Slate's film editor joins me for an appreciation of Armando Iannucci's Politburo satire -- blistering history by way of Monty Python and Preston Sturges.
Randy Newman’s “Short People” is Exhibit A in proving Sam Adams’s point about satire. As for the present day being beyond satire, try Newman’s song about The Great Debate on his last original album. How I treasure him!
"The Death of Stalin" is one of the blackest comedies/satires ever made. You're right, you laugh and gasp at the same time. I met Simon Russell Beale on a NYC street right after seeing him in "The Lehmann Trilogy," for which he won a well-deserved Tony. I couldn't let that brief encounter go without also telling him how brilliant I thought his performance as Beria was in "Death of Stalin." He didn't miss a beat, immediately responding "Yes, Beria--a nasty bit of work." The entire cast was great, but Beale's performance--intelligent, chilling, and, yes, funny, was one of the best I've seen on film.
I've enjoyed all five podcasts in this series so far. It's like taking a course in 21st century cinema, where I get a chance to see the film, watch two experts dissect it, and than add my comment. Five films in, I'm struck by the thought that we've yet to dig into a film that I would consider a cinematic masterpiece, with the possible exception of "Four Months, Three Weeks, Two Days" which effectively used the devise of a 24-hour time period to say so much about sexual politics, authoritarianism, and friendship.
I'm a teacher and an avid reader. When students ask me what's my favorite book I tell them that what I'm looking for in a book is one with a distinctive voice such that any sentence, paragraph, page, and chapter speaks powerfully to me. I feel the same way about movies. When every frame, every scrap of dialogue, every scene, every element of sound captures me from beginning to end, then I'm in the hands of greatness. For somewhat obvious reasons, this tends to elevate the director as the key element. 20th century films that work for me in just this way include Altman's "Nashville," Lee's "Do the RIght Thing," and Fellini's "8 1/2." I'm eager to be introduced to some 21'st century films that will work a similar magic for me. Among my favorites this millennium so far: "Babel," "Her," and "Parasite." I know there are films I've never seen that might rival these and hope the Watchcast will led me there.
Randy Newman’s “Short People” is Exhibit A in proving Sam Adams’s point about satire. As for the present day being beyond satire, try Newman’s song about The Great Debate on his last original album. How I treasure him!
"The Death of Stalin" is one of the blackest comedies/satires ever made. You're right, you laugh and gasp at the same time. I met Simon Russell Beale on a NYC street right after seeing him in "The Lehmann Trilogy," for which he won a well-deserved Tony. I couldn't let that brief encounter go without also telling him how brilliant I thought his performance as Beria was in "Death of Stalin." He didn't miss a beat, immediately responding "Yes, Beria--a nasty bit of work." The entire cast was great, but Beale's performance--intelligent, chilling, and, yes, funny, was one of the best I've seen on film.
I've enjoyed all five podcasts in this series so far. It's like taking a course in 21st century cinema, where I get a chance to see the film, watch two experts dissect it, and than add my comment. Five films in, I'm struck by the thought that we've yet to dig into a film that I would consider a cinematic masterpiece, with the possible exception of "Four Months, Three Weeks, Two Days" which effectively used the devise of a 24-hour time period to say so much about sexual politics, authoritarianism, and friendship.
I'm a teacher and an avid reader. When students ask me what's my favorite book I tell them that what I'm looking for in a book is one with a distinctive voice such that any sentence, paragraph, page, and chapter speaks powerfully to me. I feel the same way about movies. When every frame, every scrap of dialogue, every scene, every element of sound captures me from beginning to end, then I'm in the hands of greatness. For somewhat obvious reasons, this tends to elevate the director as the key element. 20th century films that work for me in just this way include Altman's "Nashville," Lee's "Do the RIght Thing," and Fellini's "8 1/2." I'm eager to be introduced to some 21'st century films that will work a similar magic for me. Among my favorites this millennium so far: "Babel," "Her," and "Parasite." I know there are films I've never seen that might rival these and hope the Watchcast will led me there.