Playtime (1967) - Updated

Playtime is a film that really can be broken into a number of set pieces elaborately constructed by director Jacques Tati. The vignettes begin surprisingly enough in an airport terminal and a group of excited Americans are getting ready for a Parisian vacation. Mr. Hulot (Tati hmself) is waiting to have a meeting in a glass office building, however, he soon gets lost in a maze of cubicles, playing cat and mouse with his contact.

 Quite by accident he wanders into an international trade exhibition and the tourists just happen to be there too. While there they are introduced to the latest gizmos, gadgets and inventions to move society forward. They include silently slamming doors and retractable glasses. In typical Tati fashion he gives us a glimpse of the old world from Mon Oncle. All that is left is one meager flower stand and a brief reflection of the Eiffel Tower.

Bumping into an old war buddy, M. Hulot is invited over and thus begins a long sequence in an apartment building. What makes it unusual is that the audience is left out on the street, but we can see multiple interiors through the glass. Thus, the conversation becomes unimportant and the charades inside paired with the street noise is all we notice.

One of the most substantial sequences takes place in a restaurant called the Golden Corkscrew. It is a packed house and the nightclub barely seems prepared for such an evening. Tiles are loose, food runs out, a band member comes late, the chairs leave marks on the backs of patrons and much much more. Hulot stumbles in and comes in contact with several previous acquaintances. He also makes a few new friend including a boisterous American and a friendly female tourist.

After the crazy night, the morning comes and Hulot says goodbye to his new American friend but not before leaving her with a parting gift to remember her memorable time in Paris. It may not be the Paris of old, but it is still a cheery place made by its people who still remain the same even when the times change.

Jacques Tati's Playtime took numerous years to complete and it was the most expensive French production at the time. It makes sense though because it truly is a magnificent piece of cinema. It is full of beautifully choreographed sequences and elaborate sets. Mr. Hulot often finds himself wandering through this labyrinth of modern Parisian humanity. Tati teases us however, filling his world with Hulot doplegangers.

Even when the gangly protagonist is on screen, he often pops off and on for minutes on end. He is no longer the primary focus of the film. Tati also takes great interest in the sterile modern society of glass, steel and technology. The screen is filled with a wide array of individuals, which makes it fascinating to simply people watch. Furthermore, Tati almost refuses to use closeups, thus allowing the camera to capture more.

Playtime is slightly slower to begin with than I remember, but it has wonderful subdued humor paired with social commentary. Tati's film may not have a lot of decipherable dialogue, but there sure is a great deal of noise. His sound effects seem to rival The Three Stooges in comical impact, often filling the void usually devoted to talking. It is moments like these where you see similarities to the old silent comics like Chaplin and Keaton.

Playtime is all about the minutiae and these moments are probably exhibited best at the nightclub. So much happens and much of it goes unnoticed, but oftentimes when you pick up on something the payoff is great, because you slowly begin to notice more and more. Tati does not have to announce it, but he puts it there to be seen. For instance, there is the fish that is never served but constantly being seasoned. Then, the doorman who opens the door without any glass. Finally, there is the waiter who gets all the ripped, torn and otherwise ruined articles of clothing. Together all these moments create some immensely funny sequences.

Another thing about Tati's film. There is really no conflict. He is addressing the changing times, but at its heart Playtime is just that. Light-hearted recreation.

5/5 Stars

Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987)

This film should really be called Planes, Train, Automobiles, buses, trucks, burnt-out cars and ...well you get the idea. This John Hughes comedy is set during the Thanksgiving holiday and it has a plot foretelling Home Alone although acted out in reverse. Let me explain.

Instead of being stuck at home, home is instead the unreachable destination that Neal Page struggles to get to on a return trip from work in New York. As with many Americans, he is excited for time with his wife and kids over a thanksgiving dinner in Chicago. But Chicago is very far away and from the beginning everything goes wrong. He struggles to hail a cab, his flight gets delayed and he must share a hotel room with a friendly but annoying shower curtain ring salesman named Del Griffith.

Their relationship is strained from the start as Del is the man who unknowingly takes Neal's cab. They get fed up with each other, accuse each other of stealing and in general take a strong disliking for each other at one point or another. Del's genial nature is initially a major turn off for the more reserved Neal who just wants to be home.

There comes a point where so much has gone wrong it does not matter anymore and, despite all the grief, they must either go crazy or laugh it off and become friends. Ultimately they choose the latter and it ends up working out. Neal heads home thankful that Del was able to finagle his passage across country and then in a moment of charity he goes back for his new found friend. The truth comes out and Neal brings one more guest to his Thanksgiving dinner. Once more they carry Del's hulking case together, this time up the front steps. He may have combated freezing snow, fire and much more general discomfort, but most importantly Neal learns a little bit about himself. So its a travel comedy with a moral at the end.

Although my travel experiences certainly have not been this outrageous I did relate to bits and pieces which made the film that much better. Furthermore, Steve Martin and John Candy are wonderfully cast alongside each other as complete polar opposites. There is a lot of fun slapstick and yet the characters never lose their humanity and so to the end we can still appreciate them despite their flaws. However, I sincerely hope my thanksgiving is better than theirs. No promises though.

3.5/5 Stars

Broadcast News (1987)

I didn't laugh at James L. Brook's Broadcast News like I would your typical comedy (This is no Anchorman). However, I did find myself chuckling in spite of myself because these characters are humans and as humans they are screw ups, petty people and have errors in judgment. The humor comes in the everyday occurrences of working with a news station. There is constant chaos paired with egos butting heads and somehow the news still  gets reported.

At such a news station there are three seemingly ever day people who form a triangle of sorts. First off there is Tom Grunick (William Hurt), a handsome anchorman who is often sincere but lacking in the smarts and experience of others. Then, you have Aaron Altman (Albert Brooks), an experienced reporter with a gift for writing and a dream to be an anchorman as well. Finally caught between the two fellows is manic producer Jane Craig (Holly Hunter) who excels in her career. 

Aaron is a longtime friend and partner of Jane who secretly loves her. Tom comes into the picture as the inexperienced one and it looks like he won't be going anywhere. However, he gets his chance with a special report and thanks to Jane he hits it out of the park. It so exhilarating and all of a sudden he feels a lot closer too. That's what Broadcast News does to these people. It makes them feel that much closer and it begins to make it difficult to filter their feelings. That's how Jane finds herself caught between two men who both seem to love her. 

It takes a major lay off to shake up the status quo and it reveals a bit more of the pettiness that exists within the industry (reflected some by Jack Nicholson's evening anchor). Aaron quits his job, Tom gets promoted to a post in London and Jane gets the position of her old boss who receives the boot. Aaron is jealous of Tom and his goodbye to Jane is a rather sour one. Jane on the other hand has some choice words for Tom when she finds out how he manipulated one of his news reports. That's the way life is. It might be set up like a perfect love triangle intially, but then no one seems to win in the end.

We come back to the three individuals a few years down the road and they have all moved on with their careers and personal lives. Not everything is patched up and they hardly have much in common anymore, but they can still talk and continue living their lives as before.

This film did not strike me as laugh out loud funny or remarkably spellbinding, but it was a truthful look at life at a news station. That in itself is a compliment to the film even if it is not altogether extraordinary, because it seems genuine. I will certainly always be a fan of two of Brook's other creations for the small screen, The Mary Tyler Moore Show and Taxi. He has a great breadth of work to be proud of.

3.5/5 Stars

The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! (1988)

When you hear the names Zucker, Abrahams and Zucker (Airplane!, Top Secret) you automatically know there are boatloads of zany sight gags, puns and parodies to be had. Although weaker than the previous films, thanks to another bang up job by Leslie Nielsen, this police drama parody is still a lot of fun.

After single handedly beating up on the United States biggest enemies, Lieutenant Frank Drebin (Nielsen) returns to the L.A. precinct to investigate the case of a heroin ring and the brutal injury of his colleague Nordberg (O.J. Simpson). Drebin gets the obligatory briefing from his superior (George Kennedy) and the necessary gadgets for the mission. The case brings our hero in contact with the villainous Vincent Ludwig (Richardo Montalban) as well as his alluring assistant (Priscilla Presley). Drebin and Ms. Spencer's relationship soon becomes sappily romantic (cue I'm Into Something Good) with hot dogs, movies and jaunts on the beach.

The rest of the case involves car chases, fires, incriminating documents, the arrival of the Queen and of course California Angels Baseball. That's right. The Queen is to be assassinated and what better location than a baseball game? It is Drebin's responsibility to stop the attempt at all costs and he makes quite a mess of the game (like he did with everything else), but he does get the job done. His methods are far from orthodox to be sure but he gets the girl and the bad guy pays for his misdeeds. Nordberg certainly is lucky to have such a loyal partner, maybe.

This comic trio pushes the wackiness as far as it can possibly go, oftentimes with mock seriousness and overdone tropes that get made fun of. For instance Drebin gives us voice-over narration, Spencer is very much a femme fatale at first and the story is your not so typical procedural format. Unexpected cameos by Weird Al, Jay Johnstone, Reggie Jackson and a whole host of professional announcers are certainly memorable. Furthermore the uproarious baseball sequences with "I Love L.A." playing were certainly a hit.  This is a comedy classic from the files of the police squad and I cannot help but enjoy it.

3.5/5 Stars

Some Like it Hot (1959)

Often considered one of the greatest comedies of all time, this film is certainly hilarious and special. This was one of Marilyn Monroe’s best performances and her costars were absolutely brilliant. As far as humor goes it cannot get much zanier and crazier than this.

*May Contain Spoilers

In this Billy Wilder directed comedy, Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon, and of course Marilyn Monroe teamed up in making a great movie. In the era of Chicago gangsters, two male musicians witness a shooting that they wish they had not. In order to escape they join a traveling band. The only catch is that it's an all women group and so they get dressed up to win the job. The rest of the film follows their crazy cross-dressing antics with the band as they spend their time at a beach resort in Florida. It includes two tremendous love stories on completely different ends of the spectrum! One involving a wealthy young yacht owner and Sugar. The other involving Daphne and well...The movie was filmed in black and white to camouflage all the makeup but as you will find out no movie's perfect! The script from Billy Wilder as well as Lemmon's performance are the real attraction to keep an eye out for. 

Watching this film certainly gave me tremendous respect for the writing. The double talk between Josephine and Daphne is great, there is tremendous comedic irony, and some of the sequences are downright hilarious. First and foremost I think Jack Lemmon is a wonderfully funny man, but he plays so well off of Tony Curtis, Marilyn Monroe, and Joe E. Brown. The basic concept as male musicians masquerading as women was a good idea but I think these actors with Wilder's directing really made it work well. The juxtaposition of the two love stories is important too because you could call Some Like it Hot a romance or even a crime-drama initially but above all it is unabashedly a comedy. All you need to see is Jack Lemmon with maracas or hear the last line of the film and that remains completely evident. 

It was fun to finally see the  Hotel Del Coronado as I thought to myself that this is where some of the film was shot. Tony Curtis even spoke those four eponymous words on the same beach over 50 years ago now. It may be over 50 years later, but in my mind this film is timeless. I could not help but think of Jack Lemmon's line as I reclined on the beach, "I'm a boy. I'm a boy. I wish I were dead. I'm a boy. Boy, oh boy, am I a boy." Hopefully I never run into the same problems they did. 

"Syncopators. Does that mean you play that very fast music...jazz?"
"Yeah. Real hot."
"I guess some like it hot. I personally prefer classical music."
~Tony Curtis to Marilyn Monroe

5/5 Stars 

The Odd Couple (1968)

This film adapted from the Neil Simon play and spawning an award-winning TV show, is great in its own right. In probably their greatest and most hilarious pairing, Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau are Felix Ungar and Oscar Madison respectively. Both men are divorced and after Felix almost commits suicide, Oscar allows his friend to live with him. Felix is a neat freak and Oscar is a slob creating conflict and many comedic moments along the way. Besides the main stars who are great, their poker playing buddies add to the humor. To round out the film there is the fantastic theme song which you cannot help from humming. Not to mention the comical Pigeon sisters either. There is no denying that this is a very funny film.

4.5/5 Stars

Dr. Strangelove... (1964)

Living up to its name, this satire directed by Stanley Kubrick is quite peculiar to say the  least. The nation is on the edge of nuclear war because of a lunatic general (Sterling Hayden) who made the decision to override the authority of the president (Peter Sellers). Tempers flare in the war room as the leaders decide what to do. Will the Doomsday device be unleashed as Dr. Strangelove (Sellers again) supposes or will the bomb be stopped in time? One of the obvious highlights of this film would have to be Peter Seller's performances as three distinct characters. George C. Scott also delivers a very respectable performance as a general advising the president. Then, there is Slim Pickens who is often remembered for the famous bomb riding scene. This film is good but in my mind it is not great. However, it does depict an era of tremendous fear brought on by the Cold War, thus making it historically important.

4.5/5 Stars

Topper (1937)

This fantasy comedy starring Cary Grant and Constance Bennett opens with a married couple flying down the road in their automobile. The unusual thing is that George Kerby is driving with his feet and that pretty much sums of this pair straight from the beginning. They live a wild, fun-filled life full of wealth and parties. However, all this craziness gets them killed when George takes on a curve in the road too fast. They decide as a good deed they must brighten up someone else’s life. Their subject of choice is Mr. Topper, an older fellow from the bank where George had acquired a great deal of stock. He is rather like a grumpy but lovable old dog who just does not want any excitement. The ghosts’ of the Kerbys change that however causing “Toppie” to get his name in the gossip columns after a stay at a chaotic vacation spot. His stuffy wife is dismayed, and his butler is peeved, but finally Topper is starting to enjoy life thanks to the prodding and trouble making of the Kerbys. This film has some good moments, but I would say that Grant’s comedy roles would just keep getting better after this one. 

3.5/5 Stars

Groundhog Day (1993)

Starring Bill Murray and Andie MacDowell, this romantic-fantasy-comedy is about a conceited weatherman named Phil Connors who goes to cover Ground Hog Day. After coping with the day once, Phil wakes up and goes through it again realizing he is in a time loop. At first since there are no consequences Phil memorizes every occurrence, takes advantage of situations, and romances any woman he wants. However, over time the novelty wears off and it soon gives way to monotony. He even starts committing elaborate suicides to get out of each day. However, as he continues to fall for his producer, Phil begins to change and decides to use all he knows for good. After one day he is the most loved man in town and surprisingly enough he finally is free. The concept of this film is certainly interesting and it brings up hilarious and thought-provoking situations. Phil Connors begins as a self-serving jerk, hits rock bottom, and finally finds redemption in showing kindness for others. And the best part is he no longer has to listen to I Got You Babe!

 4/5 Stars

Top Secret! (1984)

From the creators of Airplane! comes this uproarious comedy that parodies everything from Elvis musicals and surf music to spy thrillers and action movies. Nick Rivers is an American pop star known for his surf music and he is invited to the closed off nation of East Germany to perform at a cultural festival. He is advised not to cause any trouble since he is a guest, but pretty soon he meets a pretty girl who is in way over her head. Soon he finds himself involved and they must attempt to rescue her father who is a scientist forced to work for the East Germans. They gain help from the French Resistance and Nick begins to fall for Hillary only to find her long lost boyfriend is leading the resistance. Together they devise a daring plan to get her father out, but unfortunately there is a traitor among them! As would be expected they get away and Nick gets the girl with a bellyful of laughs along the way. If you are looking for a deep plot you won’t find it here. If you want laughs you have come to the right place. I honestly do not remember Airplane! so well, but after seeing this film I want to go back, because this was genuinely hilarious. There are so many great sight gags, slap stick moments, quirky characters, parodies, and verbal jokes. Many pop up when you least expect them making them even better and by the end of the film you begin to expect the unexpected laugh. It’s great. The film includes skeet surfing, a talking horse, a scene played in reverse, cows, and much, much more. Hopefully you enjoy it as much as I did.

4/5 Stars

Airplane! (1980)

Starring Robert Hays, Julie Hagerty, Peter Graves, Leslie Nielsen, Lloyd Bridges, Robert Stack, with Kareem Abdul Jabbar, this is a funny if not quirky parody and comedy. The story opens with the break up of a former pilot who is scared of flying, and his flight attendant girlfriend. She leaves on her flight and he also boards unbeknownst to her. In the air many passengers get food poisoning, but it also affects the pilot and co pilot. After a doctor diagnoses everyone, the attendant messages the control tower and is instructed to activate the autopilot. But someone needs to land the plane so the fearful Ted is called upon to face his fear. Despite the anxiety and some engine trouble, his former commanding officer is able to talk him down. After these events, the couple is back together once more. Airplane has memorable lines, sight gags, puns, and a plot that parodies other films. It takes a normally dramatic and serious situation and makes it utterly hilarious. I think it works so well because the gags infiltrate the story in every instance creating this tongue-in-cheek humor.

                                                          4/5 Stars

Young Frankenstein (1974)

Directed by Mel Brooks and starring Gene Wilder with Marty Feldman, Peter Boyle, and Teri Garr, this comedy films parodies old horror films like the original Frankenstein. However, it also functions as a drama in its own right much like the original Frankenstein films. Wilder is a professor and the grandson of Victor Frankenstein. The thing is, he wants nothing to do with his infamous relative, even going so far as pronouncing his name differently. However, when he inherits the family estate he must face his ancestry head on. There temptation takes over and he begins to build a creature of his very own, with horrifyingly funny results. This film has memorable moments including "Putting on the Ritz" and the Inspector's arm. I still cannot believe that Feldman's eyes get that big either! Wow. Wilder plays well off his Creature and Garr and Cloris Leachman both have important roles in Mel Brooks' comedy.

4/5 Stars

The Producers (1968)

Directed and written by Mel Brooks and starring Zero Mostel and Gene Wilder, this satirical comedy revolves around a producer and a lowly accountant who scheme to produce a flop so they can run off with the production money. The plan quickly develops thanks to the enthusiasm of Max Bialystock because he is fed up with romancing elderly women for money. They wade through numerous scripts finally settling on one titled “Springtime for Hitler.” They get the rights from the deranged writer, find their equally odd director, and a groovy hippie is cast as Hitler. Everything seems set for failure on opening night when the audience appears aghast. However, when the two producers go to celebrate the reaction changes and the crowd misinterprets LSD’s portrayal of Hitler as satire. The show is a success so in one last ditch effort they destroy the theater. Bialystock and Bloom finds themselves injured, arrested, and finally tried in court for being incredibly guilty. Despite an impassioned entreaty by Bloom the two men find themselves in jail but it isn’t so bad because they go back into the production business and they are up to the same old tricks again. This film was important as Mel Brooks' first great triumph. True it is vulgar, irreverent, and in bad taste but I think that is exactly what Brooks was going for to get a laugh. And I have to say “Springtime for Hitler” has to be one of the most annoying songs I have ever heard. Aside from that I suppose this movie does have some funny parts.

4/5 Stars

A Shot in the Dark (1964)

Starring a cast including Peter Sellers, Elke Sommers, Herbert Lom, and George Sanders, this comedy-mystery opens with several bustling individuals in a mansion, followed by a gunshot. A pretty maid who was found with the gun is assumed to be guilty, but the bumbling Inspector Clouseau thinks otherwise. He has run ins with his crazy boss, his man servant Kato, and the police, while he clumsily tires to solve the case. Everything seems to point to Maria after more murders. However, Clouseau spends time with her and it becomes evident to us that a black-gloved man is after him. In the melodramatic, chaotic final scene, Clouseau attempts to name the murderer, and the case is solved, no thanks to him. This second installment of the Pink Panther had some funny moments and the slapstick was very good.

4/5 Stars

The Court Jester (1956)

Starring Danny Kaye with Glynis Johns, Basil Rathbone, and Angela Lansbury, this comedy of errors has a man posing as a court jester in order to assist the true heir to regain his throne. After infiltrating the castle, Kaye unknowingly gets mixed up in a murder plot, falls under the spell of the witch, and must complete his mission, all the while posing as the funny man. However, he finds himself accidentally jousting for the king's daughter as well as dueling while his beautiful accomplice tries to bail him out and save their plan. Despite all the mishaps, more often then not everything turns out right and that goes for the ending too. Danny Kaye is hilarious and some of the scenes are classic including the snapping spell and the chalice from the palace. It is certainly evident after watching this film that life could not better be!

4.5/5 Stars

The Thin Man (1934)

Starring William Powell and Myrna Loy and adapted from a Dashiel Hammet novel, this comedy-mystery follows a former detective and his rich, loving wife. At first Nick Charles is reluctant to go on a case that revolves around a thin man who he knew and who has disappeared. The police believe he is the culprit behind the three subsequent murders. Other mysterious events and the many suspects, leave both the police and audience unsure. After the constant begging of Nora, Nick follows a hunch and joins the case. He seemingly makes a break through and he and Nora hold a dinner with all the suspects. There the truth is discovered and the culprit is found. This is like a screwball comedy that is further complicated by the mystery. Powell and Loy play off each other very well and the supporting cast is good.

4.5/5 Stars

The Lady Killers (1955)

Starring Alec Guinness, this is a unique and often hilarious black comedy caper film by the Ealing Studios. The adventure begins with the quirky criminal mastermind, Guinness, renting a room from an old woman. Soon his masquerading accomplices arrive. The five of them plan to commit a robbery and when the day comes things start off smoothly. However, they have the unknowing old woman pick up their prize and chaos follows her. The men get the money but before they can escape the lady accidentally finds out. The latter half of the film follows the double crossing antics of the criminals as they try to run off with the money while trying to figure out who will do the unpleasant job of knocking off the lady. Needless to say they don't succeed. I was wary of this movie at first but it was actually very enjoyable because of the comedic and odd scenario. Keep your eyes on a young Peter Sellers as well as Herbert Lom.

4.5/5 Stars

Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949)

Starring Dennis Price and Alec Guinness (in eight roles), this black comedy follows a commoner who tries to avenge his mother by killing eight relatives. The story begins with a man about to be hung and as he waits, he writes his memoir. Through a flashback, his childhood and adult life is shown. He worked tirelessly to move up in society and he also did away with everyone standing between him and the Dukedom (all played by Guinness). Things get complicated when he is about to marry a deceased victim's wife and then a childhood beau tries to blackmail him. Ironically, the one murder he did not mean to commit is the one for which he gets caught. Yet there is still hope, or is there? Price plays the young and clever English gentleman very well and needless to say Guinness is extremely funny. Also, the two female characters are different but both good in their own right.

5/5 Stars

Mon Oncle (1958)

Starring and directed by Jacques Tati, the film revolves around the bumbling but kind-hearted Monsieur Hulot, as he interacts with his relations and young nephew. We follow Hulot as he navigates through his life in France. His sister and brother-in-law live in an ultra modern home complete with automated machines, a fish-shaped fountain, and cold-looking furniture. In contrast, there's the carefree Hulot whose only possessions seem to be his ever present pipe and umbrella. He struggles to cope with everything modern and bungles in his brother-in-law's factory. However, most importantly he seems to enjoy life and he is liked by all including Gerard, his nephew. This film is enjoyable because of the little things. You have the often repeated theme that brings to mind Parisian cafes. There is satire, odd architecture, little dogs, the use of or the lack of sound, many caricatures, and most importantly of all Hulot himself. It would seem to me he bridged the gap between Chaplin and Keaton with Mr. Bean. Too bad more people do not know about him.

                                                          4.5/5 Stars

Mr. Hulot's Holiday (1953)

Directed by and starring Jacques Tati, this is the original film that introduced the bumbling but kindly Mr. Hulot. He finds himself staying at a beach side hotel full of various different tourists. The film is not so much about plot but instead it focuses mostly on Hulot's many antics. Whether he is paddling a kayak, playing tennis, changing a tire on his beat up car, trying to mount a horse, or accidentally setting off fireworks, Hulot is bound to cause laughs. This film is unique because as with Tati's other works the pacing is not fast. That means we are able to relax and enjoy this vacation along with Mr. Hulot. We can take in the many sounds and images while we also watch this likable bumbler. Maybe Tati did not know it at the time but he created a memorable persona in Hulot who has his own distinct movement and attire. Without talking at all he leaves such a tremendous mark. If there was ever an influence on Mr. Bean I think the origins would definitely start with Monsieur Hulot.

                                                              4/5 Stars