro takes it – maybe not by much though. He is not known too much for his comedy; however, his comedic timing, along with Scorsese's usual, brilliant self, makes this film an absolute must-see.
2. SIDEWAYS (2004).
Two men reaching middle age, with not much to show but disappointment, embark on a week-long road trip through California's wine country, just as one is about to take a trip down the aisle. If you haven't seen this, please run out and buy it now! All I wanted to do after watching this film was assemble a bunch of friends, hire a car and live the Californian wine country road trip life. Sideways leaves you with the same free-spirited, care-free feeling that reading Kerouac's On The Road leaves you with. This is nothing short of magnificent.
3. AMERICAN PSYCHO (2000).
A wealthy New York investment banking executive hides his alternate psychopathic ego from his co-workers and friends as he escalates deeper into his illogical, gratuitous fantasies. Straight off the bat, I'm not quite sure whether this is supposed to be seen as a comedy. However, I never stopped laughing throughout the whole film, so this has to rank in my list. Bret Easton Ellis' masterpiece is the epitome of a dark/black comedy. I don't think you are meant to be laughing, but you are!
4. PORKY'S (1982).
Set in 1954, a group of Florida high schoolers seek out losing their virginity, which leads them to seek revenge on a sleazy nightclub owner and his redneck sheriff brother for harassing them. Before there was American Pie, there was Porky's, a film which showed what men are really like. This is full of laugh-out-loud moments and Kim Cattrall's performance is very memorable, to say the least.
5. OFFICE SPACE (1999). A comedic tale of company workers who hate their jobs and decide to rebel against their greedy boss. A truly funny, compellingly light-hearted sitcom-like film with a masterful cast comprising such lovable and genuine characters. I never took to Beavis & Butthead or King of the Hill, so I was dubious as to whether I should watch yet another project by Mike Judge. By god, I'm glad I did. Despite its really eye-opening, depressing depiction of life in a bog-standard computer company, the characters alone, even without dialogue, have you in stitches!
6. HIGH FIDELITY (2000).
Rob, a record store owner and compulsive list maker, recounts his top five breakups, including the one in progress. With a combination of Nick Hornby's warming storytelling as well as Cusack's portrayal of the dopey, low-life goofball and Jack Black's of the annoying friend you can't get rid of, you have a real gem of a film.
7. SW*NGERS (1996).
Wannabe actors become regulars in the stylish neo-lounge scene; Trent teaches his friend Mike the unwritten rules of the scene. It is difficult to describe what this film is actually about. All I know is that I love it. A bunch of real nothing, burnout aspiring actors float around California waiting for that next huge film role to land on their doorsteps. If you are a fan of Bukowski-style nothingness and emptiness, you'll love it.
8. ADAPTATION (2002).
A lovelorn screenwriter turns to his less talented twin brother for help when his efforts to adapt a non-fiction book go nowhere. Without a doubt, Charlie Kaufman is my favourite person in Hollywood. Adaptation is certainly not a conventional comedy, yet Kaufman's typically genius, complex mind as well as Nicolas Cage's fidgety, neurotic portrayals of Charlie Kaufman and his fictional twin brother, Donald, allow this film to just work. I'd recommend going out and watching everything he has ever written, apart from maybe Human Nature. Such a genius!
9. DEAD MEN DON'T WEAR PLAID (1982).
Film noir parody with a detective uncovering a sinister plot. Characters from real noirs appear as scenes from various films are intercut. As well as Steve Martin being his usual, brilliant comedic self, the reason I have to add this film is simply that it is so original. Never before has a film managed to effortlessly chop together clips from old classics with an original fictitious storyline. What results is a hilarious, truly believable film noir, which stars some of the greats – Bogart, Bergman, Lancaster, etc. A must-see for true cineastes.
10. THE ODD COUPLE (1968).
Two friends try sharing an apartment, but their ideas of housekeeping and lifestyle are as different as night and day. Simply put, these two actors were born to act opposite one another. Their chemistry and energy as well as their ability to piss each other off make for a fabulous watch. You wouldn't want one of these on this picture without the other. The way they play off each other is priceless.
GREATEST FILMS