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I've just seen the most wonderful movie (a review)
13 years ago
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When reviewing creative output - be it films, television or even music, I tend to be a rather tough critic. Anyone who's read my various scratchings over the years can attest to the fact that I can be an absolute bastard when I feel the people involved haven't given me my time or money's worth.
Well, for the first time in a long time I've seen a film that I can find nothing wrong with - and actually that's not true. There is one thing about this film I don't like, and that's that I missed it during the original theatrical run. According to Wikipedia, the blame for that can be laid directly at the feet of Paramount Pictures, who changed the title, scrapped the publicity campaign, and yanked the film from theaters after only a few showings, because the producers involved left for another studio.
A terrific film, cut down in its prime, purely out of spite.
Typical Hollywood game playing. I despise it more deeply than words can express.
The film in question is 1992's BRAIN DONORS.
Now, from the title, one not already familiar with the film might assume that I was referring to some low budget scifi/horror pastiche with lots of blue lighting and rubbery effects sequences. This could not be further from the truth. In fact what this film is is....well... there's no other way to say it.
This is the lost, final film of The Marx Brothers.
Once again, according to the Wikipedia, the script is based loosely on their film A Night At The Opera, and while it does share a number of key elements with that film, the story, and the script are actually both dissimilar enough to stand on their own two feet. (It is, in fact, actually less similar to Night At The Opera, than Disney's "The Muppets" is to Disney's "The Country Bears" for which I can only say "Bra-vo Disney, way to churn 'em out!")
It is as if somewhere in some dusty closet whose contents hadn't seen the light of day since 1939, the script had been discovered, and some demented film-maker decided to put every page of it into his camera, exactly as he found it. (With the exception of the fact that their "Harpo" character has a speaking part, which I can forgive because he is still brilliant.)
Visual gags. Prop comedy. Snappy patter. There's even a Margaret Dumont character.
I sat through most of it with my mouth hanging open, scarcely believing that somehow, and against all odds, I had stumbled upon buried treasure. It was like expecting to be served a McDonald's hamburger, and instead receiving a bacon-wrapped filet mignon with a parmesan crust and au jus.
If you like the Marx clan, and you haven't seen Brain Donors, you need to go and do it, as soon as you are able.
This is not a modern film, reliant on overblown camerawork and clashy effects sequences. You will not see a single NOKIA advert.
This a classic. An absolute classic.
I have never given a five star review. I am now doing so.
Well, for the first time in a long time I've seen a film that I can find nothing wrong with - and actually that's not true. There is one thing about this film I don't like, and that's that I missed it during the original theatrical run. According to Wikipedia, the blame for that can be laid directly at the feet of Paramount Pictures, who changed the title, scrapped the publicity campaign, and yanked the film from theaters after only a few showings, because the producers involved left for another studio.
A terrific film, cut down in its prime, purely out of spite.
Typical Hollywood game playing. I despise it more deeply than words can express.
The film in question is 1992's BRAIN DONORS.
Now, from the title, one not already familiar with the film might assume that I was referring to some low budget scifi/horror pastiche with lots of blue lighting and rubbery effects sequences. This could not be further from the truth. In fact what this film is is....well... there's no other way to say it.
This is the lost, final film of The Marx Brothers.
Once again, according to the Wikipedia, the script is based loosely on their film A Night At The Opera, and while it does share a number of key elements with that film, the story, and the script are actually both dissimilar enough to stand on their own two feet. (It is, in fact, actually less similar to Night At The Opera, than Disney's "The Muppets" is to Disney's "The Country Bears" for which I can only say "Bra-vo Disney, way to churn 'em out!")
It is as if somewhere in some dusty closet whose contents hadn't seen the light of day since 1939, the script had been discovered, and some demented film-maker decided to put every page of it into his camera, exactly as he found it. (With the exception of the fact that their "Harpo" character has a speaking part, which I can forgive because he is still brilliant.)
Visual gags. Prop comedy. Snappy patter. There's even a Margaret Dumont character.
I sat through most of it with my mouth hanging open, scarcely believing that somehow, and against all odds, I had stumbled upon buried treasure. It was like expecting to be served a McDonald's hamburger, and instead receiving a bacon-wrapped filet mignon with a parmesan crust and au jus.
If you like the Marx clan, and you haven't seen Brain Donors, you need to go and do it, as soon as you are able.
This is not a modern film, reliant on overblown camerawork and clashy effects sequences. You will not see a single NOKIA advert.
This a classic. An absolute classic.
I have never given a five star review. I am now doing so.
kngru
~kngru
oh, I remember seeing that on TV. I really didn't know what to think about it. At the time I didn't know it was taken from a Marx Brother's script though it had alot of the same stylings. I wasn't too hot on the actors though, except Lithgow, so I didn't think much of the film. I'll have to give it another look.
Canius
~canius
Wow I got to check it out Murr
Cabcat
~cabcat
That's why some low budget films are good because they have to rely on good writing, acting and something to differentiate their film.
