how im gonna make up something universal, doesnt even make any sense: IT"S THE TOP 100 COMEDY FILMS RESULTS THREAD

# 97 (TIE)

NETWORK

Sidney Lumet
1976
United States
(251 pts, 7 votes)

I think it has flaws as a film, but I like Holden, a lot of the acting is great, and the prescience and concept make it classic

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Tuesday, December 6, 2005 2:32 PM (6 years ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

gabb, mine is mostly middle-aged curmudgeonliness. You pups gotta remember that.
Iremember around 1980 Network was shown on network TV with several of Finch's 'bullshits' intact, and it was probably the most effective presentation it ever had.

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Tuesday, December 6, 2005 2:59 PM (6 years ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

gabb, mine is mostly middle-aged curmudgeonliness. You pups gotta remember that.
Chayefsky is nothing if not curmudgeonly! What of that scene where William Holden tells Faye Dunaway about all the funerals he's been attending?

I like this movie for everything illicit and incorrect about it. Not because of its "prescience."

― Eric H. (Eric H.), Wednesday, December 7, 2005 3:41 PM (6 years ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

i think it's a glib, smug film -- has its moments, but not many. i liek the scene where that guy drops the knowledge on fich, about nations not existing and it all being business. it's so ott it almost works.

― Theorry Henry (Enrique), Wednesday, December 7, 2005 3:43 AM (6 years ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Network, much like Citizen Kane, is great because it is so theatrical and over the top. As satire it is otm enough to quiet the critical voice within and allow you to just sit back and enjoy the circus.

The Holden and Finch characters being crumbling old men gives the screenplay more resonance and depth, mainly because Chavefsky empathized with these characters and endowed them with some pathos and humanity, but also because the actors empathized, too, and delivered excellent performances. The satire didn't really require either man to be aged. In fact, the satire would have been sharper if they'd both been much younger.

― Aimless, Sunday, January 4, 2009 12:54 PM (3 years ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Holden is really great, even if his role rounds aground on Chavesky-isms (he actually says "shrill nothingness" to Faye Dunaway).

The best scenes are the quiet ones in the beginning between Dunaway and her staff: her assistant reciting proposals for different shows in which a "crusty-but-benign" old coot stars, etc.

― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Tuesday, November 20, 2007 8:47 PM (4 years ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

The famous line is usually misquoted. It's actually "I'm as mad as hell and I'm not going to take this any more!"

― Alba, Sunday, October 28, 2007 3:40 PM (4 years ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

"I'm mad as hell & I'm not gunna take it any more!" -- the thread for Network

I voted for it.

ok this is a bit better now ...

are you being all RAISE YOUR STANDARDS-y about "Singin' In The Rain", too? because if so ETERNAL GASFACE

looooooooooooved ned beatty's yelly network monologue in high school. haven't really seen it since then but remember all the OMG FAYE DUNAWAY TALKS ABOUT RATINGS IN BED SHE'S A MONSTER stuff being pretty strident/lame.

probably not as prescient as, like, rollerball, but pretty prescient.

and for me, the "famous line" from network isn't the mad as hell rant, but "man, give her the fucking overhead clause!"

it might be a truly great film without the speeches.

or maybe if all the speeches were knowingly scene-chewes ala ned beatty.

xp also robert duvall: "i'll strangle him with a... SSSSSSSASH CORD!"

are you being all RAISE YOUR STANDARDS-y about "Singin' In The Rain", too? because if so ETERNAL GASFACE

well, in the sense that i think it should be ranked much HIGHER than #100 (and certainly should be ranked higher than swingers).

Swingers is funnier than Network

I'm sure that there will be plenty of movies in these results that I don't care for, but I'm having a hard time imagining anything I actively dislike showing up, for some reason.

well, in the sense that i think it should be ranked much HIGHER than #100 (and certainly should be ranked higher than swingers).

ha I can't really argue with you there

I am getting the sense that I've had exactly the wrong idea as to what Network is all about for all of these years; I should see it someday

ok i hadn't noticed that someone had Swingers as their #1, that is pretty insane. it was literally #50 on my ballot.

Swingers is the worst.

And I fucking hate Vince Vaughn. I have never laughed at him. His whole shtick seems to be the normal guy alongside funnier people. Kinda a pre-Bradley Cooper guy.

I'm trying to remember if I voted for Network. I think it was on my shortlist but fell just short of making it onto my ballot. Excellent dark comedy, though.

not at all, in Vaughn's funniest roles he's the obnoxious chatterbox and someone else is his straight man

imo one of the worst offenders of the films that dudes think they should model their friend group dynamic after

and for me, the "famous line" from network isn't the mad as hell rant, but "man, give her the fucking overhead clause!"

― kurwa mać (Polish for "long life") (Eisbaer), Tuesday, March 27, 2012 10:30 AM (5 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Mine is, "Because you're on television, dummy."

Network is great and has some laughs but again it's a movie i wouldn't have even dreamed of voting for in this.

good morning!

looooooooooooved ned beatty's yelly network monologue in high school

Actually did it as a monologue in HS acting class.

the thing is, the movie doesn't really portray them in a positive light. Vaughan is meant to be an asshole

and for me, the "famous line" from network isn't the mad as hell rant, but "man, give her the fucking overhead clause!"

― kurwa mać (Polish for "long life") (Eisbaer), Tuesday, March 27, 2012 10:30 AM (5 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Mine is, "Because you're on television, dummy."

― jpattzlovevampz 2 hours ago (Phil D.), Tuesday, March 27, 2012 9:38 AM (1 minute ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Mine is "I'm sorry I impugned your cocksmanship."

Donald O'Connor rooles. That's all.

lol Eric, that one should be deployed more on ILX, I think.

imo one of the worst offenders of the films that dudes think they should model their friend group dynamic after

It's not any particular movie's fault that mentally ill people might actually do things like that.

alfred who are you saying good morning to and why?

To you and you and you.

Because he talked the whole night through.

#97 (TIE)

ARMY OF DARKNESS

Sam Raimi
1992
United States
(251 pts, 8 votes)

Aw come on, Army of Darkness was hilarious! Silly, but that was the point. Great fun.
― Trayce (trayce), Monday, October 20, 2003 1:21 AM (8 years ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Yeah, the first one is an impressive achievement for the (complete lack of) budget, but ED2 is the influential masterpiece and Army of Darkness is one of my fave movies ever. So, so funny.
― Jordan (Jordan), Monday, October 20, 2003 8:35 AM (8 years ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

The Evil Dead - Classic or Dud?
(sorry! hard time finding a thread dedicated to army of darkness.)

Bruce Campbell vs. the Franchises of Darkness

The one of the trilogy that tries the hardest to be funny seems, to me, the least.

Network is great and has some laughs but again it's a movie i wouldn't have even dreamed of voting for in this.

I feel like satire is really gonna suffer in this poll because it doesn't fit a lot of people's idea of a comedy movie.

alfred who are you saying good morning to and why?

― internet somebody (some dude), T

a man can't be polite?

incidentally all of Network's Golden Globes were in the drama categories instead of the musical/comedy ones

oh sorry alf i just didn't know if you were saying hello to the thread or if there was some subtext! good morning!

I hope the other ED movies place higher, cos Army of darkness feels waaaaay forced compared to the other two, in both the horror and the comedy.

incidentally all of Network's Golden Globes were in the drama categories instead of the musical/comedy ones

Yeah, but they also thought it was pretty funny when Angela Bassett got beaten up as Tina Turner.

also Network is #64 in the AFI top 100 but isn't in their top 100 comedies list. so that Network placed at all here is i think proof that satire is NOT suffering in this poll.

I still haven't seen Army of Darkness. Must rectify this, though I didn't actually think it was that well regarded...

woah the Tina Turner biopic with multiple stage numbers was in a musical category? the nerve

i have respect for the Evil Dead/Army of Darkness cult but my introduction to Bruce Campbell was "The Adventures of Brisco County Jr." and i think i still enjoy that more than any of his movies

also re: satire c'mon you know Strangelove is gonna do just fine here

incidentally all of Network's Golden Globes were in the drama categories instead of the musical/comedy ones

Despite its critical reception, (The Tourist) was nominated for three Golden Globes: Best Musical or Comedy, Depp for Actor Musical or Comedy and Jolie for Actress Musical or Comedy. The fact that a film originally promoted as romantic thriller was nominated for the comedy or musical category garnered the film and the Golden Globes considerable mockery; when the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) made the official announcement of nominees, the press room erupted with laughter.

crusty but benign ILE posters who are crosses between Grizzly Bear and G. Gordon Liddy.

eh Strangelove is "funnier" than Network in a pretty explicit way

#94 (3-WAY-TIE)

TEAM AMERICA: WORLD POLICE

Trey Parker
2004
United States
(255 pts, 10 votes)

All I've heard about this movie, politically, is that us brave Americans have to be dicks to stop assholes, and that liberal actors/filmmakers die horribly and are helping to guard evil dictators. What happens to conservative critics/actors/whatever? I'm guessing that nothing, because they're too busy SAVING THE WORLD.

SERIOUSLY does this not strike ANYONE ELSE as intentionally ludicrous? People really think they're arguing that a global stance that they're portraying as "be a dick" as a positive course of action?

(xpost: I see something that is a gigantic lampoon of the "national mood" that is going to go completely over people's heads because everyone seems more than willing to jump right into whatever stereotype is laid out for them.)

This is going to be like "Natural Born Killers" all over again.
― Dan Perry '08 (Dan Perry), Thursday, October 14, 2004 9:34 AM (7 years ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

not funny.
― cºzen (Cozen), Friday, January 14, 2005 1:20 PM (7 years ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

I'm with Cozen. Me and my girl laughed at one thing but after the movie we couldn't remember what it was.
― adam (adam), Friday, January 14, 2005 1:36 PM (7 years ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

I thought this was the funniest thing I'd seen in a long, long time. I could not stop laughing. A couple friends of mine who grew up in the same Red America conservative small town had the same reaction.. funniest. movie. ever. On the other hand, I had gone to see it w/some colleagues who were from France, Lebanon, and Argentina, and their reaction was.. WTF?
― daria g (daria g), Friday, January 14, 2005 4:09 PM (7 years ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

I thought this was a great film, and I'll tell you why.
Sure, the gross-out jokes were funny, puppets having sex is funny, and every time you get drawn into the story, along comes another illustration of the puppets' limitations (walking, for example, or even any time you see a puppet walking) to jolt you back into the real world. It even works as a take-off of the Hollywood film system. All the lazy writing, lazy acting and lazy directing is hilarious and intentional - a puppet has no facial expressions after all, and so getting a puppet to act badly is a tremendous feat and very very funny indeed.

However, it goes further than that. This film works as a high-level satire of a plethora of subjects. Obviously the US foreign policy is ridiculed, as is the anti-war movement, but there's more. Having actors as the most potent instrument of political change is a masterstroke of satirical commentary, and by reducing all the characters to simply drawn caricatures (racial or not) highlights how far lies that life is black and white have infiltrated worldwide politics, on both sides of the socio-political divide.

No, this is a great film, and worth certainly worth a visit to the cinema. It's the LACK of preaching that makes me like it - instead of taking the easy option of being for-or-against, it comes across as disliking everybody, which as far as I'm concerned is a far more likeable position.

― Johnney B (Johnney B), Monday, January 17, 2005 2:31 AM (7 years ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

it's gets a bit preachy at the end there!
― j blount (papa la bas), Monday, January 17, 2005 2:37 AM (7 years ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

haha - it was unintentional satire since the speech at the end was VERY SIMILAR to the speech at the end of any south park which are always clearly meant and, when they veer into the political, always libertarian or conservative. when they get to the moral of the story (and they always do) they have no qualms with wielding a hammer. moral of team america: sure rightwingers might be dicks but if we listen to liberal pussies assholes like kim jong-il would kill us all. and 'liberals = pussies' is hardly a new joke!
― j blount (papa la bas), Monday, January 17, 2005 2:54 AM (7 years ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

"Team America:World Police" -- Come anticipate the return of Supermarionation, thanks to Trey Parker & Matt Stone!

obviously, yes, but i was referring to a post itt about satire suffering in this poll (xpost)

Okay, bye thread.

i've never seen army of darkness, so i can't get outraged/feel happy that it placed w/n the Top 100. so someone else can get raise yer standards/honour the fire over this one!