Film Commentary: For Aging Comedians, Timing Is Everything
Published November 22, 2005
So let's thank Steve Martin and Bill Murray for having delivered this message, and also for showing us so eloquently in their separate but similar films that their timing, both on the big screen and in real life, remains impeccable. Those of us who, in our youth, appreciated the belly laughs these men can deliver (a Martin concert almost a quarter century ago, replete with arrow through the head, balloon animals and plenty of "Well, excuuuuusssseee me" comments remains one of my best collegiate memories), are thankful that these funny guys, while unable to maintain relationships in films, have found a way to remain connected to those of us in their vast audience of fans.
Some film side notes: Not only do Shopgirl and Lost in Translation share common themes, they share several acting/production credits. Schwartzman was in Rushmore with Murray, who shared the screen with Johannson in Lost in Translation. And Shopgirl director Anand Tucker was producer of Girl with a Pearl Earring, another film about an ill-timed relationship between an older man and young woman played by Johansson. It's not quite Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon, but the Hollywood incestuousness here is intriguing.
This commentary appeared in a slightly different form as "Cinematic shopping" on the tax blog Don't Mess With Taxes. Yep, movies and taxes all in one blog. Go figure.
- Film Commentary: For Aging Comedians, Timing Is Everything
- Published: November 22, 2005
- Type: Opinion
- Section: Video
- Filed Under: Video: Comedy, Culture: Humor and Satire
- Writer: Kay Bell
- Kay Bell's BC Writer page
- Kay Bell's personal site
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I'm not tempted to see "Shopgirl", based on what I've read so far. Sounds shallow and precious, to me. I didn't like "Lost In Translation" much, either. "Broken Flowers" was slightly better, if only for the presence of the estimable Tilda Swinton, who made an indelible impression in "Orlando".
These thin movies made from short stories are doomed, I'm afraid. The effect of a movie is to thin out the texture of the story in favor of visualization, and while that can work pretty good for novels (instead of Tolstois lengthy narrative of battles we get short broad armies of extras) it reduces short stories to mere wispiness.
If you like Short Stories with atmosphere and punch I'd recommend "Stories" by T C Boyle. There's about 60 stories in 700 pages (and only about $12 from Amazon! Talk about Bang For The Buck!), and only a few are skip-overs.
Martin's comedy has been closer to life than frantic for more than a decade. Forget Man With Two Brains - that was over 20 years ago! Think Roxanne, yes, but also Father of the Bride, and the fantastic LA Story.
And while we're documenting manic comedians who (successfully) switch to drama, let's not forget Robin Williams, who showed he can chill us as well, with Insomnia and One-Hour Photo.
Oh yeah - and he can still make us laugh til tears flow, as Death to Smoochy proves!
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Cheers. Temple
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Nice points made here. Steve Martin proved his acting chops in 1987's Roxanne, a modern take on Cyrano de Bergerac in which Martin's older, firefighting oddball character did end up with the girl (Daryl Hannah). Bill Murray continues to amaze me with each of his performances; I so dug Rushmore and thinking about that goodbye kiss between him and Scarlet Johannson still makes me cry. How I wish the timing had been right for those two... Knowing that Martin won't wind up with Danes has broken my heart already, and I have yet to see Shopgirl. Man, I can't wait. (God, I love a tearjerker with gentle laughs.)