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The dark comedy genre of movies is one that has a relatively small fan base, but it’s hard to find a more devout group of movie goers. A good dark comedy movie manages the difficult task of blending the dark and twisted with the hilarious, often delivering both at the same time. If you’re watching a dark comedy and laughing your head off, but feeling horribly guilty about it at the same time, then the film has successfully managed that balance.
One of the most interesting things about dark comedies is that individual preference plays such a huge part in determining which are “best.” Three top ten lists could have thirty different movies on them depending on what worked for each viewer and what didn’t. The challenge of the film makers is to make a funny movie twisted, but not so much that the audience “Gets off the train.”
The following is a list of ten of the best dark comedies out there, including several movies that have been overlooked by even many dark comedy connoisseurs.
This movie definitely had star power with Cameron Diaz, Christian Slater, and Jon Favreau. “Very Bad Things” is a very dark comedy that starts with the accidental death of a prostitute at a Las Vegas bachelor party and quickly spirals into even worse territory. The pacing is well done, as the problem starts “small” and grows in believable increments until everything is completely out of control. This film is often one of the first mentioned when the words “dark comedy” are brought up, but this movie is also highly divisive. Half of dark comedy fans love this movie, and half loathe it. Putting it at #10 seems a fair compromise.
This Wes Anderson film is a funny and unique form of dark comedy. The darkness does not come as a result of a serial killer, a murder, or any of the normal characters or events that usually define dark comedy. This movie takes the dysfunction of a large family filled with adopted children, child prodigies, and an incredibly dysfunctional father played by Gene Hackman, and puts them all together to see what happens. The darkness is in the subtlety, and it’s obvious from early on that this family is full of mal-adjusted people who need to talk openly, and none of whom have that ability. This film is both hilarious and tragic, and really explores how to make a movie that moves based on the undercurrents of its characters.
Most people missed this movie, which is a shame because it is an incredible film. This dark comedy is about Igby, a juvenile intent on rebelling against everything and everyone in his old society rich family. What results is a series of misadventures in which the movie viewers understand right away that Igby’s optimism and hope are badly misplaced. The darkness in this film comes not only from one character, but from almost all of them, and claims hopes, friendship, and lives in the process. Despite this dark backdrop, this is an intensely funny movie that can also be very depressing and features an amazing cast that includes Claire Daines, Kieran Culkin, Jeff Goldblum, Amanda Peet, Bill Pullman, and Susan Sarandon.
Made in 1971, “Harold & Maude” is a classic dark comedy that truly holds up over time. Harold is rich, obsessed with death, and young. Maude is in her seventies, lively, and the two meet at a funeral because both go to funerals as a hobby. That strange set up explodes off the screen in this movie, and maintains it as a classic dark comedy film that is likely to continue to have a cult following for years to come.
The Coen Brothers show up on this list twice, and probably could have twice more. “Barton Fink” is a fantastic dark comedy that spoofs Hollywood and all types of writers alike, from the “Hollywood Hacks” to the “Eastern Intellectuals.” Barton Fink is a successful New York playwright who moves to Hollywood to become a screenwriter, but is hired to write a wrestling movie, which is too “base” for his style.
Along the way he meets a friendly neighbor who turns out to be a serial killing Nazi, two crazed detectives, and falls in love with a woman who meets an unfortunate fate. This is such a delicately scathing film, and often takes more than one viewing to understand just how stunningly wrong and disturbing the final scene (which appears serene) is.
“Four Rooms” is a great study in dark comedy. Few people have ever had as terrible and disturbing a night as the bell hop working the hotel on New Year’s Eve (the night all four scenes of this movie take place), yet the movie remains funny. From a bet with a penalty of a cut off finger, to a dead prostitute, to a crazed gun man, this film is continuously hilarious while the bell hop is surrounded by people and situations that should not be funny at all. This movie is an “anthology movie,” as the four sections are only vaguely connected, but they come together to make a fantastic dark comedy that aspiring writers should study.
This is the dark comedy that causes so many fights because a lot of people argue that it isn’t a comedy (or isn’t meant to be). Others indicate that the blend of odd music, juxtaposition of scenes, and odd bits of humor in dark moments make it one of the best dark comedies out there. This is a film that somehow makes cannibalism and murder hilarious. This movie is also has a “love it or hate it” effect. Viewers tend to absolutely adore this movie, or hate it with a fiery passion. There’s not much middle ground on this one, and part of the reason might be that as far as dark comedies go, this one is extremely heavy on the darkness, and the humor in this film is dark and twisted even by dark comedy standards.
This is a movie that definitely flew under the radar. Starring David Schwimmer (and don’t let that scare you off from this movie) this 2006 dark comedy introduces Charlie, a man whose brain is slowly erasing. This will eventually take his memories, personality, and ability to function away, so he memorizes facts and statistics in an attempt to slow the process. When he gets a chance to blackmail a priest with a work buddy and his girlfriend, Charlie agrees, thinking of his wife and daughter.
A couple major mistakes and a few strange discoveries take what should have been a simple blackmail job and spirals the entire situation completely out of control. The incredible pace of this movie keeps viewers engrossed and laughing even as sad and dark moments occur. This is a very intelligent movie and a hidden gem of cinema.
This classic dark comedy by Stanley Kubrick will be at the top of many viewers’ lists. This is a very odd and dark movie famous for the almost “care free” feeling on screen while the nuclear apocalypse is taking place. The scene with a pilot riding the atomic bomb down to Earth is one of the most famous scenes in movie history and is commonly spoofed. “Dr. Strangelove,” is full of weird people, weirder logic, and darkly comedic scenes that make this black and white film one of the all time classic dark comedies.
“Fargo” is not only one of the best dark comedies ever made, but it is widely considered one of the 100 greatest movies ever. Even from the very beginning of “Fargo,” before things get bad, viewers already have the sense that everything is going to go horribly wrong. Two kidnappers, one psychotic, a cruel father in law and a wishy-washy used car salesman in over his head are just a few of the characters who help set the scene. The heroine of this film is a pregnant small town police chief, whose folksy accent and laid back Midwestern manner help highlight the humor in this film, and who herself represents an unlikely hero.
The strange humor from this movie sprouts from all the little things and subtle nuances in this movie. The little actions, the interactions as nice people talk about the weather, joke around, and do nice neighborly things; all these are juxtaposed against the backdrop of psychopaths, kidnapping, and murder. “Fargo” is a one of a kind film, and is one of a kind dark comedy that won multiple awards and made the Coen Brothers household names.
You thought we forgot this one huh? No list of black comedies would be complete without the Big Lebowski. If you haven’t seen it, a piece of your life is missing! Jeffrey “The Dude” Lebowski is the ultimate LA slacker, until one day his house is broken into and his rug is peed on by two angry gangsters who have mistaken him for Jeffrey Lebowski, the LA millionaire, whose wife owes some bad people some big money. The Dude becomes entangled in the plot when he goes to visit the real Lebowski in order to get some retribution for his soiled rug, and is recruited to be the liason between Lebowski and the captors of his now “kidnapped” wife.
This film really epitomizes the genre and therefore deserves to stand alone on this list. It is a perfect blend of all that makes a comedy dark and it definitely ranks in the top (maybe even equal with Fargo) of the work by the Coen Brothers.
Contributor: Shane Dayton
1 Einar
December 17th, 2008 at 2:42 am
Two people did a scene from Fargo in my acting class =)
2 Carrie lynn
December 17th, 2008 at 2:58 am
Very bad things is by far the best black comedy ever. I love this movie.
3 Eve
December 17th, 2008 at 2:59 am
No Almodovar?!
No list of dark comedies is complete without him…
4 scott324
December 17th, 2008 at 3:06 am
Dark comedies are an awesome genre.
Awesome list.
5 obelisk
December 17th, 2008 at 3:18 am
fully sick black adder
6 obelisk
December 17th, 2008 at 3:23 am
weekend at bernies?
7 Wildlifeman
December 17th, 2008 at 3:34 am
Eating Raoul from 1982 is worth a look if you like black comedies. Good list, glad you had the bonus selection of The Big Lebowski.
8 Buddy
December 17th, 2008 at 3:35 am
Grosse Point Blank doesn’t crack a mention?
9 Nicosia
December 17th, 2008 at 3:35 am
The Dude abides….
10 SoCalJeff
December 17th, 2008 at 3:46 am
Great list….
Fargo and Royal Tennenbaums are personal faves. Dr. Strangelove…so much hidden comedy in that film.
11 KristinOwe
December 17th, 2008 at 4:06 am
I was so glad to see Harold and Maude on this list….one of my all time favorites…
12 john soprano
December 17th, 2008 at 4:08 am
when I read Black Comedy >> I thought of SOUL PLANE
haha
13 Hemza
December 17th, 2008 at 4:14 am
Me too John Soprano, he should’ve named it dark comedies.. black comedies just sounds weird.
14 Jeremy Foster
December 17th, 2008 at 4:23 am
What about M*A*S*H? That’s one of my all time favorites, although it’s a rather red than black comedy …
15 Arnaud
December 17th, 2008 at 4:23 am
Wow wow !!!!
Ever heard of a movie called Brazil !!!!
You know… Terry Gilliam, torture, heating engineers, dictatorship, central services, terrorism, cosmetic surgery, necrophilia, insects in typewriters…
==> Hilarity… don’t you think ?
16 jajdude
December 17th, 2008 at 4:56 am
Retired guns on the list, g. At first I thought this would be about comedies with negroes as the main actors lol
17 LemonKiwi
December 17th, 2008 at 5:24 am
Love the list!
18 Felix
December 17th, 2008 at 5:24 am
This is a really interesting list, but how about these editions?
1. In Bruges starring Colin Farrell and Brendon Gleeson. Despite previous acting, Farrell is brilliant in this and i love the transformation between comedy and sadness
2. Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf, with Elizabeth Taylor. This is the father of Black Comedy, one of the first!
19 Copaface
December 17th, 2008 at 5:25 am
Great list!
Igby Goes Down is a legend movie.
20 Bethany
December 17th, 2008 at 5:31 am
“Happiness.” One messed up black comedy. Brilliant.
21 justme
December 17th, 2008 at 5:37 am
“lock stock and 2 smoking barrels” anyone?
22 Paro
December 17th, 2008 at 5:37 am
Good list! Totally agree with this.
23 Future Mrs. Frusciante
December 17th, 2008 at 5:39 am
Love the big lebowski..
thought you had forgotten it!
24 cheesedrummer
December 17th, 2008 at 5:44 am
oh the royal tennenbaums is such a brilliant film.
great list
25 ronsantohof
December 17th, 2008 at 5:44 am
I have never understood why people like The Big Lebowski so much. The movie is terrible and not funny at all. Although I will agree that it is dark; just no humor.
26 Cheeshygirl
December 17th, 2008 at 6:12 am
Great list! I’ve just realized that dark comedies are probably my favorite genre. I’ve seen most of these movies and loved them. We watched Harold and Maude in my abnormal psych class. I loved it but it was quite funny to see some of my fellow classmates squirm. Good times.
27 jimbob
December 17th, 2008 at 6:18 am
Personally, I believe the Royal Tennenbaums is one of the worst movies I’ve seen. It is rare that I fall asleep during a movie…twice!
28 Stacy
December 17th, 2008 at 6:24 am
I’m really disappointed that Heathers wasn’t mentioned. Dark? You betcha! Suicide/murder, teenage bullying, date rape etc. Then you throw in the humor…
Veronica Sawyer: I just killed my best friend.
J.D.: And your worst enemy.
Veronica Sawyer: Same difference.
Dennis: I’m not belittleing the foodless fund, Peter, but we’re talking teen suicide, here. I mean ask Alison; the number one song in America today is Teenage Suicide, Don’t Do It by Big Fun. Jesus, man, Westerburg finally got one of these things and I’m not gonna blow it.
Peter: Great, so Heather gets the front page and I get crammed in by the Taco Bell coupon.
29 lampett
December 17th, 2008 at 6:27 am
what about American psycho, one of the funniest film ever made.
30 Arthur Yanthar
December 17th, 2008 at 6:30 am
What about Man Bites Dog? That was probably the best dark comedy of all time!
31 TonyR
December 17th, 2008 at 6:32 am
This list is missing American Psycho and Rushmore.
32 segue
December 17th, 2008 at 6:40 am
Oh my! Where to begin? Black comedy has always been one of my favorite genres, and the first one I introduced to my kids was Harold & Maude. That got them hooked!
Of course Dr. Strangelove had to be included, as did most of the others.
I, too, Arnaud, was disappointed that Brazil wasn’t on the list but as list writer Shane Dayton noted, the list would have to run to 30 or more movies to include all of the truly “best” ones.
The original Bedazzled should be included, as should a movie no one here has probably ever seen, Hellzapopin (though that is more black-slapstick than black comedy).
This is a genre that one can look at one way one day, and a completely different way the next day.
Shane Dayton, thank you for the perfect morning pick-me-up! I’m sure I’ll be thinking of additional movies that fit the bill all day.
33 drgleockler
December 17th, 2008 at 6:48 am
Another one that usually goes missed is the Last Supper. It has Ron Perlman and Cameron Diaz in it. A bunch of college friends decide to invite a guest to dinner once a week…and kill them. Funny stuff!
34 cannabiscallan
December 17th, 2008 at 6:56 am
Heathers?
35 romerozombie
December 17th, 2008 at 6:56 am
My God, Dr. Strangelove is such an overrated snob film. It’s supposed to be hilarious, but people can only quote one line (which has worn very thin, and you know which one I’m talking about), and people seem to forget that for the most part it’s incredibly boring.
36 LordCalvert
December 17th, 2008 at 6:58 am
crap, i thought i was going to get to see a list with Coming to America on it…
37 Randall
December 17th, 2008 at 7:00 am
Too much focus on the Coen Brothers. They’re okay, but overrated. Fargo was a good film, not a great one, and they haven’t coughed up anything since that matches even that. “Blood Simple,” their first, is still one of their best… but is no comedy.
What about “Eating Raoul”? You missed that one, Shane.
And how about, for an offbeat choice, “Spider Baby”?
38 Randall
December 17th, 2008 at 7:01 am
And nice to see “Harold and Maude” on here… but what about “MASH” and “Nashville”?
39 bucslim
December 17th, 2008 at 7:01 am
Ok, I’m going to take on the role of ‘snotty snobby film snob’ and put a plug in for ‘Bad Santa.’ IMHO, it’s one of the blackest comedies out there and completely slays everything about the Christmas season. For the uninitiated, Billy Bob Thorton is a petty crook who’s main score is shopping malls at Christmas where he dresses up as Santa along with his elf friend, and they rob the shopping mall blind at the end of the season. He’s drunk all the time even when the kids are on his lap and has a penchant for large women.
Some movies listed have some awesome quotable lines, Bad Santa is chock full of them. And the best part is it makes us examine the silly traditions of consumerism and kicks it in the privates. This movie was definitely worth a mention and I’m happy to do it.
When I saw Simon Pegg’s pic in # 5 I also thought of ‘Shaun of the Dead.’ I think a case could be made for “The Ref” with Denis Leary. And a film like “American Werewolf in London” certainly had all sorts of black comedy elements in it as well several Bruce Campbell movies – Evil Dead 1 & 2, Army of Darkness and my personal favorite, Bubba Ho-Tep.
Lot’s to choose from.
40 bucslim
December 17th, 2008 at 7:03 am
romerozombie, I can quote quite a number of lines from Dr. Strangelove. I’m a little puzzled by the phrase, ‘incredibly boring.’ Don’t you mean ‘incredibly written, shot, directed, acted and very entertaining’ ???
41 Cheeshygirl
December 17th, 2008 at 7:04 am
Omg, how did I forget Heathers? That was my favorite movie as a teenager. I used to quote that movie to the point that I even hated myself.
“Don’t be such a girl scout cookie.”
And good to see you posting again Randall. We missed you.
42 romerozombie
December 17th, 2008 at 7:07 am
No Bucslim, no. It strikes me as one of those films people say they like just because it makes them look edgy and intellectual.
“No fighting in the war room!”
OH HA-BLOODY-HA.
43 Ducky23
December 17th, 2008 at 7:11 am
Fargo has always been one of my all time favs. Steve Buscemi and Peter Stormare are two wonderfully undrated actors. In my humble opinion they make the movie. Very bad things I saw on a whim, because there was nothing else at the movie store (that was when you still rented movies/dvds). I was so surprised by how funny and dark it really was. Great List, once again!!!
44 Baxter
December 17th, 2008 at 7:14 am
The Coen brothers are really the masters of the genre… anyone seen In Bruges? Now that is DARK…
45 Baxter
December 17th, 2008 at 7:16 am
“No Bucslim, no. It strikes me as one of those films people say they like just because it makes them look edgy and intellectual.”
I take it you haven’t seen the film then? Wow, your opinion is worth more than everyone else’s.
46 Callie
December 17th, 2008 at 7:16 am
I’ve seen all of these except Big Nothing, but i’ve already added it to my netflix. I LOVE Four Rooms, and it never gets mentioned in anything.
I’m going to add Death To Smoochy as an honorable mention.
47 damien_karras
December 17th, 2008 at 7:16 am
I would hasten to add ‘Swimming with Sharks’ with Kevin Spacey and ‘Trainspotting’. As far as the latter goes, never has the use of heroin and it’s consequences been funnier.
I’m curious though, as subjective as this genre of film is, if the individual watching is twisted to begin with, then ‘The Exorcist’ or ‘Silence of the Lambs’ might be a dark comedy to them. Just an observation.
48 bucslim
December 17th, 2008 at 7:19 am
OK romerozombie, I won’t try to convince you because I believe the very definition of ‘sense of humor’ is just that, a sense of what you find to be funny. It’s kinda involuntary. I’m not going to say my ribs hurt after I watched Strangelove, but I like it and think there are several hilarious moments and, like I said, I can quote several other lines than ‘no fighting in the war room.’
49 Randall
December 17th, 2008 at 7:22 am
Cheeshygirl:
Thanks much. Just been very busy lately, between grading season, and writing an article for a magazine in collaboration with an ex-girlfriend (now on the back burner so she can focus on her knitting for the holidays… ahem) AND there hasn’t been all that much, lately, to actually comment on.
And Christmas shopping. That wonderous annual activity where I empty my bank account so that my kids can be steeped in materialism. Barnes & Noble alone now has $300 of my hard-earned cash.
50 Kreachure
December 17th, 2008 at 7:23 am
Nice list. I hoped for “Lock, Stock, and two smoking barrels” but oh well.
By the way, if a list mentions an item as the best, it should be #1, not ‘bonus’! Isn’t that the whole point of a TOP 10?
51 damien_karras
December 17th, 2008 at 7:34 am
romerozombie: I can relate a bit to your views of ‘Dr. Strangelove’. I remember years back, I had just seen a’A Clockwork Orange’ and went to a party afterwards. There were two guys there with a radio that had a picture of Alex and his droogs on it. Upon seeing it I mentioned offhand that I had just seen the movie and said simply, “Yeah, it was a good flick.”
They looked at me with a smirk and started ranting, saying crap like: “A good flick? Clockwork Orange ISN’T a flick. It’s an incredibly important piece of work that can only be appreciated because of it’s not so subtle nuances pointing to…. blah, blah, blah, and it makes an important statement about the evils of society, blah, blah, blah.”
Evantually, I walked away from these two pretentious assholes and got myself a drink…
52 nubyw00tz
December 17th, 2008 at 7:44 am
Gee, a pregnant police officer. I wonder what could go wrong?
53 Brickhouse
December 17th, 2008 at 7:44 am
Wonderful list! I’ve seen a few of these, now I have a new bunch to watch…
And I have to say, I did think you forgot The Big Lebowski! That movie rocks. My husband isn’t a fan of dark comedies, but he really liked that one.
54 Whatever
December 17th, 2008 at 7:50 am
gee no american psycho?! what a jip
55 DiscHuker
December 17th, 2008 at 7:54 am
randall: i had noticed your absence lately also. welcome back, friend.
but i have to disagree with you over the coen brothers. fargo, the big lebowski, raising arizona, o brother where art thou and no country for old men. while the last one doesnt fit this category, these are all examples of excellent movie making. one can disagree about how dark or comedic they are but to say that these aren’t good movies is quite the stretch.
especially since one of them one best picture.
56 DiscHuker
December 17th, 2008 at 7:55 am
oh yeah, i’ll join the crowd that was expecting to see soul plane, barber shop, friday and coming to america.
57 DiscHuker
December 17th, 2008 at 7:56 am
crap, *won best picture.
58 Randall
December 17th, 2008 at 7:59 am
romerozombie & damien_karras:
While I have a higher opinion of “Dr. Strangelove” than romero, both of you make a good point.
There are a lot of people in this world who take film awfully seriously, intellectually embalming certain films as “important works of art” that should be treated with hushed reverance and spoken about only in the most rarified, artsy-vague terms to suggest to all within hearing range that A) they know all about “great art” and can recognize it better than you, and B) the more difficult to comprehend a film is, the less understandable for the masses, then the more it is surely a Great Work of Art.
Sure.
I met dozens of such pretentious lil’ pricks in film classes back in college (of course, they’re in literature classes as well, and art classes—but you expect them there). The funny thing is, film is nothing but ephemeral. It’s flickering images on celluloid. And while it can be beautiful and moving and all that, as an art form it’s at best severely hampered by the fact that no matter how intellectual, it’s still just commercial product. It’s almost never the vision of a single “artist” but is by its nature a media product designed and executed by committee (or a crowd). And we pay ten buck to go see it in a dark room in uncomfortable seats, munching popcorn. And no matter how artsy it is, right next to it as its bastard brothers are every cheesy old piece of trash flick ever made, or the latest dumb blockbuster or moronic action film. You can’t EVER forget that when you’re watching something that’s supposed to be “arty,” because either in the theater next door, or next on the bill, or in your DVD collection next to it at home is “Saw IV” or “Ernest Saves Christmas” or “Billy Madison.”
The entire film medium is like the middle class kid who grows up in a trailer park and thinks because he has a little schooling that he’s suddenly Noam Chomsky or Jorge Luis Borges and his shit don’t stink. Meanwhile, back home he’s got a dozen brothers, some of whom are decent, hard working, halfway smart guys–but nothing special–and then some of whom are also lowlife morons without a job.
59 Steph Frederick
December 17th, 2008 at 8:00 am
The oldest movie on the list is Dr. Strangelove. My personal favorite preceded Strangelove by about 20 years. Anyone out there remember Cary Grant and Raymond Massey in Arsenic and Old Lace? Brilliant!!
60 Suskis
December 17th, 2008 at 8:02 am
I love Choen’s movies, but I don’t like Lebowsky at all. Maybe it’s too american or I am too young to appreciate it, but aside some nice moments, the rest of the movie didn’t appeal me at all
61 segue
December 17th, 2008 at 8:20 am
57. Steph Frederick:…Arsenic and Old Lace? Brilliant!!
****
A wonderful movie! It was also my high school’s senior play. I starred as Elaine.
DiscHuker: I’m with you on the Coen Bros., but I understand Randall’s aversion. They’re kind of like avacados. Either you love them or you hate them, there is no middle ground.
62 Bigwig Rabbit
December 17th, 2008 at 8:23 am
The War of the Roses? Not number 2 at least. C’mon!
63 supacharged19
December 17th, 2008 at 8:25 am
Little miss sunshine and Burn after Reading should also be mentioned as a great dark comedy.
64 DiscHuker
December 17th, 2008 at 8:36 am
shane: great list. you had me laughing at your description of the big lebowski just remembering how absurd the whole situation. “the rug really brought the whole room together”. classic.
65 tai mai shu
December 17th, 2008 at 8:43 am
You forgot a great one- “Monseir Verdoux” by Charlie Chaplin. He made it in 1947. It’s based on a true story of a guy who marries all these rich women, and kills them. Throughout most of the movie he’s trying to kill Martha Rae, who plays “the wife that won’t die”. He tries poison, throwing her off a rowboat, etc. Very dark and humourous.
66 loseitbonkers
December 17th, 2008 at 8:47 am
i second the addition of trainspotting.
67 ebdragon
December 17th, 2008 at 8:58 am
“the happening” was the funniest black comedy. i laughed my ass off in the theater. let me save you some time if you haven’t seen it… the trees did it.
68 Xavier
December 17th, 2008 at 9:04 am
Where’s KISS KISS BANG BANG? Robert Downey, Jr. is brilliant in this, as well as Val Kilmer!
69 psychosurfer
December 17th, 2008 at 9:08 am
I´d like to add Rushmore from Wes Anderson and one of my personal favorites: After Hours by Scorcese.
70 psychosurfer
December 17th, 2008 at 9:12 am
No ‘Natural Born Killers’ in the list nor in the comments… interesting
71 Clantargh
December 17th, 2008 at 9:19 am
This is one of my favorite genres, and most of my favorites have been mentioned in the list or comments: Very Bad Things, Heathers, Arsenic and Old Lace, Eating Raoul, all classics. A few others that might fit the list Falling Down, Repo Man, Throw Momma From The Train, Psychos In Love, Slaughterhouse Five (Kurt Vonnegut was a genius!), Serial Mom, Pulp Fiction, Withnail & I, and Catch-22
72 OldNavy
December 17th, 2008 at 9:23 am
Catch 22…The Ladykillers…these are not mentioned???
73 Matticus
December 17th, 2008 at 9:31 am
Boondock Saints always comes to mind when I think of Black Comedy… Same with Snatch, where cutting people up and feeding them to pigs if F**ing Hilarious!
Neither of which (to my surprise) have been mentioned yet!
74 abe
December 17th, 2008 at 9:56 am
weres american pshycho
75 opty
December 17th, 2008 at 9:57 am
OMG I love fargo should be number 1 LOL haven’t seen the others so shouldn’t be on the list
76 The Grey GOAT
December 17th, 2008 at 10:19 am
Fargo? Sorry, I am just not one of those people not on the Cohen Train. To me all of their movies suck except The Big Lebowski and Rasing Arizona. I mean really Fargo was OK at best, but it was slow, dull, and had a very few parts here and there where you laugh. Of course its a movie that makes you think, its so slow and dull that if you don’t think you’ll go insane. I don’t understand why people tend to feel movies that don’t explain much and leave things so open ended are great. “Oh it makes you think about society and life, blah, blah, blah” Just because a movie does that doesn’t make it a masterpiece. The Cohen brothers are notorious for that; No Country For Old Men….yeah, I get the idea behind it, but who cares, the movie sucks! I’m not saying all movies that make you think are bad, but some people rant and rave over movies that are utter crap. Kubrick is also on my shit list. 2001 a Space Oddessy: WORST MOVIE EVER, no matter what anyone tells you it is garbage. So what if he got physics in space basically right, the movie is probably the stupidest thing I’ve ever seen. I get the message of human evolution behind it etc….but again, so what! If I wanted that kind of entertainment I would go watch the Discovery Channel. Sorry for going off topic there, but I just wanted to say ultimately Fargo, the Cohen Brothers, and Stanley Kubrick are all overrated. Just my opinion though.
Other movies worth mentioning:
Snatch
Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels
Falling Down
American Beauty
Trainspotting
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
77 The Grey GOAT
December 17th, 2008 at 10:22 am
OPPS, Forgot to proof read, sorry for the Double Post!!!
Fargo? Sorry, I am just one of those people NOT on the Cohen Train.
:-p
78 Boogie
December 17th, 2008 at 10:22 am
withnail and i?
life is beautiful?
79 Anon
December 17th, 2008 at 10:23 am
The Ladykillers. Oh, yes please.
And no Kind Hearts and Coronets?
80 YogiBarrister
December 17th, 2008 at 10:43 am
Segue #61, I’m not going to take on Randall in a blog war over the Coen Brothers, but I’m quite sure he was saying that there IS middle ground. He thinks they are merely OK, I think everything they’ve ever done qualifies for this list. These days, theirs are the only movies I go to the theater to see.
81 bucslim
December 17th, 2008 at 10:45 am
Grey Goat – Yeah, Kubrick really sucked, I’ll tell ya. I’ve had to watch 2001 about 50 times to try to discover his ultimate suckiness. That movie is so bad that about 100 other directors and movie studios tried to copy how terrible it was. It’s so bad that it constantly ranks as one of the greatest science fiction movies ever. It’s so horrible that without it a slew of other better sci fi movies would have never been made. The Discovery Channel certainly serves up way better entertainment on human evolution than that suck bag ever could. The Shining was boring, I fell asleep during Full Metal Jacket, A Clockwork Orange was shitty, Paths of Glory made me vomit, Barry Lyndon was uninspired tripe, Strangelove wasn’t funny or edgy. The best thing he ever did was Eyes Wide Shut because we got to see Nicole Kidman and about 100 other faceless women naked. Not to mention that nutbag Tom Cruise was in it.
You calling what is widely regarded as the best science fiction movie, far ahead of it’s time, brilliantly directed and written as the worst movie ever was notice enough to just about everyone in here that you don’t know what you’re talking about. Go play with your tinker toys and let the grown-ups talk.
82 skipps
December 17th, 2008 at 10:48 am
Hi, may I suggest this Danish film called “Adam’s Apples”? It’s a tragic, but absolutely hilarious and touching film.
83 YogiBarrister
December 17th, 2008 at 10:55 am
#76 really got my goat. The writer disses Kubrick and the Coen Brothers but cites two Mr Madonna movies. Sorry, this comment doesn’t cut it. Ritchie is a terrible director, his camera work is that of a child with ADD. Kubrick, on the otherhand was the master of cinematography, although I do understand why younger viewers might find his pacing to be too slow, but then those kids should be enjoying the Coen Brothers. I almost feel sorry for The Grey GOAT and his pitiful taste in movies, then again, goats eat everything.
84 sakurakiss
December 17th, 2008 at 11:03 am
I love dark comedies – probably my single favorite genre of movie. I think Little Miss Sunshine would be a good addition to the list, but whether you like the Coen brothers or not, I don’t think you can write a black comedy list without them. They are the reigning kings of black comedy. I actually just saw The Big Lebowski for the first time today, and I saw Barton Fink a few weeks ago. Strange and quirky but really, really funny – at least to me.
85 steve d
December 17th, 2008 at 11:06 am
So many opinions. It cracks me up when people say, “that movie SUCKS!” rather than “I hate that movie,” or “For me, that movie sucked.” After all, a movie that garnered so much critical and audience success and popularity, such as Fargo, obviously doesn’t “suck” to the majority of people. Sorry, it’s all subjective opinions. I just had to get that off my chest.
So, yes, Fargo is one of the best of this category, in my opinion. I also think “War of the Roses” was a great example of dark comedies, although really hard to sit through for me. Anyone ever heard of “The Loved One”? Great book by Evelyn Waugh, hugely dark, satirical movie about a Hollywood cemetary…featuring Liberace in a starring role!
86 YogiBarrister
December 17th, 2008 at 11:10 am
#79 cited the original black comedy, and still one of the best. Kind Hearts and Coronets should be at the top.
87 The Dude
December 17th, 2008 at 11:12 am
hahaha, finally some love for the dude. my hats off to ya.
88 The Dude
December 17th, 2008 at 11:13 am
p.s. when they spread donny’s ashes i was laughin so hard i had tears in my eyes.
89 YogiBarrister
December 17th, 2008 at 11:14 am
I’d be willing to bet anyone here that if you were to take a poll of the living directors on this list and ask them about the greatest black comedy, Kind Hearts and Coronets would win going away.
For your consideration: The Doom Generation and Thank You For Smoking
90 em
December 17th, 2008 at 11:19 am
Love the list and most of the movies. I totally thought this list was going to include “The Cosby Show” initially!
91 romerozombie
December 17th, 2008 at 11:23 am
45. Baxter
Of course I’ve seen it! If I hadn’t I’d be the very kind of person I hate! And no, my opinion isn’t worth more than anyone else’s – because that’s all it comes down to.
Each to their own.
92 Anon
December 17th, 2008 at 11:36 am
steve d, (85),
Read ‘The Loved One’, not seen the flick. If it ever crosses my horizon …
Yogibarrister, (86) and (89),
Thanks for the back-up on KHAC. It’s a shame that often in these lists the great historical contributions get left on the sidelines (Stanley Mathews literally in the recent top footballers topic). Understandable, I suppose, as the list has to relate to what those currently around are likely to have seen or to know about.
93 Randall
December 17th, 2008 at 11:37 am
YogiBarrister:
A) I totally agree with you about “Kind Hearts and Coronets.” Great film, classic black comedy. So is Monsieur Verdoux, one I’d forgot to mention that someone else brought up.
B) We’d have no blog war over the Coen bros. I don’t dismiss them–some of their films have been very good—I liked “Blood Simple” a lot, and thought “Fargo” was very good, as well as “Raising Arizona,” and others. I just think they’re overrated—I don’t believe they’re the great geniuses everyone thinks them to be. They can produce some really cool, dark elements in their films, and some stirring, jarring imagery. But on the other hand, I do find them to sometimes be gratituous, hiding it behind their own artsiness. In this I see them as being a great deal like Scorsese, whom I also feel is overrated. This doesn’t mean I think either the Coens or Scorsese are BAD… I just mean that they’re not all that people make them out to be. Taxi Driver was riveting and jarring and makes you wince a lot. But it’s also exploitative and gratituous and bleak for the sake of it. And I can say the same for a lot of Coen bros. films. To me sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t, but it’s never of some genius quality.
I just think we’re way too easy with handing out praise to modern filmmakers–probably because so much contemporary film is utter crap. The last great period for American film was in the early 70s. Since then it’s been completely downhill, and badly downhill, with only the occasional bright spot to pick things up a bit—but very, very little of truly high rank. But because we’re so mired in shit, we think anything that rises even a bit above it is “great.”
It’s sad.
94 Yondofan12
December 17th, 2008 at 11:42 am
Harold and Maude is one of the best films, in my opinion, ever made. Going to funerals as a hobby, Maude stealing cars, driving hearses, faking suicides. What a classic.
95 psychosurfer
December 17th, 2008 at 11:57 am
76. The Grey GOAT. I may not share your opinions entirely but at least those are YOURS. I like your attitude and guts. Kudos for the comment.
96 blackcowlneck
December 17th, 2008 at 11:59 am
This list reminded me that I don’t like black comedies!
97 Anon
December 17th, 2008 at 12:01 pm
Can anyone help me in my ignorance by putting a name to a (US) black comedy we loved but missed out on the title. segue or Randall maybe? Possibly it’s mentioned somewhere in the thread above and I’ve been too lazy to notice. We tuned in when it was already underway on public TV. At the time we were still living in England, so over a decade ago.
The details are pretty hazy by now, but this is a rough idea of the theme. There is a fight or scuffle, and a mature woman is seen to be killed as a result, albeit unintentionally. From then on the film develops into a hilarious drive-about by the two young people responsible for the happening. They set out to dispose of the body, which is carted around in the back of their vehicle. Despite everything they attempt to get rid of it – off bridges into a river, by burial, no matter what – it keeps getting returned to them, or their efforts are stymied or somehow abort. These events are strung together in a most natural and ingenious way. In case anyone reading hasn’t seen it and may do in the future, I won’t spoil by spitting out the ending.
I’ve no idea how this film is rated, but Anita and I were so captivated that we’ve always wanted to see it again. And she’s no great fan of black comedies either (or so she tries to tell me) …
Anybody?
98 THE FACT MAN
December 17th, 2008 at 12:07 pm
Donnie, Steve Buchemi’s character in The Big Lebowski being constantly told to “shut the fuck up” by Walter, is an in-joke alluding to Steve Bushemi’s character in Fargo having copious amounts of dialogue.
THAT’S A FACT
99 dustin
December 17th, 2008 at 12:12 pm
fargo isnt a better movie than dr strangelove, good list though
100 Anon
December 17th, 2008 at 12:16 pm
‘The Little Shop of Horrors’ and ‘Beetlejuice’ are certainly down as classic black comedies in my regular source. But presumably too much fantasy to fit in here? Great stuff anyway.
101 The_Patient
December 17th, 2008 at 12:18 pm
My Aunt is in Big Nothing!
Also, Very Bad things, I thought was a very disappointing movie. I was expecting it to be much better than it was after all the hype…. Oh well.
Good list!
102 THEKID
December 17th, 2008 at 12:20 pm
The Life Aquatic? Does that count?
Also: Shaun of the Dead…
I feel like those are somewhat dark…maybe The Life Aquatic is more depressing than it is dark.
103 Idreno
December 17th, 2008 at 12:29 pm
I’m sorry but “Heathers” should DEFINITELY be on this list. Hands down.
104 Freshies
December 17th, 2008 at 12:42 pm
Black Comedies? Where are all the black people then? Maybe you meant dark comedies.
Anyway’s great list. Ravenous is for sure a comedy, it was hilarious.
105 Blogball
December 17th, 2008 at 12:43 pm
Anon could that movie be Head Above Water?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Head_Above_Water
Very entertaining list Shane Dayton….I really like dark comedies but I have to be in the mood. I will have to check out some here that I haven’t seen. Dr Strangelove is my favorite one here. That movie seems to pop up a lot on listverse.
106 bucslim
December 17th, 2008 at 12:44 pm
I’m not the biggest Wes Anderson Fan but this line gave me fits of laughter:
Steve Zissou: Don’t point that gun at him, he’s an unpaid intern
107 islanderbst
December 17th, 2008 at 12:45 pm
“I dont have a problem, I have problems, plural”
Loved Tim Roth in Four Rooms.
My choices have all been named, Swimming with sharks, man bites dog, in bruges, etc., so I’ll just say, nice list, and yes it is true black comedies are very hit or miss on an individual basis, as Tennenbaums did nothing for me.
108 yup!
December 17th, 2008 at 1:02 pm
What about Clue? I believe it fits into the category and is quite humorous!
I’m glad a Wes Anderson film made it on, but The Royal Tenenbaums isn’t my favorite especially compared to Rushmore.
109 lilstvsmom
December 17th, 2008 at 1:16 pm
When I first saw the list “Black Comedies” I was thinking of Friday….I was sadly sadly mistaken. I think Bad Santa should have been on there.
110 The Grey GOAT
December 17th, 2008 at 1:22 pm
81. bucslim
83. YogiBarrister
85. steve d
“Grey Goat – Yeah, Kubrick really sucked, I’ll tell ya. I’ve had to watch 2001 about 50 times to try to discover his ultimate suckiness. That movie is so bad that about 100 other directors and movie studios tried to copy how terrible it was. It’s so bad that it constantly ranks as one of the greatest science fiction movies ever. It’s so horrible that without it a slew of other better sci fi movies would have never been made. The Discovery Channel certainly serves up way better entertainment on human evolution than that suck bag ever could. The Shining was boring, I fell asleep during Full Metal Jacket, A Clockwork Orange was shitty, Paths of Glory made me vomit, Barry Lyndon was uninspired tripe, Strangelove wasn’t funny or edgy. The best thing he ever did was Eyes Wide Shut because we got to see Nicole Kidman and about 100 other faceless women naked. Not to mention that nutbag Tom Cruise was in it.
You calling what is widely regarded as the best science fiction movie, far ahead of it’s time, brilliantly directed and written as the worst movie ever was notice enough to just about everyone in here that you don’t know what you’re talking about. Go play with your tinker toys and let the grown-ups talk”
#76 really got my goat. The writer disses Kubrick and the Coen Brothers but cites two Mr Madonna movies. Sorry, this comment doesn’t cut it. Ritchie is a terrible director, his camera work is that of a child with ADD. Kubrick, on the otherhand was the master of cinematography, although I do understand why younger viewers might find his pacing to be too slow, but then those kids should be enjoying the Coen Brothers. I almost feel sorry for The Grey GOAT and his pitiful taste in movies, then again, goats eat everything.
“So many opinions. It cracks me up when people say, “that movie SUCKS!” rather than “I hate that movie,” or “For me, that movie sucked.” After all, a movie that garnered so much critical and audience success and popularity, such as Fargo, obviously doesn’t “suck” to the majority of people. Sorry, it’s all subjective opinions. I just had to get that off my chest.
So, yes, Fargo is one of the best of this category, in my opinion. I also think “War of the Roses” was a great example of dark comedies, although really hard to sit through for me. Anyone ever heard of “The Loved One”? Great book by Evelyn Waugh, hugely dark, satirical movie about a Hollywood cemetary…featuring Liberace in a starring role!
————————————————————-
Listen you guys, I will respect your opinion, fine. But notice that at the end of what I said, I mentioned it was simply my opinion. And I knew I was gonna get nailed for dissing Kubrick and Coen Bros. and putting Guy Ritchie movies up there, whatever fine. I’m man enough to stand by my opinions.
“#76 really got my goat. The writer disses Kubrick and the Coen Brothers but cites two Mr Madonna movies.”
So you base what director you like off of who they marry?
Yeah, your real smart.
I still say 2001 was not a good movie to ME. There are people who hate every type of movie that a lot of people love, Star Wars is a perfect example whatever. All I can say is I have my reasons for not liking the movie. It was slow, boring, and uninteresting. I understand what people might think was so great about it. Like I said, the physics and depiction of humans in space was pretty accurate. The AI taking over as a self aware being more perfect than man, the vision of what the future would be like 40 years from when the movie was made, I get it. It just was not entertaining to me. And don’t give me this crap about being too young to understand. So what if I wasn’t a teenager when the movie came out. I’ve seen movies that were made before my time that I think were great, and I’ve seen modern movies that I hate. But saying 2001 is the greatest ever made because it paved the way for all other space movies is crap. That’s like saying you would rather be driving around on a horse and buggy because it paved the way for modern cars.
“You calling what is widely regarded as the best science fiction movie, far ahead of it’s time, brilliantly directed and written as the worst movie ever was notice enough to just about everyone in here that you don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Translation – Me not agreeing with the mainstream that this movie was great makes me an idiot and a child.
Yeah, that comment really shows “YOUR” intelligence.
“It’s so horrible that without it a slew of other better sci fi movies would have never been made.”
Not necissarily true. Most Sci-Fi movies do borrow things from this movie, but
1. Just because Kubrick did it first doesn’t make it the best, that only give me a reason as to why the film was groundbreaking, not a good movie. There is a difference, which I have acknowledged in my argument.
2. Ok, let’s suppose he didn’t make this movie, there’s no way to prove or disprove how it would have impacted future SCI-FI movies.
3. “Kubrick was an idiot. He got it wrong. 2001 has already passed and we can barely get to the moon, much less Jupiter. (OK this part I am totally joking
Don’t kill me.”
And also, since you think 2001 ASO is so great, tell me why. I told you why I hate it, yet you give me no real reason why YOU like it. What was so great about the direction? The camera work? The acting? What makes it great? In fact I even admitted there were some reasons why I can see what stood out about the film, but I have reasons for backing what I don’t like too. Tell me what YOU think, not that everyone has
regarded this as “THE GREATEST SCI-FI EVER”. That tells me nothing other than “Let me check it out and see if I like it”. (Just FYI I watched that movie about 5 days ago and really wanted to see it for a long time after hearing so much about it. I really wanted to like this movie. So it’s not like my opinion is biased or holds no merrit. I sat through it from beginning to end and just didn’t find the “GREATNESS” in it.)
Sorry if I like movies that entertain. Not something I gotta sit through 10-15 minutes of watching a ship fly through space with no sound. But that has nothing to do with my intellegence level or age and I would appreciate it if you leave that out if you intend to argue with me in the future because that stuff is not important if I am approaching you with an intellegent opinion with facts to back it up. Excuse the slang and sarcasm in my writing sometimes, I understand saying a movie “SUCKS” sounds a bit juvenille. Yet I came in here with a friendly attitude, not one of trying to be an asshole although I realize the sarcastic tone of what I say can sometimes lead to that which is why you made the comment you did about me.
“After all, a movie that garnered so much critical and audience success and popularity, such as Fargo, obviously doesn’t “suck” to the majority of people.”
Ok, I don’t completely HATE Fargo. I just don’t think it’s great. There are parts where it’s too dull for my taste and somewhere I did see the sarcasm and irony of the situations the characters were put in. Again, I get it, I just don’t feel this movie is all that great and I feel that the Coen Brothers movies don’t always do it for me, hence I feel they are overrated. I don’t care if no one like the movies I picked or if the majority loves Fargo.
AGAIN in case you missed it the first time – IT’S ALL MY OPINION.
111 Mom424
December 17th, 2008 at 1:27 pm
Great list Shayne; don’t agree with all your picks, but you’re spawning a great discussion. Good Job. The most egregious omission, in my opinion of course, is The War of the Roses. Kathleen Turner, Michael Douglas, and Danny DeVito (he looks like the personification of black comedy). Highly entertaining.
Randall; I’ve really missed you lately; I do agree that there haven’t been as many opportunities to discuss, browbeat, or argue about of late. But Christmas shopping and work? No way! Make time for us.
I disagree with your underrating of Fargo; I will concede that my fondness may be due to living on the east coast of Canada for a few years. I actually knew people who acted and talked and behaved like the principals in the movie. Not to mention that Francis McDormand can do no wrong.
Bucslim: Agreed – Eyes Wide Shut was horrible, boring, stupid, and it had Tom Cruise. I tried to watch it, I failed. Don’t feel too bad about it either.
112 kofeelite
December 17th, 2008 at 1:31 pm
“One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest”
“A Simple Plan”
113 Anon
December 17th, 2008 at 1:36 pm
yup!, (108),
You mentioned ‘Clue’, which I don’t know, and which gets a pretty lukewarm reception in my critical sources. However, it remined me of one I don’t think has been mentioned, and which surely rates a mention: ‘Sleuth’, with Olivier and Caine at their ripest best. Surely just about enough underlying menace to label it black?
114 damien_karras
December 17th, 2008 at 1:43 pm
Grey Goat : “1. Just because Kubrick did it first doesn’t make it the best, that only give me a reason as to why the film was groundbreaking, not a good movie.”
Well spoken and completely true, sir.
115 YogiBarrister
December 17th, 2008 at 1:51 pm
“So you base what director you like off of who they marry?
Yeah, your real smart.”
.
Come on Goat Boy! If you are calling someone stupid, you can’t phrase it that way, it makes it seem like you’re not real smart.
2001 is acclaimed because of its technical advances. The front projection cinematography Kubrick used was breathtaking in its day. I’m inclined to agree with you about the pacing once we leave the apes and Earth behind. 2001 is all about the cinematography and set design, while acting and storytelling take a back seat, but oh those visuals, there isn’t one uninteresting shot in the whole movie.
116 sparrow22
December 17th, 2008 at 1:52 pm
As a huge Coen Brothers fan, I thrilled you put The Big Lebowski and Barton Fink on the list and placed Fargo at number 1. However, I can think of a very, very dark comedy (not by the Coen Brothers) that you completely forgot–Happiness by Todd Solondz.
117 Kreachure
December 17th, 2008 at 1:56 pm
Anon: I tried to look for a movie matching your description just about everywhere, but didn’t come up with much. I found a movie called Cement, but the only plot summary I could find is incomplete, so I don’t know if it’s really close to your description. If that’s not what you’re looking for, it would be helpful if you remembered something else about the movie so I can narrow my search a little.
Sincerely,
not segue or Randall
118 BooRadley
December 17th, 2008 at 2:04 pm
I just wanted to say that in MY OPINION, the Coen Brothers are amazing. Raising Arizona, O Brother, Where Art Thou… bloody brilliant. I loved Fargo, but still I would not have placed it as #1. I would say Harold and Maude should have that honor.
There are loads of great dark comedies on this list, and I definitely have some to add to my Netflix list. One that has not been mantioned is “I Love You To Death,” which never had much acclaim, but I laugh all the way through every time I see it.
From the intro to this list: If you’re watching a dark comedy and laughing your head off, but feeling horribly guilty about it at the same time, then the film has successfully managed that balance.
The scene in the car in Pulp Fiction (the one with blood and brains spattered everywhere) had me laughing so hard I could barely breathe, while at the same time I was thinking, “This is awful! I really should NOT find this funny!” That’s a dark comedy for you.
119 The Grey GOAT
December 17th, 2008 at 2:05 pm
“So you base what director you like off of who they marry?
Yeah, your real smart.”
Come on Goat Boy! If you are calling someone stupid, you can’t phrase it that way, it makes it seem like you’re not real smart.
2001 is acclaimed because of its technical advances. The front projection cinematography Kubrick used was breathtaking in its day. I’m inclined to agree with you about the pacing once we leave the apes and Earth behind. 2001 is all about the cinematography and set design, while acting and storytelling take a back seat, but oh those visuals, there isn’t one uninteresting shot in the whole movie.”
Ok “Yogi Bear”, now we’re talking. I agree with you on this point. It was shot really well. The costumes with the gorillas looked great, the depiction of space travel, moon and earth ortbital bases, the fact that the ships were circular to simulate gravity, all good stuff. (I’m sure the fact that this movie was made during the Space Program era helped him a lot too.) But, the movie itself was just boring. That was my point from the get go.
And about that comment, again that’s my sarcastic writing coming into play. Your the one who called him Mr. Madonna and I just pounced on that. It doesn’t tell me why you seem to dislike his movies though, hence why I said, what I said.
120 Anon
December 17th, 2008 at 2:06 pm
Blogball, (105),
Thanks for your valiant and thoughtful effort. I’ve read the synopsis you posted plus my own sources, and no, it definitely isn’t ‘Head Above Water’. In the unknown black comedy we’re trying to identify there’s only one *victim* she’s female (recalled by Anita as a mother-in-law), getting on a bit, and is carted around the countryside a great deal -mainly wrapped up in a carpet, as we recall.
I’m beginning to despair of every finding out what it is except by the offchance of seeing it again somewhere, sometime. Memory and mood can play strange tricks, but if it really was as entertaining as we remember, it would certainly be a worthy contender here.
121 Metalwrath
December 17th, 2008 at 2:15 pm
2001 ASO has an AMAZING storyline. I didn’t like it the first time I saw it.. when I was 15. Then I saw it again at age 20 or so and I loved it! The scenes with the AI actually manage to be really stressful although its just a static red laser! I mean how does a director actually manage that?! Its just brilliant! “what do you think you’re doing Dave?” :p
And the ending with the starchild thing… Even I hardly understand it but its still so eerie and unique, I love it. The last time I watched it I realized that I was making a really stupid face : eyes and mouth wide open, and I don’t move an inch.
But I understand the difference in opinions. Only I do suggest that those who didn’t like it the first time give it another try… and not while eating diner or something. Sit down and watch it seriously.
Another black comedy that I loved (but that many people didn’t… I guess you either love it or hate it) is Teeth. It extremely bad taste yet I laughed my ass off from start to finish.
122 Kylo
December 17th, 2008 at 2:16 pm
Very bad things is terrible, Lock Stock would go much better, or even Raising Arizona.
123 Anon
December 17th, 2008 at 2:19 pm
Kreachure, (117),
Thanks as per to Blogball above for your efforts on my behalf. Same verdict, I fear. Apart from plot dissimilarities, ‘Concrete’ is a 2005 movie and a short at that. Ours was a feature and is certainly well over a decade old (I’m allowing that we must have seen it not later than about 1996, and since it was on open TV, it had to have been released not much later than a couple of years before that). I can’t believe it isn’t known to someone here. If not, why not?
I’ve added a little bit more in comment 120 of what we seem to recall. I’ve also tried pasting such key points as I can remember together and googling, but without luck. Surely there can’t be that many feature flicks of a couple driving around trying to dispose of a middle-aged lady’s body?????
124 bucslim
December 17th, 2008 at 2:20 pm
Goat,
I completely understand that you are entitled to your own opinion, and I can’t argue with your first statement about it being a terrible movie to YOU. But that doesn’t make it a terrible movie and it doesn’t make Kubrick a hack, but it does show that you don’t understand what truly makes a great movie.
First of all, I never said it was the greatest movie ever made, I said it was ONE of the greatest SCI FI movies ever made. And of course you want reasons. Well basically every sci fi movie made up until them was idiots running around in silver suits with their plastic ray guns battling blobs of aliens or mad scientists sequestered away on distant planets. In short, they were a joke, poorly made, sets that could have been made from leftover scraps from the lumber yard and filmed with kindergarten toys.
You contradict yourself by countering my statement that a ‘slew of sci fi movies would have never been made’(if not for 2001) by saying most sci fi movies do borrow things from it. The film is groundbreaking because it treated the material in a serious way. It’s groundbreaking because it used new technology and photographic techniques to create a more realistic environment. Granted, it was the late 60′s, but the set looked like a real spaceship, inside and out.
Hollywood would have just continued to make shitty robot and ‘guy in an alien suit’ sci fi had Kubrick not come along and paved the way for a serious treatment of the subject.
The subject matter of human evolution, to my knowledge had not had any screen time, and tackling it was a daunting task to say the least. It could have very easliy ended up a corn ball lunatic mess. Instead, Kubrick delivered a statement about where we’ve been and endless possibilities of where we are headed.
The photography was just breathtaking. Instead of a styrofoam ball covered in green and blue paint, Kubrick showed us a different, more realistic view of planets in space. The film as all kinds of style dripping from scene to scene. Some of it, yes, trippy ’60′s but most of it seemed possible in a scientific way. Realistic apes battling each other for domination of the water hole and survival.
The soundtrack was hard to beat too.
You might call the pacing boring and tedious, but to serious film students, the pacing was absolutely pitch perfect. It takes its time telling the story. That might not appeal to today’s MTV ADHD crowd where shit needs to blow up now, but in order to tell this story, it’s got to be done with care. Kubrick is a master at this. We have to have a certain patience. I can most certainly understand how that wouldn’t appeal to today’s audiences.
More clues to 2001′s greatness lies in it’s influence, which can be clearly seen in just about every movie about space since it hit the big screen. It’s undeniable. Filmakers now had to treat not only the physics, but the subject matter with gravitas and make every effort to match Kubrick’s vision. Now that audiences have seen what a movie in space could be, they would expect ALL of them to be made better.
In the end, it is an undeniable fact that 2001 is ONE of the greatest and most influential films ever made. It’s true it didn’t exactly set the box office on fire, but I can quote several major and serious film critics who would say the same thing.
Saying Kubrick sucks is like saying Mozart was a hack or Picasso sucks or that Michaelagelo couldn’t sculpt. You’re not saying anything intelligent, because you can’t back it up. You can say it’s your opinion all you want, but you can say that about anything. C’mon man, open your mind a little bit and watch it again with a new appreciation.
125 damien_karras
December 17th, 2008 at 2:45 pm
bucslim – Technically, yes you’re right. Kubrick is an unriveled genius. However, all the groundbreaking technology does not a great movie make. For me, story does. And the plot behind 2001 (IMHO) was adequate but not end-all-be-all.
I can think of a couple of movies that fall into this category… TRON for starters. Visually, yes it was amazing.
The story put me to sleep though. Same with Titanic…
126 thrasher
December 17th, 2008 at 2:45 pm
The title is an oxymoron.
127 Apples to Apples
December 17th, 2008 at 2:58 pm
does no one love Clay Pigeons as much as I do…..the worst day can end happy when watching this movie
128 MzFly
December 17th, 2008 at 3:05 pm
Cool List! And one of my favortie film genres. 4 rooms seems to get overlooked at times but I really enjoyed that film and am happy to see it on this list.
As far as personal additions go I would like to add: Heathers, Brazil and Lock, stock 2 smoking barrels
129 Randall
December 17th, 2008 at 3:09 pm
Anon:
That sounds VERY familiar, but I can’t place it. I’ll think it over. Maybe it’ll come to me.
130 Huston
December 17th, 2008 at 3:16 pm
Felix: I just watched “In Bruges” last night. Effin’ awesome movie. Also, where the hell is “Cannibal: The Musical”? Completely over-the-top, retarded, ridiculous? Yes. Awesome? Another yes.
I say again, what the hell?
131 nova_caine
December 17th, 2008 at 3:21 pm
Aww, I was hoping to see Heathers.
132 danmoo
December 17th, 2008 at 3:25 pm
i heart huckabees??? im kiding, im kiding
133 yehhhhhhhhhh
December 17th, 2008 at 3:36 pm
Fargo is my favourite film of all time.
Secretary, anyone? For a chick flick, thats pretty dark and very funny.
134 Hat
December 17th, 2008 at 3:38 pm
I would like to nominate a film that probably very few readers have seen — “The Ruling Class” (1972) starring Peter O’Toole.
It’s the story of Jack Arnold Alexander Tancred Gurney, 14th Earl of Gurney, a mentally unbalanced man who suddenly inherits the family title and estates. For the first half of this three-hour film, he thinks he’s Jesus Christ. After the rest of the family, concerned about the family reputation and fortune, attempts to “cure” him of his delusion, he spends the second half of the film convinced he’s Jack the Ripper (with predictable consequences).
Oh, and it’s a musical.
A savage and hilarious satire and one of my favorite two movies of all time.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0069198/
135 The Grey GOAT
December 17th, 2008 at 3:41 pm
bucslim
“Saying Kubrick sucks is like saying Mozart was a hack or Picasso sucks or that Michaelagelo couldn’t sculpt.”
Ok, calm down. What I said is 2001 sucks. Kubrick was overrated, not that he sucked. Get your facts straight.
But see comment #119 and even my previous comments where I did mention there were things that I like about the movie. Overall entertainment value is bad. Now that I have seen that movie I have no reason ever to watch it again. I might fall asleep. I mentioned to you before, yeah I get it. His filming special affects, all that stuff were great. But look at a movie like Star Wars, the same could be said for that, yet there are a ton of people who hate it. Everone is entitled to like what they want, and just because this film is a great piece of movie art doesn’t make it good is my point. We gotta be on the same wavelength in defining that my friend. I’m agreeing art wise is was good a good movie, but the entertainment value SUCKS. And that’s why I watch movies. If I really want to think I go to work or school. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind a cliffhanger ending movie, or something with a deep plot, or whatever. If it flows well and keeps my attention great. If not it sucks. Period.
“You calling what is widely regarded as the best science fiction movie”
“First of all, I never said it was the greatest movie ever made, I said it was ONE of the greatest SCI FI movies ever made.”
These are your quotes not mine. You contradict yourself.
“You contradict yourself by countering my statement that a ’slew of sci fi movies would have never been made’(if not for 2001) by saying most sci fi movies do borrow things from it.”
How? I added a “but” at the end there and said just because it was first does not make it one of the best SCI-FI movies ever. Go back and read that again.
“Filmakers now had to treat not only the physics, but the subject matter with gravitas and make every effort to match Kubrick’s vision.”
Really? So, Star Wars, Alien, Event Horizon, and nearly every other SCI-FI movie out there has real physics? In Space? Really?……? OOOOOOK.
“technical realism, about relative near term space exploration of our solar system” – This is not my quote is from a web site about this movie
http://www.hobbyspace.com/Movies/index.html,
but again, this whole time even when I bashed Kubrick and this movie I said that. The movie is technically real and groundbreaking in that sense.
“You’re not saying anything intelligent, because you can’t back it up. You can say it’s your opinion all you want, but you can say that about anything.”
Ok, I did back it up and it can only be backed up with opinion because it’s a f-in movie. You back up what you said by saying:
“You might call the pacing boring and tedious, but to serious film students, the pacing was absolutely pitch perfect. It takes its time telling the story. That might not appeal to today’s MTV ADHD crowd where shit needs to blow up now, but in order to tell this story, it’s got to be done with care. Kubrick is a master at this. We have to have a certain patience. I can most certainly understand how that wouldn’t appeal to today’s audiences.”
Ok, so in your opion only serious film students understand the “GREATNESS” of this movie and anyone who does not like the pacing of it is an MTV reject with ADHD? Man seriously
FU. Your right, I’m not a film student nor do I claim to be, but just because you seem to be one or are backing them for whatever reason, does not mean your own opinion takes weight over mine. And hell yes it takes it’s time…..I sat there for almost 20 minutes until realizing I was in a trance from the music and slowness. I mean seriously, I thought I was high for a minute. You can take your time telling a story but that’s pushing it. And it goes to show you how film making has evolved as well. In the early days complex plots were not mainstream, it was ok to have long drawn out scenes with little or no dialouge. But that’s no reason to bash my generation as stupid or unwilling to pay attention, and if you know anything you’ll think about that for a moment.
And at least I can admit to things I do or don’t like about the movie instead of trying to blindly back something that is said by YOU and supposedly many other people as “ONE OF THE GREATEST MOST INFLUENTIAL FILMS EVER” when I peosonally don’t ever want to sit through that movie again. Yeah, I’m glad I watched it, and I see the cool parts of it, but as a whole I didn’t like it and don’t ever need to watch it again. And I can say what I want about it casue I have seen it, it would be different if I hadn’t and simply had facts out of my ass.
And to say Kubrick is overrated, I have not seen all of his films which I’m willing to admit but I have seen a few: The Shining, Full Metal Jacket, Eyes Wide Shut, 2001: A Space Odyssey, A Clockwork Orange, and Spartacus. Some were better than others, but I don’t always see this amazing “Vision” that everyone seems to have about his movies.
136 Randall
December 17th, 2008 at 3:43 pm
The Grey Goat:
Okay, look… I’m not fully with you on this, but I have some small sympathy for your position. Let’s forget about the Coen brothers—I’ve already said I think they’re good, very good–but overrated. Kubrick is another matter.
To begin with, 2001 was VASTLY heralded in its day. I take it you were not with us then. I was a little kid at the time, but I remember the hype. Particularly since it continued for several years after—until, basically, Star Wars came along and blew everyone away in an entirely different, though I don’t think at all a better, way.
You’re correct—it WAS more “groundbreaking” than great in a purely objective cinematic sense. Particularly if you could put yourself back into that time–1968–and realize that there had never been a truly serious, adult, cerebral science fiction film ever before. The closest we had come was Forbidden Planet in 1958. A great film, yes, and one of my all-time faves–but hardly adult. A few others had come sort of close. But nothing of the scale–which was near epic–and mind-expanding quality of 2001.
Okay. But on the other hand… was it all that truly “great?” Well, I think it was, and I’ll tell you why in a second. But was it overrated? Sure. It was 1968. We were in fact lucky the film was as good and intelligible as it was. Think about the ending, from the moment Dave Bowman leaves the Discovery and heads for the monolith floating in space. It’s an amazing cinematic 15 minutes or whatever it is—but does it make any sense? No, not much. It’s a beautiful light show that gets very intense–with some truly jarring, horrific quick still shots thrown in, of Bowman’s face doing VERY weird and frightening things. THAT affected me when I saw it and still does. But the “light show” overall? It gets a bit indulgent. The kind of thing that hippies, at the time, probably thought was very “mind blowing” and “deep.” Uh huh. Sure.
And the ending, of Bowman wandering around the strange rooms, and moving (apparently) in time from youth to old age, and then becoming some kind of “star child”? Again, affecting, weird, and even horrific. But the meaning? I have to shrug.
BUT… do all narratives have to BE narratives? Do all films have to have “meaning” in such a conventional sense? I think Kubrick was saying “no.” Because this is a film about mankind’s first contact with a VASTLY superior intelligence. What WOULD that be like? Would it be like Star Trek, or would it be like this bit of cinematic weirdness? I’m betting it’ll be more like the weirdness. And for all its hippie-dippy affectation, it leaves you with that feeling of something vastly removed from human experience, that’s going on here.
In a sense this is akin to the original Russian version of “Solaris,” which was also a bit of truly bizarre, affecting weirdness. And an equally serious, adult, cerebral film.
Stanley Kubrick was no slouch, Goat. Was he always on the money? No, nobody is. But it’s the general consensus amongst critics and film historians that he was one of the greatest directors ever, in a league with Fellini, Kurosawa, Bergman, Hitchcock, Truffaut, Herzog, etc.
So you take a film like 2001… what makes it great? The visuals and the atmosphere it creates, mainly. But what else IS a film? Story and character–in these 2001 is perhaps lacking. It’s cold in the way that many sci-fi films are cold. Who’s to blame for that? Kubrick or Arthur C. Clarke? Maybe Clarke. But Kubrick is the auteur here, and I would lay it more at his feet. But on the other hand–would 2001 really have been better if it had been emotional and “thrilling” like Star Wars? I doubt it. The simple fact is that it presents everything in its “story” as straightforward reality. Everying is mundane. Even the trip to the moon is mundane, with people nodding off, and crap sandwiches and bored stewardesses. That’s real. But behind all this created reality is a gigantic weirdness and otherworldliness, like a dream or a nightmare. And THAT is the mark of a great film in this genre—that 2001 pitches us OUT of ourselves and into an eerie “otherworld” of reality mixed with the bizarre. Very few films accomplish that as well as 2001 does.
Now… I sense that the problem for you, since you mention the pacing and how you think 2001 is “boring” is that you are (I’m guessing) young. And what I’ve observed is that people who have grown up in the last, oh… twenty years or so… have ridiculously short attention spans. They require constant stimulation or else they get bored and look away. They require simplified and sometimes ultra-simplified story lines, and lots of action. And if they don’t get it, they feel they’ve been cheated.
But in this you’re wrong, Goat. It IS a matter where a little growing up has to be done. I’ve got my criticisms of “Fargo” too, but the last thing it is is “boring.” What you may not understand is that tension, suspense, and even just that quality of dreamlike eerieness or affecting weirdness is created and built in the quiet, long moments in a film. Silence and consistent emptiness can do a great deal to the psyche. Check an old Bergman film called “The Silence” to see what I mean—or another called “Winterlight.” Or, check Kubrick’s “The Shining,” which between Nicholson’s awful and over-the-top mugging (I’ve grown to dislike Nicholson over the years… I used to think he was ultra cool, but no longer… as I’ve grown up I’ve seen him as a less-than-stellar actor who goes for the cheap shot more often than subtlely and genuine emotion) creates long moments of terrifying weirdness and horror. And it’s mostly done with still shots of emptiness punctuated with sudden, jarring visual punches—even when things are moving, these sudden “stops” hit the film and build the horror. Remember, for instance, as the wife is running through the corridors and up the stairs… and in the distance—she sees, in one of the rooms—two figures–one apparently in some sort of twisted, bizarre costume… and that figure is apparently… apparently… giving head to a man in a tuxedo, who is sitting on a bed. And the two turn and look at her…
And all that is done in a moment, and from a *distance,* and in silence (except of course for the jarring score blaring over it, if I recall) and it’s like seeing someone else’s godawful nightmare.
Do you follow me? 2001 does that kind of thing time and time again, except instead of horror being its medium, its doing it with cold, jarring emptiness and subdued silence. For me it creates the terror of the idea of being stuck on board a vast spaceship with a homicidal computer, all out of near nothingness… and it does it with a cinematic sense of designed forcefulness, in total quiet–that would have nowhere near the same affect if it had been shot in some more conventional manner.
Was 2001 overrated? As I said, sure. But is it boring and pointless and crap? God no.
137 The Grey GOAT
December 17th, 2008 at 3:59 pm
#121 Metalwrath
“But I understand the difference in opinions. Only I do suggest that those who didn’t like it the first time give it another try… and not while eating diner or something. Sit down and watch it seriously.”
Hehe, I did watch it seriously.
Err, well to be honest…the very 1st time I tried to watch this movie, I put it on late one night after drinking at a friends house. You can imagine how far I got into it
But the 2nd time I watched it beginning to end and still no dice.
138 Dan
December 17th, 2008 at 4:06 pm
No Friday? Still I’m glad to see tyler perry not on there. I hate Tyler Perry.
139 Zippy
December 17th, 2008 at 4:08 pm
War of the Roses! That should’ve been on there. ^_^
140 bigski
December 17th, 2008 at 4:14 pm
Very nice list, but you couldn`t find room for Pulp Fiction ? You guy`s are now offically beating a dead horse !
141 bigski
December 17th, 2008 at 4:16 pm
About 2001 that is.Sorry
142 mikey
December 17th, 2008 at 4:23 pm
very bad things=awesome!….the 1st film i saw in the cinema when i turned 18
143 Lizzie
December 17th, 2008 at 4:30 pm
Great list Shane. I’ve actually only seen Harold and Maude – looks like I’ve let my love of film slip a bit. I too would like to have seen ‘Lock, Stock’ on there, as well as ‘Snatch’. And of the oldies, ‘Arsenic and Old Lace’ and Hitchcocks ‘The Trouble with Harry’. But I imagine it was difficult enough to cull the list to 10 with so many to choose from. Good job.
144 deepthinker
December 17th, 2008 at 4:36 pm
Love the list. Another great dark comedy is “The Last Supper”, also with Cameron Diaz. A group of liberal friends invite their enemies to a dinner party and murder them if they don’t have their same political views. Cynical hilarity… is hilarity a word? I’m glad Fargo was number 1…
145 Joseph de Culver City
December 17th, 2008 at 4:42 pm
Heather…Heathers…Heathers
Wild Things
That is all…
146 Swankyy
December 17th, 2008 at 5:06 pm
good list!
i lovveeee Big Nothing.
one of the best movies ever in my opinion.
147 segue
December 17th, 2008 at 5:29 pm
Anon, I know I’ve seen the movie, but the name escapes me.
A simple plan was a great book, I haven’t seen the movie, but if they stayed true to the book at all, it would be a wonderful dark comedy.
There is another wonderful black comedy, again I can’t recall the name, where the protagonists have robbed a bank or something, and have tons of money which they hide under the floor. Hilarity ensues.
148 Rachel23
December 17th, 2008 at 5:37 pm
Death at a Funeral
149 blackcowlneck
December 17th, 2008 at 6:14 pm
As for very bad things…
I prefer Kobé Tai …er “Other Films”.
They are far superior.
150 Kazorek
December 17th, 2008 at 6:34 pm
The grey GOAT:
You didn’t watch 2001 seriously. You said you if you wanted to think you’d go to school or work. 2001 isn’t offering what your are looking for. You have to take an active role in viewing it. It sounds like you’re not willing to do this, instead you prefer movies that require a passive role – movies that hold your hand, where a director guides you through a story and shows you what he or she wanted you to take from the movie. 2001, along with some of the others you mentioned, are more objective. Offering up prophetic or philosophical possibility, to which you can surmise your own implications. In a sense a less guided journey.
I think both types of film (guided and unguided are my two analogies) are legitimate art, and of course there is middle ground between the two. 2001 is an example that offers only a very small amount of guidance (before and after the intermission, while Fargo would be somewhere in the middle, and most Richie films are on the almost entirely guided side of the spectrum.
I want to make it clear that I’m not insulting you in the least, the “direct” kind of storytelling you prefer is every bit as respectable as the “open” style I’ve been talking about. The problem is you will never enjoy the latter if you are watching from the perspective required by the former. And to be perfectly honest I feel like the people who have been defending Kubrick are a little off base. What makes him so important to film and such a legend, is using- almost exclusively -shapes, sounds, colors, and implied meaning (rather than explicit meaning) to push a narrative. As far as I’m concerned no one has really come close to doing so as well as he did and thats what makes him one of the greats, among other things.
So GOAT, if you’re willing to watch it again, next time you watch 2001 (which I greatly suggest, I find a different side to the movie every time I watch it – and thats a lot of viewings) or any other film that seems to be dull and… hmm… maybe is just “not doing anything for you,” try to not think of it as and end to itself. Its more of a means of presenting an idea or a set of ideas that, once understood, are very profound. In other words, if you put in the patience, the payoff can be very high.
I suppose also, you may not be interested in profound ideas; in which case you shouldn’t watch it again or try any others. If indeed this is the case you should also know that people who appreciate these films don’t give a shit how boring it was for you to see a rock floating through space.
151 Anon
December 17th, 2008 at 7:11 pm
Randall, (129) and segue, (147),
Thanks for your responses.
If no one among all the buffs here remembers, I suppose various conclusions can be drawn. To begin with, very likely it’s a pisspoor film and we were just perfectly tuned to get the best out of it at that moment: tinged by the rosy (black???) memory of hindsight, as it were. Secondly, the search for it has become as much obsessive as anything. That aching sense of incompleteness when something cannot be found and you have to keep on and on searching. Which probably means it will disappoint deeply when and if we do run it to earth and view. Finally: can’t give up at this stage. So it will mean reverting to Plan A; i.e. reading through all the synopses of Maltin in spare moments until it turns up, with the risk of missing it by a lapse in concentration or turning over two pages in one! Got some way through letter C so far, but at least Plan A throws up loads of others to mark that one hasn’t seen but should!
152 emmstein
December 17th, 2008 at 7:13 pm
Nobody fucks with the Jesus!
153 Diogenes
December 17th, 2008 at 7:15 pm
Just another longass reply:
Where’s commentor Heatherrr to say “What no Heathers?” …
naw, just foolin.
I’ve never seen “heathers” and i never wanted toooo… saw christian slater on the street a few months ago. cant tell ya’ll how many times i’ve locked eyes among the famous (or in C.Slater’s case-the rich acting lot that musta been created from the same clay as—hhhmmm,say, george hamilton..(( not sayin nothin, in fact I recently found that I adore ole Jorge Ham and really C.S, nothin personally.))– in anycase , a miliseconds passing apon the path. I am always trudging in the opposite way–away, not sayin nothin and we carry on all the same.
perhaps it is my bedraggled appearence or attire, or maybe it’s the posturing that alerts the hair trigger senses.
ah, wha? nevermind-
yeh, ok…so, allrite.
Your movie list writing is getting better S.Dayton. or so it seems to me. i suppose i have felt kinda stingy with my acceptance in the pop choices that you make, but whatever. who cares.
this dark matter of cinema has much more recesses to offer and although there are the 2 “staples of black comedies yore” (#whatever and #whatever) that hold this paper together, the imagery within has a contempory flare which at best, shows that there may be a link, but the gloss isn’t the same as the patina. I’m sayin it makes me wonder.
ahhhh, the wonder.
yup, so.–
It might be nice to have the otherside of the mirror and diffuse the in between.
nuther thought. genres. what the hell?
is a horror comedy
is a black comedy
is a dark comedy
is violence with a smile
or stone faced hero within chaos
is visceral repeated (like Ballard’s JFK)
blah blah blah
what do “dark comedy connoisseurs” taste like anyway?
a few in the cuboards(sp?); a few under the rug. some in the closet. others get high on helium.
does everything have a niche?
I know I could spout off whatabouts till my ego is full-just like the “Three top ten lists could have thirty different movies “, as you state up thar, but again I climb back in the “who cares boat”.
what interests me, in a round-bout-way, is just this disdiguishing(sp?) factor brought up. How public has allways been privatepublicprivate with media and when quirkiness or dark subjects or the bizarre hit “the stage”, a variant spectrum is splayed out, yet pop acceptances of “the strange” once vogue, now oscar worthy, now pop.. it can all be tossed in the shake(blender).
I guess when something bends too much one way other the other, it has the off-shoot of becoming something else. new buds glistening pretty for consumption.
Dark comedies still have the compacity(sp?) for edgyness, and the spectrum may still have tight bands that cant be seen by “general audiances”.
To me “black/dark humor(in movies)” has someting to do with death or cultural taboos, (such as cultural pychological deficiancies) or –as the U.S. had a bad bout in the mid to late 90′s–political correctness(but this example is borderline). My quick thought on the PC thing has to do with the “changing of the gaurd” — the yuggins footprints getting bigger. So this is a movie list and it takes a story and a way to tell and show and act it and if it is in any way successful then it takes an audience that gets it in some way, whether it be instinctually,intellectually,culturally,or cult-likely, ect,ect,blah blah.
ok enough,bye bye. its not like i’m talkin to anyone, just preachin to the choir.what choir?. where, wha, ho?!
toodle loo.
154 bucslim
December 17th, 2008 at 7:16 pm
Anon, I feel your pain. And your obsession. Good luck on your quest.
155 Diogenes
December 17th, 2008 at 7:35 pm
so is it a distinct stink from afar
close enough to pick up and avoid?
a virility mechanism that attracts and repels through it’s own containment.
a contraption that lures like richard gere’s jeweled jaws,
salivating for julia robert’s whore with a heart?
I don’t know
156 Diogenes
December 17th, 2008 at 7:55 pm
so Anon,
this has turned into a game now.
more clues please.
search that brain of yours.
such as:
actors?nationality? b&w,color? specific scenes, aside from the overview already given?
mid 90′s? You think it was made around then?
it’s not “Enid is Sleeping”? or Head above Water? they dont fit the profile (two guys trying to get rid of a dead middle aged woman-killed by accident.)
At first I thought Enid is Sleeping, but I have never seen it and IMDB watchers compared it Weekend at Bernies ,and in at least one case mentioned , it was not quite as good as Weekend at B’s (of which I am utterly surprised that I might be the first fool to mention this title herewithin) . Not to say that you wouldn’t really be into a movie considered -not quite up to par with W.A.B.
Cause it takes special minds to let loose on such “draggin around the dead” films/shanagins… and you have obviously shown that you have a special mind.
157 Penguinball
December 17th, 2008 at 8:01 pm
A black comedy I really like is Tanpopo. Its a japanese movie about noodles, very funny, definitely worth watching
158 bigski
December 17th, 2008 at 8:21 pm
Diogenes-You need to pass that thing man.
159 francucumber
December 17th, 2008 at 8:35 pm
this is a bit recent for this list but another good one by the coen brothers is burn after reading. watch it!
160 Diogenes
December 17th, 2008 at 8:56 pm
bigski-
There’s-ah small lifesize wooden carving of the once fav “jester”, which today stands by the base of the largest wine cask of the world ( The top of which lays the worn slats of a silent dancing floor). This lil’ jolly fellow down below is galliantly erect for all to honor, and, if you ever find yourself on the tour(or on the floor), a guide might tell allwithin earshot that the drunken jester’s motto became, when asked if he’d like another douse of the spirits ,
“Wine Not.”
161 YogiBarrister
December 17th, 2008 at 9:18 pm
Segue #147 is thinking about Shallow Grave, an excellent black comedy from Danny Boyle, starring Ewan McGregor in one of his first roles.
162 astraya
December 17th, 2008 at 9:29 pm
Without having seen segue’s 147, I have been thinking of Shallow Grave all morning, looked at the wiki article just before lunch and was going to mention that now. YogiB beat me to it. I saw it way back but don’t remember much about it. I don’t remember it being funny in the lol sense. The money came from a druggie housemate.
Otherwise, black comedies are obviously not my thing, as I’ve seen only two of these.
163 YogiBarrister
December 17th, 2008 at 9:35 pm
A few more I didn’t notice in the comments: The Last Supper, M*A*S*H, The Matador, To Die For, Gates of Heaven, Serial Mom, and The House of Yes.
164 astraya
December 17th, 2008 at 10:00 pm
Bother! I was thinking of To Die For, as well. I’ve got to get in before YogiB does. That was listed as a comedy (at least Nic won her Golden Globe in the “comedy or musical” category) but I remember it as being particularly unfunny.
165 nickforname
December 17th, 2008 at 10:20 pm
hey, where’s Kiss Kiss Bang Bang? it should be in this list. it was funny as hell.
166 Anon
December 17th, 2008 at 10:23 pm
Randall,
“… the more difficult to comprehend a film is, the less understandable for the masses, then the more it is surely a Great Work of Art.
Sure.
The funny thing is, film is nothing but ephemeral. It’s flickering images on celluloid. And while it can be beautiful and moving and all that, as an art form it’s at best severely hampered by the fact that no matter how intellectual, it’s still just commercial product. It’s almost never the vision of a single “artist” but is by its nature a media product designed and executed by committee (or a crowd). And we pay ten buck to go see it in a dark room in uncomfortable seats, munching popcorn. And no matter how artsy it is, right next to it as its bastard brothers are every cheesy old piece of trash flick ever made, or the latest dumb blockbuster or moronic action film. You can’t EVER forget that when you’re watching something that’s supposed to be “arty,” because either in the theater next door, or next on the bill, or in your DVD collection next to it at home is “Saw IV” or “Ernest Saves Christmas” or “Billy Madison.” ”
All that comment, or its equivalent, applies to a degree to anything we dignify with the word ‘Art’. Celluloid (or its digital equivalent) is, after all, no more than the medium on which can be expressed everything from the sublime to pure sewer trash, no less than paper serves for drawn or painted images, words or musical notation of every quality.
The commercial aspect surely isn’t necessarily corrupting per se either. It has to be unavoidable in the production of something ambitiously expensive. I would suppose the vision, motivation and attitude of those directly responsible for the creative process, and the artistic freedom they are given or manage to negotiate are what ultimately tell.
Opera involves social co-operation, both in conception and performance. Renaissance artists used to show the way with a few critical brush-strokes and then leave their apprentices to fill in by numbers much of the work we happily call Great Art. Music is surely just as much ephemeral sound waves as film is ephemeral images. Recorded music is also repetition of the same performance over and over, in much the same way as a film. None of this really stands in the way of serious Art evolving from these media.
And surely finding a CD of a Beethoven quartet lodged between a load of (c)rap in a record shop, or Keats among the pulp fiction of a booksellers, or the same juxtaposition on our home shelves, hardly negates them as high art!
As for your opening sentence: The Emperor’s Invisible New Clothes syndrome, yes? By no means confined to films, and nothing new in the Art world either. All my reading of professional and private critical comments makes clear the difficulty we have collectively in deciding what is phoney and what is profound. On top of that, the newer, the more difficult. By the way, if this aspect ever crops up in connection with Greenaway on LV you can include me out. I have my very definite strong personal reaction, but no way am I going to get embroiled in public shout-outs out over him, of all directors. I’m much too cautious an intellectual coward for that!
167 Rugman
December 17th, 2008 at 10:29 pm
Bunch of great movies. I would add Prizzi’s Honor.
168 macabresoren
December 17th, 2008 at 10:36 pm
Haha, I love Ravenous and Dr. Strangelove. A few of these were already on my to-watch list, and now I’ve added to it. Thanks, as always.
169 Anon
December 17th, 2008 at 10:48 pm
Diogenes, (156),
Reading a couple of synopses, sounds like you may have hit the bull’s eye with ‘Enid is Sleeping’. The only difference I recall is two people trying to dispose of the body, which the synopses don’t make clear. The flick gets a mixed reception from my sources. One absolutely loves it. The other finds it inferior to Hitchcock’s ‘The Trouble with Harry’ (not seen by y.t.), which also from its synopses sounds a worthy entry for this thread. Anyone have first-hand comments?
Anyway, thanks a 1,000,000 Diogenes. As soon as we can we’ll try to lay mits on ‘Enid’ (not easy, living in Chile, but might try through daughters in UK) and see if that puts us out of our agony.
So unless anyone comes up with something even closer to my vague outline, inquiry closed. Thanks to all who helped.
170 Billy
December 17th, 2008 at 11:04 pm
How about Sleeping Dogs Lie? It’s subject matter (bestiality) and writer/director (Bob Goldthwait) may have brought it down in the eyes of many, but I think it ranks right up there with the tops of the darkest!
171 flibbertigibbet
December 17th, 2008 at 11:06 pm
97. Anon:
I cannibalized your question and posted it to IMDB’s “I Need to Know” board. Here is the link:
http://www.imdb.com/board/bd0000001/thread/125522795?d=125522795&p=1#125522795
The best contender so far seems to be “Enid is Sleeping”
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0099506/
I just hope you read this comment, since yours was a while ago…
172 flibbertigibbet
December 17th, 2008 at 11:20 pm
I would also like to add that I have seen all but two of these films (own most of them, in fact), and have added the two I’m missing to my netflix queue (plus a few more along the way… damned addicting netflix, I only have 47 in queue, that’s not bad, is it?). I do like a list that gives me ideas for new movies, since I tend to respect the opinions of *most* of the listverse regulars more than other sites…
Still didn’t like Very Bad Things, though. I’m in the “loathe it” camp, but what can you do?
173 Anon
December 17th, 2008 at 11:23 pm
Just checked out on Amazon.
‘Enid is Sleeping’ is known alternatively as ‘Over Her Dead Body’, which, confusingly, is the title of a recent, different film. The original story is offered as a bargain DVD double with ‘Personal Services’ (Julie Walters).
174 FallenMorgan
December 17th, 2008 at 11:29 pm
Also there’s “No Man’s Land.”
175 Anon
December 17th, 2008 at 11:30 pm
flibbertigibbet, (171),
I’m still here and posting. Don’t usually give up when contributing and my part of the thread is still spinning out!
Many thanks. You appear to have confirmed what was already hardening pretty solidly via Diogenes. See my replies to him. For some reason the first of those was/is being moderated, so it may not have appeared before you posted.
176 val
December 17th, 2008 at 11:40 pm
I know people have said it already, but I would have liked Kind Hearts and Coronets to appear on this list. It’s dark humour at its most delectably subtle – a blackly sharp wit worthy of Oscar Wilde and no less than eight performances by the great Alec Guinness. Truly, a film for the ages.
177 Anon
December 18th, 2008 at 12:06 am
val, (176),
Yes, and to think six years later on we got the great Alec Guinness AND the great Peter Sellers together in ‘The Ladykillers’ as well!
178 grubthrower
December 18th, 2008 at 12:54 am
I’ll throw one out into left field:
Cruel Intentions
NOT the sequels, but the original with that title. A true WTF? movie.
I don’t think you have to actually laugh at a dark comedy, anymore than you have to laugh at a well-placed pun (your eyes open wide in the former; you groan at the latter).
Cruel Intentions is simply twisted 90 degrees to the perpendicular of the fabric of human existence. Decent cast and superb direction/vision. Non-explicit yet highly sexual situations handled in a way such things have never been handled before.
There’s an overlay of surrealness that simply has to be experienced, and that’s what places the movie into the pantheon of dark comedies.
If you like WTF movies, you’ll enjoy this one.
179 lola
December 18th, 2008 at 1:28 am
I thought the big lebowski to be the most stupid and dull movie I have ever seen, a complete waste of time of my watching it, as well as it being made.
All the rest are good though.
180 dr. Hannibal Lecter
December 18th, 2008 at 5:54 am
Um, actually, Charlie Meadows/Mundt (in Barton Fink) is not a Nazi. You’re probably referring to the line “Heil Hitler” when he’s killing detective Deutsch. He’s saying that line sarcastically because he’s killing *Deutsch*!
Although..authors deny any kind of symbolism there, so it might not mean anything at all.
181 sonjan
December 18th, 2008 at 6:13 am
I liked the list,I love The big Lebowski, but i think “War of the roses” should be included, also “In Bruges”, “Drop dead gorgeous” , “Life is beautiful”.
182 nepratini
December 18th, 2008 at 6:20 am
The Chumscrubber is another good one. It stars Ralph Fiennes, Glenn Close and Jamie Bell (of Billy Elliott fame).
183 Kreachure
December 18th, 2008 at 7:03 am
Anon: I found “Enid is Sleeping” today as well, and I, too, guessed it’s what you’re looking for. In case you’re still not sure, here’s the trailer:
http://www.spout.com/films/Enid_Is_Sleeping/10533/4005/trailers.aspx
Good luck finding a copy!
184 kazorek
December 18th, 2008 at 8:03 am
Randall:
How did you insert that comment? Comment 136? It wasn’t there when I wrote mine. It makes mine look a bit repetitive and pointless considering it deals with a lot of the same things as yours in a less specific way. I didn’t trust my memory at first when I saw your post today and I was a little disappointed because it made my post kind of irrelevant. Then I noticed it says you wrote and posted your lengthy comment only 2 minutes after comment 135, and you reply specifically to things mentioned in that post.
You could not have read GOAT’s comment and written that reply that fast. That’s besides the fact that I’m certain it wasn’t there when I wrote mine last night at 6. I read every single post so I wouldn’t repeat anything and yours was not there.
By the way, your “young” theory about our generation is ridiculous, I’m only 21. I’m fairly certain the reason young people tend to be more impatient than older people is biology, not MTV.
185 lo
December 18th, 2008 at 8:06 am
what about “severance (2006)”? a bit more horror-comedy than merely black-comedy, but if you like the film in the list you should check it out.
i’m very surprised how many people thought this genre had something to do with race.
186 Bunbun
December 18th, 2008 at 8:15 am
Hmmm. Does “Delicatessen” count as a dark comedy?
187 Ellycat
December 18th, 2008 at 8:23 am
Eatint Raoul is definitely one that you should check out as well!
188 Randall
December 18th, 2008 at 9:53 am
Bunbun:
Definitely, and good suggestion.
189 Randall
December 18th, 2008 at 10:06 am
kazorek:
Take your pick of explanations:
A) I am magic. Specifically, I am a level 10 Dark Wizard who cannot be killed or harmed and am eternally infallible. That’s the explanation for the kiddies.
B) My comment was held back by the administrator(s) for “moderation.” This happened to me twice yesterday. I suspect it is on account of the fact that I have a reputation here for my mouth, which is foul and spews many invectives. At any rate, the submission time of my posting was early–but the time it actually appeared to you was late. Simple.
C) I was responding to an earlier comment by the Grey Goat, not the one he directed to Bucslim, which appeared directly before mine.
D) Sorry that your comment was rendered repetitive and pointless, neutered and emasculated, in your eyes. Perhaps you have adequacy issues. See your doctor. He understands.
E) I am ALWAYS right, kazorek. Biology may explain the impatience of youth in general–but you can’t tell me that younger people today don’t have shortened attention spans and a general unwillingness to put up with lengthy subtlety and measured, slow narratives. I’ve seen it with my own eyes. I don’t blame MTV specifically—in fact, I don’t blame anything *specifically.* I blame our culture in general, which has emphasized speed and lunkheaded simplicity and ultra-directness… and a contempt for finesse… over what is complex, sublime, slow, deep and luxuriantly langurous.
In sexual terms, our culture today is a spotty teenager who cums like a rifle shot, leaving his female partner unsatisfied and unmoved. I like to see more slow and penetrating passion in my psycho-cultural metaphors.
190 The Grey GOAT
December 18th, 2008 at 11:02 am
#150 Kazorek and #136 Randell
Well said. I never denied the point that I am more into movies that have a story, or “Hold my hand as you say”.
But you are right in the sense there are two types of films. Those made for more of an art perspective, and those that need to tell you a story from beginning to end. And yes, you guys can ovbviously tell the generation I grew up in. I know saying the “MTV generation” means the younger crowd that expects a plot and a means to an end in their movies. I just don’t appreciate when people think that that is ALL we are into. I feel my opinion of 2001 was justifiable.
But as Randell and I even commented before, film has changed a lot from that era. I did find the good stuff of 2001. Like I said, I get it. I did feel the vast emptiness of space, and I could imagine what it must have been like to be out there all alone with a crazed computer who has just killed your whole crew and all that is left is you and him. It was moving in that sense. But, I felt the same thing in Alien (A film more of my generation) where Ripley is on this giant ship, her whole crew is dead, and she has to escape from this acid bleeding alien. However, it scared me far more than 2001 did but they are similar scenarios right? Do I care to see the ship cruise through space for 20 minutes with nothing going on? Not really. So my only question is, lets say 2001 were never made, would Alien not be a good movie? (Although I don’t know what your opinion of Alien is, to me that is one of the top SCI FI movies ever)
What I could not stand about 2001 were the long drawn out scenes in between. Everything took way too long to happen and I can’t get into that and I just don’t see how anyone can sit through that. Kubrick could have easily cut out a good 20 minutes of that film and still have accomplished the same goal.
So going back to my initial comment that the film “SUCKS” well, I still think so…sorry, yet I do see your point or at least this is what I understand from it: 2001 was a movie that was GREAT FOR ITS DAY, therefore it is unfair to judge it when my basis is off of movies of today that have supposedly evolved from ideas like that.
Fargo, again I don’t hate it, but I feel it’s praised a bit more than it should be. Yes, the white atmosphere and the quite did strike up that mood of tension within me. It keeps you on edge for almost the whole movie. And you see this crime that just goes horribly wrong and most of the characters end up in some horrible fate in an ironic manner, hence the Dark Comedy. No Country For Old Men was the same way which I loved right up until the end, which you know I didn’t like, hehe. And I’ll give credit to the Coen Brothers for making that atmosphere, it was intense. But I did not like it despite all the fame it got, again based on the fact that the story did not wrap up correctly (Yes I know the book ends like that too so it’s not their fault). But going back to what was previously said about my generation wanting a story and needing something to hold their attention that’s not 100% accurate. That movie although slow was bad because of the way it wrapped up. And although most critics loved it, a lot of people and even some critics hated it. Point is, age “DOES NOT” always play into what you think of a film.
I’ve seen The Shining (been a while) but from what I remember it wasn’t bad. Definitely better than 90% of the horror movies out there.
191 bigski
December 18th, 2008 at 11:40 am
I totally agree about the ending for No Country For Old Men.It was an excellent movie I just guess im not deep enough to get the ending.I loved The Big Lebowski though,The Dude was so funny I still laugh when recalling some of the dialog.Also John T stole every scene as Jesus.
192 Anon
December 18th, 2008 at 11:42 am
Kreachure (et al.),
Many, many thanks indeed for your kind re-inforcement via the trailer of ‘Enid …’. I don’t doubt it’s our animal, albeit somewhat changed in our memories by the Chinese whispers of passing time.
I’m as deeply impressed by the LV gang as I expected to be. I’d have bet serious money that with the wide range of interests, knowledge, experience and abilities on display, the collective effort would solve the conundrum. I wasn’t disappointed.
The interesting point is that nobody has confessed to having seen the movie. All you three who pinned it down for me seem to have done so at second hand. So never mind if it gets kicked to pulp and ground down in the shit critically, has anyone else actually seen ‘Enid is Sleeping’ aka ‘Over Her Dead Body’?
193 psychosurfer
December 18th, 2008 at 11:43 am
Goat: seems like you have some kind of confusion between defending your own ideas and generating a self criteria. The latter is built by listening, reflecting and being flexible (aka ´opening your mind´).
The ability of reasoning is inherent to each individual (yes sorry no IQ enlargement pills here), but the election of what and who to listen to is up to you.
I really hope for you to choose wisely.
Have a nice day
194 Cyn
December 18th, 2008 at 11:45 am
re: comment moderation
word/number filters are in place to route comments into moderation that have questionable content. it is not directed at the commentor but at the word choice.
some of the filters i know are ..racial slurs, anything to do w/ numbers; word or figure, gibberish or non English…and i’m sure they are more.
then its just a matter of when an admin happens to release it. so it may seem like it just appears but it is still in its originating time sequence.
195 psychosurfer
December 18th, 2008 at 11:52 am
Oh and merry Christmas to you all, looks like I won´t be around a computer till next year, since I leave today to a private secret beach away from all civilization to spend all day long on a hammock reading and doing nothing for the next three weeks haha.
So long and thank you for a nice year of great facts, interesting people and thoughtful comments LV!
196 Anon
December 18th, 2008 at 12:00 pm
“… John T stole every scene as Jesus.” bigski.
A consequential thought. Surely the Pythons’ ‘Life of Brian’ belongs here if it hasn’t already been mentioned?
197 kazorek
December 18th, 2008 at 12:04 pm
I was just disappointed so I came up with this theory that you somehow hack into the wordpress admin account when you deem it necessary. I’ll admit it was silly. 2001 is my favorite movie and I like that whole “two classes of film” bit, thus I wanted people to read my post. I imagine few will bother now, considering the similarities between our posts and the fact that you elaborated on the topic in more detail.
–No one’s always right. By the way.
Anyway, I think its more of an arrogance thing than an adequacy thing. I think my thoughts are important enough to deserve being read and taken seriously, or something like that.
As for my generation – I would say we’re overloaded with options. There are so many things available for us to do now compared to 1968. Back then going to the movies was something everyone did. Recreation for someone my age back then was partying, bowling, music, movies and… well probably not a whole lot more than that. No we have video games, 150 TV channels, and most importantly- the internet- facebook, forums, youtube; not to mention what you can do with computer software now i.e. photoshop, fruityloops, flash animator. There are so many things to put thought and effort into- there’s destined to be less people motivated to understand films like 2001. That doesn’t mean we’re incapable though, if we choose to put the effort in we can do it as well as any generation.
198 kazorek
December 18th, 2008 at 12:32 pm
Goat:
Alien is a movie with a very explicit narrative. My point was if you watch 2001 hoping to see something like Alien you WILL be disappointed. That is unless you understand its not trying to manipulate those basic emotions – fear, love, happiness, sadness, etc. It’s trying to make you ponder all humankind as it could have been and as it may be. Its not just about the two men on bored, or how scary it is alone in space; its about our place in the universe as a species, the consequence of our consciousness- everything it seems like. I can never really wrap my head around the philosophical commentary because its SO broad and dense.
And also, I can’t think of a sci-fi movie with more realistic special effects even today.
199 bucslim
December 18th, 2008 at 12:36 pm
Kazorek, I too had the same curious reaction to Randall’s wizardry. I read your post last night and didn’t see his. I did read your post with great interest mainly because you were taking my side for the most part. It’s all part of my ‘everyone sucks except for the people who agree with me’ attitude.
200 bucslim
December 18th, 2008 at 12:39 pm
As far as the trippy closing sequence of 2001. Read the book, it sorta explains it and gave me a new appreciation for what’s going on.
Or watch it while you smoke a fatty and forget all of this pretentious tom-foolery.
201 rushfan
December 18th, 2008 at 12:42 pm
I choose the latter.
202 chip douglas
December 18th, 2008 at 12:46 pm
Cable Guy
203 littlemissrock
December 18th, 2008 at 12:52 pm
I saw Fargo just to see what the fuss was all about.
I thought it was mediocre, can someone explain why it is so great?
204 RobertSean
December 18th, 2008 at 1:27 pm
Fight Club-
205 raraf
December 18th, 2008 at 2:03 pm
Sweet Mother all of these movies pale when held to “Parents!” Kid suspects his parents of cannibalism! Randy Quad! Nuff sed.
206 Znyrk
December 18th, 2008 at 2:19 pm
Okey, didn’t really think the best of this list…where is Pulp Fiction??
207 The Grey GOAT
December 18th, 2008 at 2:19 pm
kazorek – No I wasn’t watching it hoping for it to be like Alien. I knew I was not going to be, I just wasn’t blown away like I thought I would be after all the hype. My reference to Alien was just to bring an example to the table to counter Randells view of suspense in 2001. They are very different movies and I only bring Alien into to say I got the same level of supense from it, without watching a scene that takes 20 minutes of the same thing. The last part of Alien has very little dialouge, but STUFF is happening. 2001 we watch him rescue his friend. Example: Dave gets in the pod. It shows the guy floating away, he fiddles with the controls, it shows the guy, he fiddles with the controls, it shows the guy, he fiddles with the controls, it shows the guy, he fiddles with the controls…….and then…..it shows the guy, he fiddles with the controls. Now mutiply this times 20 or so other scenes. You get my point?
And yes I know it is a what if scenario about humankind in the future and beyond made in 1968, a time in which space travel was a reality and popular in the media. But like I said in my 2nd post, Kubrick was an idiot. He got it wrong, it’s 2008 and we still can’t even travel past the moon
psychosurfer – Thanks for the advice. But that’s the thing, I am trying to open my mind and see other peoples points of view, but I do stand by my opinion of the movies and the directors being overrated. I’ve lightened my tone a bit too on purpose, in my 1st post I was really harsh, I had my reasons to back up my claims though and once people started commenting about it, it makes more sense to post agumentative comments, but lose the sarcasm, otherwise an uncontrolled argument will start. So far I’ve enjoyed everything that has been said good or bad because it hasn’t resulted in an angry conversation. Just throwin a little gas on the fire.
That’s what this site is about, trading ideas and opinions.
208 jay
December 18th, 2008 at 2:27 pm
I’m sorry but no mention of In Bruges or Burn After Reading those were both amazing movies.
209 Davo
December 18th, 2008 at 3:00 pm
meh, fargo wasn’t that great. I agree with Littlemissrock. I think it’s more of a “everyone says its great and therefore it has to be” case
210 Mr. Ducke
December 18th, 2008 at 4:59 pm
“Kind Hearts & Coronets” gets my vote as the best black comedy ever.
211 segue
December 18th, 2008 at 5:06 pm
161. YogiBarrister: Segue #147 is thinking about Shallow Grave
****
Thank you, Yogi.
And thank you to everyone who came up with Enid is Sleeping for Anon. I had racked my brain and it just eluded me until I saw it for the first time, then the entire film unrolled before my eyes.
I kept getting it mixed up with The Trouble With Harry, and that really messed me up. So thanks.
212 Nicosia
December 18th, 2008 at 6:26 pm
Would you guys consider “Office Space” a dark comedy?
213 Ford
December 18th, 2008 at 8:02 pm
Awesome that Ravenous is on here. I’m on the side of “Love it” with this one.
American Beauty is a dark comedy to me. Seems that others like Last Supper, too. The Trouble With Harry, American Psycho, A Clockwork Orange, Head Above Water… I like all of these.
214 Mimi
December 18th, 2008 at 8:55 pm
Susan’s Plan should have been on this list. If you haven’t seen it, rent it.
215 kazorek
December 18th, 2008 at 9:39 pm
I hate to go here GOAT, because its a pretty blunt and vague analogy, but 2001 isn’t really trying to entertain you. It is, of course, in a sense- but in very different way. Would you, for instance, call a great painting “entertaining?” It does entertain but not at all in the same way Alien does. It doesn’t reach out and manipulate your emotions in precise ways to make you scared or happy or sad or whatever – most great paintings sit to themselves, expressing what they may and its up to you to see what that is. 2001 sits to itself, it won’t force you to see or feel anything unless if you don’t do some heavy thinking. If you ever do feel like borrowing some of that brain power you said you reserve for work and school, I suggest using it on 2001. It’s the only way you’ll understand it.
216 Ro
December 19th, 2008 at 2:05 am
Will the film “50 First dates” be recognized as a dark comedy? It should, I think.
217 K-Fun
December 19th, 2008 at 2:09 am
haha good one ro
218 Island_Boggs
December 19th, 2008 at 2:32 am
how about we kill the racism here?
219 Spart
December 19th, 2008 at 3:39 am
Might add
- Man bites dog
- Ghost dog
220 Dementia
December 19th, 2008 at 7:51 am
OK…you *have* to put “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf” on the list. It’s just criminal not to.
I also think “Sleeping with Sharks” deserves a mention.
And…a movie I think hardly anyone has seen, and is an excellent dark comedy is “P.S. Your Cat is Dead”.
221 Sugen
December 19th, 2008 at 8:19 am
none here is familiar and i have been calling myself a movie mogul…..
222 WOrdUp
December 19th, 2008 at 8:50 am
You can appreciate what makes a movie great without actually enjoying the movie itself! I’m not a particularly huge fan of 2001, and yet, I can get why people like it, why it’s so well done, and why it has the staying power it has thus far exhibited. Isn’t objectivity grand?
And LOL @ whoever is dissing Fargo as snob fodder. Dr. Strangelove is boring to people with short attention spans. Real movie snobs come to sites like this and tell the list author what movies they SHOULD and SHOULDN’T have included, and also manage to throw in something at least slightly obscure to show off their cred. That’s a REAL snob. Shiiiiiiiit, Fargo was shown in wide release! Real movie snobs won’t touch something like that with a 10 foot pole.
207. The Grey GOAT – December 18th, 2008 at 2:19 pm
”
“And yes I know it is a what if scenario about humankind in the future and beyond made in 1968, a time in which space travel was a reality and popular in the media. But like I said in my 2nd post, Kubrick was an idiot. He got it wrong, it’s 2008 and we still can’t even travel past the moon
Good job showing us how dumb you are! Thanks!
223 segue
December 19th, 2008 at 9:18 am
218. Island_Boggs: how about we kill the racism here?
****
racism? I’ve read every post, and I haven’t seen any evidence of racism. You’re going to have to be more specific if you expect anyone to understand that cryptic statement.
224 The Grey GOAT
December 19th, 2008 at 10:46 am
WOrdUp – It was a joke, I mentioned that before.
kazorek – Whatever, I’m done talking about this movie, especially on a forum about Dark Comedy, so this is my last comment about it:
I still stand on the fact that I don’t like it. You think I was looking at it like I was going to find a movie like Alien and I said I wasn’t. Your analogy of looking at the movie as art or a painting, ok fine. But as with a painting I look at it for a while, admire it and move on. Just because I didn’t stare at it for hours or come away from it with the same appreciation of it that you did doesn’t mean I missed something.
Kubrick forces you to stare at his painting for about 5 minutes too long in every scene, that’s my point hence the movie is boring. I can understand his ideas and philosophy behind it without having it pounded into my head. And that’s my issue with his “filming genius”: show us your idea, but once it’s presented, move on. He has a tendency to cut his scenes too long, to make you stare at the pictures rather than hear dialouge, fine I can deal with that. (Showing the close up eye of HAL repeatedly is a good example where it was ok. He wants you to “see” the cold, non-emotion of this insane machine that has become self aware) But, the end with the Jupiter worm hole scene is a perfect example of where it was just overkill.
2001 was fine as a “watch once movie”, but I never need to watch it again.
225 kazorek
December 19th, 2008 at 11:44 am
I figured you’d say that. Its why I shouldn’t have used that analogy. I guess all I can say to clear it up is 2001 is NOT a painting, you just don’t understand, not only the movie, but what I’m talking about.
226 Cubone
December 19th, 2008 at 12:30 pm
I’m glad “Fargo” was #1. Being from Minnesota, this film hit home . . . it’s one of my favorites. I would have liked to have seen “Garp” on the list . . . .
227 McGinn88
December 19th, 2008 at 12:54 pm
How about “Fight Club” by David Fincher? Brilliantly, bruisingly funny!
228 msantana
December 19th, 2008 at 1:06 pm
Good list! Four Rooms is a great movie I just wanted to point out that there are four different writer/directors in that movie. They are:
“The Missing Ingredient”-Allison Anders
“The Wrong Man”)-Alexandre Rockwell
“The Misbehavers”)- Robert Rodriguez
“The Man from Hollywood”- Quentin Tarantino
I feel that credit is due when credit is due and you can’t leave out the two men behind two of the best segments in the movie.
229 WOrdUp
December 19th, 2008 at 2:19 pm
224. The Grey GOAT – December 19th, 2008 at 10:46 am
WOrdUp – It was a joke, I mentioned that before.
Well all due apologies!
230 bigski
December 19th, 2008 at 2:25 pm
I think yall need to hunt down The Grey GOAT,tie him up,make him watch 2001.If he falls asleep hit him with a wet noodle.Also explain every scene to him in mind numbing detail.That should change his mind!
231 The Grey GOAT
December 19th, 2008 at 3:15 pm
bigski – Lol, nah, just roll me a J or two, let me toke up and then I should be fine watching it again.
kazorek – I get you and your painting analogy; but I’m not going to change my mind. And I’ll go on happy in life even if I never see what you see in that movie, but don’t be mad if we don’t agree.
232 Corey
December 19th, 2008 at 6:39 pm
Man, that argument between all of you has been going on for way too long.
Clearly, The Grey GOAT is not a complete film buff who loves to explore the nuances of every movie he watches, and then reflect upon the deeper meanings long after the film is over. He wants to be entertained for 90 minutes.
Most of you arguing with him are the former kind of person.
So what’s the point of even arguing? It’s like a guy who loves meat trying to convince a vegetarian that bacon really IS awesome.
233 flaminio
December 19th, 2008 at 8:23 pm
You want the blackest of black comedies, check out Terry Gilliam’s Tideland. The “montage” sequence is just too much.
234 bigski
December 19th, 2008 at 9:27 pm
Corey-very well said and to the point.Let the man stroke up a fatty and watch something he wants and be entertained and everyone get on with their lives.My rule of thumb about movies is if someone has to explain to me what I just saw,then it wasn`t a good movie.
235 kazorek
December 20th, 2008 at 12:52 am
Its really all kind of a weird ego-boosting attempt. People like me act like we’re trying to convince someone like gray goat to take a second look but really we just want other people to see how smart we think we sound. I know its an impossible argument but I want to have the best posts. Why I can’t give up I don’t really know. I think I just realized how weird it is. weird. what a cheap scam. im a fraud.
236 Anon
December 20th, 2008 at 7:54 am
I’m no part of The Grey GOAT spat. But as a hopefully impartial observer I’d note this:
Go back to his comment 76 and read. Quite gratuitously out of the blue, and without provocation from any other participant, he roasted 2001 and Kubrick as a back-up to his argument. Perhaps yall need reminding what he wrote, even though he did climb down somewhat afterwards:
“Kubrick is also on my shit list. 2001 a Space Oddessy: WORST MOVIE EVER, no matter what anyone tells you it is garbage.”
Now some of you are kneeing those who value 2001 and defended Kubrick in the goolies?
Come on, FFS!
237 segue
December 20th, 2008 at 10:52 am
What makes a movie great, to me, may be exactly the thing that makes it a great steaming pile of stinky dung to the next person.
I get this.
I also get that nothing I say will change the mind of the next person, just as nothing he says will change my mind.
Beauty, or greatness, or brilliance, is all in the eye of the beholder. It doesn’t make us any smarter, any more intellectual, to like certain movies and disdain the rest (as much as I would love to believe this is so). Of course, there is an entire genre of movies focused on the lowest common denominator, and these movies are excused from the above statement.
Movies as a whole, though, no. It’s just like Art. You may not know what what a great movie is, but you know one when you see one. That it is, like Art, a purely objective knowing, is the entire point.
238 YogiBarrister
December 20th, 2008 at 2:18 pm
“One of the most interesting things about dark comedies is that individual preference plays such a huge part in determining which are “best”.”
Ain’t that the truth!
239 bucslim
December 20th, 2008 at 7:32 pm
Anon, my goolies remain unkneed. But I thank you for pointing out the obvious. Goat started it. I was simply running to the defense of one of my faves. Not asking for across the board validation, just some measure of respect. Anyone can say ‘I don’t like it,’ or ‘I don’t get it,’ which is certainly fine. But to run to the extremes of worst vs. best is subjective, and in point of this argument, silly.
kazorek – you’ve already lost. I alone have the best posts. You have indeed impressed me and endeared yourself with me with your acumen and wit when defending Kubrick and his productions, but I’m the awesome-est, coolest and bestest poster here. Everyone knows this.
240 Angelina
December 20th, 2008 at 7:48 pm
It is true. buclsim is the bestest. . . ever.
241 Angelina
December 20th, 2008 at 7:49 pm
*oops. . .bucslim. . . sorry!
242 bucslim
December 20th, 2008 at 8:29 pm
Angelina, didn’t we have this conversation at some other point? Buclsim sounds like a cancerous growth on someone’s backside.
Doctor: I’m sorry to tell you this, but we’re going to have to lance that buclsim or you will lose a leg.
Patient: I thought it was just a pimple
Doctor: No, it’s much more serious than that.
Well anyway, thanks for the support Angelina. You’re a gem!
243 sarahenity
December 20th, 2008 at 8:57 pm
I’d have loved to have seen “Two Hands” included, brilliant Aussie dark comedy! Heath Ledger is amazing in it.
244 astraya
December 21st, 2008 at 12:18 am
While on a drive through the Korean countryside yesterday afternoon I suddenly thought of the Robert Altmann movie “A wedding”. I stumbled across that on late night tv about 15 years ago, then at a DVD store about 3 years ago.
From what I remember, the bride’s grandmother (Lillian Gish) has just died and the house staff are desperately trying to conceal the fact until after the reception. Various guests wander in to talk to her, but completely fail to notice that she’s dead. The bride’s bohemian aunt has commissioned a painting of the bride topless, which is unveiled with great ceremony. The bride’s sister (Mia Farrow) is pregnant, maybe (or maybe not) to the groom. There’s more, but I can’t remember clearly enough to confidently tell you.
I am also trying to figure out whether the French movie “The dinner guest” classifies as a black comedy. Dark certainly, but it doesn’t have a death, which most of these movies do. A group of middle-aged urban professionals (?mauppies) invite an “idiot” to dinner and systematically humiliate him. On the day of one such dinner, one of the group does his back in and is resting at home. His guest turns up and proceeds to wreak havoc on his life, then shows unexpected perception and insight, before (possibly) messing up one last time.
245 sonja_n
December 21st, 2008 at 3:24 pm
I remembered today that maybe Alpha dog would be perfect for the list.
246 yrwomn
December 21st, 2008 at 3:36 pm
the loved ones
hotel new hamshire
arsnic and old lace
247 Sloth
December 24th, 2008 at 6:31 pm
Little Murders
248 Ryan
December 25th, 2008 at 3:43 pm
Harold And Maude is the. Best. Movie. Ever.
Okay, next to Shawshank…
249 chasmo
December 31st, 2008 at 3:21 pm
Does no one here remember ‘The Loved One’? Robert Morse, Rod Steiger, Anjanete Comer, Jonathan Winters, and Sir John Giulgud. An incredible black comedy of the Funeral/Cemetery business.
Rod Steiger as Mr. Joyboy, a gay cosmetician for the dead!
Jonathan Winters and Robert Morse trying shoot pet remains into space via rockets!
Much much more…
Probably pretty hard to find these days. The local PBS station here in Chicago used to run it every now and then in the 60′s and 70′s.
250 yrwomn
January 1st, 2009 at 9:33 am
havent found the loved one on dvd yet. seen it on vhs once a very long time ago. would love to find it again. i tell everyone about it would like to show it to them too!
251 segue
January 1st, 2009 at 10:20 am
249. chasmo: The Loved One, the movie, was pretty good, but it came nowhere near the book, The Loved One by Evelyn Waugh, in being darkly hilarious. If you haven’t read it, you *must*. It will give you an entirely new slant on the movie. It will increase your pleasure in the movie.
252 chasmo
January 1st, 2009 at 8:42 pm
segue: Truth is, I had no idea there was a book. I’ll most certainly search it out soon.
Loved the movie, although I haven’t seen it in, I would guess, 10 years or so.
Many thanks for the tip!
chasmo
253 chasmo
January 1st, 2009 at 8:52 pm
Just took a look at ebay, and found a dozen or so Loved One DVD’s, as well as copies of the book.
Not as hard to find as I imagined.
I’m so tempted………….
254 segue
January 2nd, 2009 at 2:18 pm
253. chasmo: Buy the book! I promise you won’t be sorry. When I first read it, I was so enthralled, I reread it half a dozen times before I could put it aside and go on to something else.
255 yrwomn
January 2nd, 2009 at 6:26 pm
I GOT IT!!! both the movie AND book! amazon, 25 bucks!!! cant wait…..
256 segue
January 2nd, 2009 at 6:48 pm
255. yrwomn: I GOT IT!!! both the movie AND book! amazon, 25 bucks!!! cant wait…..
****
You won’t be sorry!
Read the book first, it will help fill in some holes that are in the movie (that you don’t know are in the movie unless you’ve read the book, but make the movie make far more sense anyway). Hilarity ensues.
257 Egg
January 4th, 2009 at 8:27 pm
“Gentlemen stop fighting! This is a war room.”
258 kazorek
January 6th, 2009 at 10:44 pm
Grey GOAT #224: I saw hal as child-like. My theory is his intelligence is too vast for his new, underdeveloped emotional state. He doesn’t know what to make of himself; he can’t lose at chess. He is experimenting like a child when he wrongly reports the battery will die; he wants to be wrong. Unfortunately self preservation and self-justification (they will compromise the mission if they turn him off) are also a new part of his emotional arsenal, along with curiosity – which leads him to discover he will be shut off when it is indeed proven that he was wrong in his prediction. He is, however, a computer and is aware of that fact. He doesn’t understand how he could just say, “Hey guys, I just wanted to see what would happen if I was wrong.” He thinks his only option is to kill them to save himself – the same thing the two men were planning to do to Hal.
Sorry way off topic, just felt like blabbing.
259 smithstar4
January 7th, 2009 at 9:33 am
I can’t believe you left out “Chitty,Chitty,Bang,Bang”–The top black comedy of all time.
260 graposlesh
January 9th, 2009 at 3:51 pm
Along with Harold & Maude, another brilliant black comedy is Being There(1980) with Peter Sellers, Shirley MacLaine and also directed by Ashby.
261 Paul
January 10th, 2009 at 12:39 am
Weekend at Bernie’s has one of the funniest scenes ever in my opinion. I just have to think of them jumping on the arriving boat they think they are missing and I laugh.
262 Kiko
January 20th, 2009 at 2:53 pm
Another really good dark comedy is the independent film Wristcutters. anyone who wants to know more should look it up. That movie was hilarious
263 Shauna
January 30th, 2009 at 11:15 am
“Death at a Funeral” is hillarious and definitely worth watching.
264 Matt P
February 3rd, 2009 at 5:09 am
MAN BITES DOG!!!!!!
the greatest dark comedy ever
265 Shaaronie
March 28th, 2009 at 7:11 pm
Well I absolutely loved “Very Bad Things” and could not beleive the bad ratings it got. I did feel uncomfortable laughing sometimes. It’s one of those movies that makes you say OMG a lot. I also liked Harold and Maude but I have tried watching the “Big Lebowski” a few times but always fall asleep. I even bought because hey, it’s the Coen Brothers, but I just don’t get it. I can never make it pass the first 20 mins before I am asleep. I don’t find it funny at all.
266 porkido
April 10th, 2009 at 12:11 am
Hello? The King of Comedy? I mean, it even has the word ‘comedy’ in the title…
267 JesusChrist
May 12th, 2009 at 9:22 pm
American Beauty should be on this list.
as for all you people who said you didnt enjoy the Big Lebowski, i just wanna say, you are ridiculously stupid and have no taste in film or comedy in general. That movie is a classic, it is the most quoted movie ever. Its fans know the entire script by heart, its genius, well writtin, well cast, amazing soundtrack, and has the wierdest and most unique characters. i dont mean to be an ass, or sound pretentious, but i stand by that and those who didnt like it, didnt understand it. Thats the truth. But then agian, maybe you shouldnt get it, maybe thats what seperates us. Perhaps it is a good thing that those who are utterly clueless remain that way and it might even hurt the film if the everyday douche bag liked it.
Or, perhaps you guys just arnt privy to all the new shit, man.
268 Rhymenocerous
May 13th, 2009 at 12:16 am
Well, if Jesus says so…
269 I4gotmyMANTRA
May 29th, 2009 at 9:29 pm
I’m sorry… No Heathers?
@ porkida : The King of Comedy? Thats NOT a comedy. Movie scares the **** out of me.
270 I4gotmyMANTRA
May 29th, 2009 at 9:30 pm
Rhymenocerous: Hahahahahahahaha!<3
271 Scott
June 9th, 2009 at 5:22 pm
American Psycho is by far the best EVER!
272 dreyutzu
June 15th, 2009 at 8:33 am
Reign over me ! a very black comedy … and sandler is the best ! :X :X :X
273 kdawg
June 18th, 2009 at 9:11 pm
what?!?! no Heathers?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!
274 Nancy
July 13th, 2009 at 1:21 am
I’m doing one of these again, lol
1. Heathers (not the best, but a personal favorite)
2. Fargo
3. the King of Comedy
4. Dr. Strangelove (though I tend to feel Kubrick can be both indulgent and cold-hearted, if those aren’t in some way contradictory, he is funny)
5. The Royal Tenenbaums (as much as I dislike Gwyneth Paltrow, I felt as though this was a hilarious, heartwarming, and creepy movie with a great wardrobe)
6. American Beauty, (which I adore but is low on the list as the tragic elements tend to overpower the comedic ones, rendering it more in the vein of “tragicomedy”)
7. Edward Scissorhands (I don’t really know if this one counts either, resulting in it being low on the list despite my unending affection for it)
8. Grosse Point Blank (I really have to explain a lot of these, don’t I? God, I am a total nerd)
9.In Bruges (I tend to rate recent movies lower, as I need to see how they age)
10. I can’t think of any more I’ve seen, but I hope to see the Big Lebowski when I get around to it. Technically, since I’m 12 and it’s summer and all my friends are on vacation, leaving me with nothing to do but make random lists of movies on a nerdy site, I really should have seen it already.
I’d like to see how many people got through that whole thing
275 swizen
July 27th, 2009 at 7:15 am
@The Grey GOAT (190):
276 bassbait
August 1st, 2009 at 3:44 pm
Brain dead (dead alive in america) should have been on this list. Peter jackson’s gory masterpiece about zombies is just hilarious. The scene where the zombies make out and one eats the other one’s mouth is hilarious. Also, when the zombie baby is driving the guy crazy and he beats it up in public is just awesome! I don’t want to have to go on…
277 Bjorno
September 1st, 2009 at 6:31 pm
Withnail and i?
278 Shocked
September 8th, 2009 at 12:24 pm
Heathers
279 Han Brolo
September 18th, 2009 at 11:22 pm
Worst black comedy? Burn After Reading.. stupid movie..
280 lazarus
September 25th, 2009 at 4:22 am
What about Snatch?
281 Audrey
September 29th, 2009 at 8:53 am
The Big Lebowski <3
Hilarious, hilarious movie.
282 bassbait
October 10th, 2009 at 10:46 pm
What about Shaun of the Dead? That’s probably one of my earlier Black Comedies, and it has to be one because it’s about a zombie apocalypse and none of the main characters live!
283 mrfedora
November 7th, 2009 at 11:07 am
Good List! Gonna have to check out the one w/ Simon Pegg. someone should make this huge discusion into, like, a top 100 or something. if ya do, link it. anywhay, id have to say i didnt love fargo, but i may just have to watch it again. Loved Lebowski. the dude defininitly abides.
284 john in kansas city
November 11th, 2009 at 6:17 pm
A boy and his dog should definately be on this list. For those who don’t know here is the plot in a nutshell “an 18 year old don johnson and his telepathic dog wander the wastelands after world war 4 looking for women to rape”
This movie is full of such dark humor that you definately feel guilty laughing. In fact the whole movie could be thought of as one sick joke with the last minute being the punchline. The really don’t make em like this any more.
285 bigben
November 22nd, 2009 at 11:17 am
a really dark comedy that is nt on it and worth a watch is happiness
286 bigben
November 22nd, 2009 at 11:24 am
a great dark comedy that is nt on there is happiness,its worth a watch,the big nothing is alright but it copies an old episode of tales from the crypt i would of liked it alot better if i did nt see that
287 TimTop
December 16th, 2009 at 10:21 am
No Beetlejuice? That’s shame, shoulda just gone top 20 and included that, Big Lebowski, and a few more like Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang.
288 TimTop
December 16th, 2009 at 10:22 am
Sorry, I mean top 15
Just a couple good ones missing from the list, but solid overall. I lovveee Big Lebowski
289 bassbait
January 16th, 2010 at 12:17 am
Hot fuzz deserves a mention. It’s so clever. Of all modern comedies that are being released today, Hot Fuzz is one that stands out, and really proves that the black comedy isn’t dead (That was a great pun). But honestly, Hot Fuzz is great.
290 blah
January 17th, 2010 at 4:45 am
i loved Ravenous since i first saw it, and never considered it a comedy of any sort… at least, i never was convinced the idea was for it to be a comedy, although i found a few of the musical pieces gigglish in that they totally didn’t fit the scene. Apparently to some that’s what makes a “dark comedy”.
291 alex12345269
January 26th, 2010 at 7:09 pm
Fargo is NOT better than Dr. Strangelove
292 Jason Smith
April 26th, 2010 at 1:00 am
Can somebody help me out with the ending of Barton Fink????
293 Declan
May 21st, 2010 at 12:41 am
The Big Lebowski is probably my favorite movie.
294 daxxenos
May 25th, 2010 at 4:03 pm
A: Because Natural Born Killers stinks on ice?__
B: Because Natural Born Killers is about as subtle as fart in a space suit?__
C: Because Natural Born Killers is Oliver Stone's masturbation fantasy, with enough cuts and weird camera angles to give a prozac addict an epileptic seizure, and the charm of watching an animal snuff film?
295 stephen
June 3rd, 2010 at 8:52 am
Why is Big Nothing on this list? It was incredibly generic, I can think of a hundred identical movies right off the top of my head, Reindeer Games, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, etc etc. but I guess someone who liked that piece of dogshit Barton Fink would also add a movie like Big Nothing to an all time best of list. Just kidding with you
Thanks for adding Ravenous and Very Bad Things, those are two of my favorites.
296 Mr. PersonGuy
July 29th, 2010 at 3:35 pm
Fargo is the greatest movie of the 90's. You betchya!