Shaun Of The Dead

[poliphilo]

We spent yesterday afternoon drinking Cotes du Rhone and watching Shaun of the Dead. Afterwards I had to go and lie down for a while in a darkened room.

Shaun is the best comedy film with roots in Brit TV since Life Of Brian. It's a whole lot better (sharper, more disciplined, better directed) than anything the Comic Strip team came up with.

There's a scene in which a gaggle of young comedy stars makes a fleeting, non-speaking appearance. I spotted Tamsin Greig, Martin Freeman, Matt Lucas. It was like the new generation declaring its arrival. Look, we're here- and we're here in depth. Suddenly it's a golden age.

Comments

[jackiejj.livejournal.com]

It was like the new generation declaring its arrival. Look, we're here- and we're here in depth. Suddenly it's a golden age.

The audience here loved Shaun of the Dead--it makes it even more fun when everyone around you is howling and laughing!

My son and daughter both rent a Monty Python every Christmas, and we always cheer when the monks with their boards arrive.

My brother wants to give my mother the complete Rising Damp series on DVD for Christmas if it's available, and he's asked me to search for it over the net.

If there's a new Golden Age of British comedy, I can't wait!

(Oh, and I like Mr. Bean, too. How I would like to sit across the room and just watch him read a book or lift a spoon. His face is wonderful.)

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Two to look out for:

The Office. Excruciatingly accurate parody of fly-on-the-wall documentaries. David Brent- the boss from hell who sees himself as "a chilled-out entertainer"- is the best loved/hated sit-com character since Basil Fawlty.

Little Britain. Pythonesque sketch humour from Matt Lucas and David Walliams.

And that's only the tip of the iceberg.

[archyena.livejournal.com]

You know, the last movie I remember seeing is Kill Bill. God am I ever out of the loop.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Hey, Kill Bill wasn't that long ago. I've only just caught up with it myself.

[cybersofa.livejournal.com]

Yes, I always have to go for a little lie down after Tamsin Greig, too. :)

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

And she's only on screen for the blink of an eyelid. Ah me!

[ibid.livejournal.com]

I couldn't believe it - a GOOD British film! Good quality script and charactors I could identify with as a Briton!

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Now the big question is can they build on the success?

[currawong.livejournal.com]

I'm a fan of the new wave of Britcom. Starting with the "Fast Show", then the horrid, deadly-funny "League of Gentlemen" then "Coupling" (which started off ordinary, but became cleverer as it progressed), on to "Black Books" and the truly disgusting but gripping "Human Remains". (once seen, never forgotten).

I suppose "Ab-fab" was the first of the new-wave. Series 3 and 4 went off the boil, but along came series 5 and it was back to its vitriolic old self.

All of these programmes make American sitcoms of the "Friends" and "Everyone Loves Raymond" kind, look so insipid. The only American comedy I can watch is "Frazier" which, despite having moments, like all US comedies,of gagging sentimentality has, at least, a modicum of wit. (I would also count "Six Feet Under" if you count it as a comedy/drama)

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Black Books is wonderful.

A new show that has the critics reaching for their superlatives is Green Wing. I missed it first time round (it came on at a time when I didn't feel like being amused) but I'll try and catch the repeats or get the DVD or something.

Do you get to see Curb Your Enthusiasm? That's one Yank sitcom thats devoid of sentimentality. The first episode I saw was the one where there's a misprint in the obits and Larry's wife's aunt (it's all Larry's fault of course) is eulogized as "beloved cunt".

[currawong.livejournal.com]

I've heard of "Curb Your Enthusiasm: but neither it nor :Green Wing" have made it down here yet because poblic TV is starved of funds and commercial TV is largely cretinous. Our most popolar network is owned by a casino czar!

Did tou ever see "Human Remains"? ...so dark ...it made "The Office" look like a joyous romp. Truly painful comedy.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

We belong to a DVD lending library and I've just gone and ordered Human Remains.

Human Remains.

[currawong.livejournal.com]

Well, aren't you in for a ....erm...ahem...treat.

Look out for the dreaded curly-sausage casserole and make damn sure you assume a foetal position in the pet-cemetery.

Good luck!

[currawong.livejournal.com]

P.S. I find "Little Britain" a terrible let-down considering it is produced by the "League of Gentlemen " people. The only thing I find funny in it is the fourteen year old slag who runs off at the mouth unintelligibly at two hundred miles an hour. All the jokes seem to be exactly the same week after week.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

That's true. Series 2 is unnecessary. the same jokes every week thing takes me back to the radio shows of my youth- like Round The Horne. But David Walliams and Matt Lucas are very talented I think.

[currawong.livejournal.com]

But when you've got the immortal Kenneth Williams saying,"I think the arn-serr loys in the soy-w", it's funny no matter how many times you hear it.

I tune into Little Britain just to hear that mad little scrubber say, "Yes, well, shut-up! you know Rachel she's such a slag well she's a lesbian anyway shut-up no she is, anyway, no I never"... etc. ad nauseam. Which one plays her?

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

That's Matt Lucas.

I'm also very fond of the guy in the wheelchair and his gentle and put-upon carer.