Movie Review: Bad Santa
Published November 28, 2003
This movie bounced around the release schedule a few times this fall, which usually is not a good sign. After first seeing the trailer, I knew this was something *I HAD* to see.
First, this is the latest movie of Terry Zwigoff, the acclaimed directory of "Ghost World" and "Crumb", both of which are very interesting movies to watch. One can call this Zwigoff's first "commercial" movie, seeing the other two were aimed at the art house crowd. It's also interesting to note that this movie was written by John Requa and Glenn Firarra, the two who brought us the steaming pile of crap known as Cats and Dogs. Luckily for us, the Coen brothers came up with the story and also had the final say in the script.
Billy Bob Thornton, who can also be seen briefly in "Love Actually" plays the crude, offensive, morally bankrupt Santa with so much ease it's almost like he wasn't acting. I'm dead serious, you watch Thornton deliver some of the most crude lines and you say to yourself "Wow, what an *&$hole!" Billy Bob Thornton is slowly winning me over as an actor, never being a fan of his in the past, performances like this one (and sling blade) show what kind of an actor he really is.
Tony Cox, the "midget", "dwarf" or, "little person" (he's called all of them in the movie) is just an mean, angered elf. There are times when Cox hesitates on his lines, which can be seen, but it really doesn't take away from the movie. It actually adds to it, because the viewer gets the impression that it is just frustration with Thornton.
Bernie Mac and John Ritter both have small roles, which really do not play into the main story, but do add to it. After watching Ocean's 11, I was sold on Bernie Mac. Funny man who knows how to deliver a comedic performance. Also, to note, this is the last movie of John Ritter.
Bad Santa is funny as hell and it's for those people in the world who are anti-holiday. It's vulgar beyond vulgar. There are so many situations in this movie where one will sit back and say "did he just do that?" or "did he say that?", as a viewer you just wonder what they are going to do next. This is not a movie for everyone, but if you cannot take a bit of humor I'm guessing the trailer for the movie would have turned you off to begin with.
- Movie Review: Bad Santa
- Published: November 28, 2003
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- Section: Video
- Filed Under: Video: Comedy
- Writer: Van Santos
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Greetings,
I saw Bad Santa opening day, first show, with about 50 other people. I made an effort to see how many ppl where there because I didn't expect many there.
Just about every one in the place was laughing non-stop during the movie. At the end, a large part (myself not included) actually clapped.
Ghost World is a good movie, but much different - totally different. If you expect one of Zwigoff's other offerings, you will not like this movie. For me, and the others I saw the movie with, hands down, the funniest movie that has been out in years.
To each their own. :-)
Thanks Van! I wold say that is about as far apart as you're going to get two opinions about a single movie.
I admit, I did expect it to be good based on Zwigoff's previous work, and you're right -- if I had gone in expecting it to be utter garbage, I would not have been so disappointed.
Zwigoff is a terrific director, but he needs to get back into writing or at least guiding his own projects, rather than trying to pump life into an idea so lame even the Coen Brothers rejected it. The Coens have never made a film as good as Zwigoff's first two, or as bad a film as his third -- but hey, who has?
This is the thing I had faced - I love Ghost World, but I look at Ghost World as a "movie" in the classical way. This was mindless entertainment. I was looking to laugh and I did.
I agree with you Zwigoff needs to get back to his own projects. Why he did something like this I don't know, but one needs to give him credit for doing it tho it's not "his".
The other point I should make, if Bill Murray had played the role of Santa (which we was originally supposed to) I think this movie would have flopped all around. It wouldn't matter if you liked dark comedy or not.
The more I hear, the more I want to see this film.
We need more holiday movies like this and less crap that will play on the PAX network. Speaking of crap.
Best line in the film: "Yeaaaah! You're not goin' shit right for a week!"
Ghost World and Bad Santa are two differnt animals people. Go see the film.
Dude, when he said that line - "Yeaaaah! You're not goin' shit right for a week!" - I could not believe it!
Everyone lost it, thank god I wasn't drinkin anything at that time or it would have been all over my shirt.
Ughhh..depressing, terrible acting, far-fetched situations, did I say terrible acting? No wonder John Ritter died - probably saw the finished product. Was Cloris Leachman looking for some quick cash?
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Bad Santa sucks ass. I loved Zwigoff's Crumb and Ghost World, but his latest effort is an unpleasant, laugh-free disaster. The movie asks the question: how many times does Billy Bob Thornton have to say "fuck" before he's actually funny? Answer: never. Easily the worst movie I've seen this year. I'm not a fan of gooey Christmas movies in general, and I thoroughly loathe such treacle as A Christmas Story, but this stinking, steaming turd of a movie is a wretched antidote.