This months sub genre/category was chosen by Meredith from M. Carter at the Movies she is joined by three Bloggers hand picked and our host Heather. So I can now hand you over to Meredith for the second Groovers & Mobsters Present: Horace Walpole had an enduring observation about the world, calling it “a tragedy to those who feel, but a comedy to those who think.” Who says it can’t be both at once? Certainly not the writers, directors, producers and stars of films that fall into the grimace-with-laughter dark comedy genre. From the emotionally violent to the downright macabre, dark comedies buff a funny and acidic sheen on the devastating realities of everyday life. Read on to discover how “Heathers” accomplishes this and for a list of must-see dark comedies.
Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)
“Gentlemen, you can’t fight in here. This is the War Room.” President Merkin Muffley (Peter Sellers)
In terms of dark, I’m not sure it gets any more gloomy than the thought of national and global annihilation and worse, the inability to prevent such an attack. But if you can find humor in the darkest of places, you can bet on finding it here. Yet for a story depicting an inescapable end of days, the characters here-in (when all else fails) take a surprisingly humorous “hey there’s a bright side to this” mentality. Bright side? Really? The unexpected humor is a result of the morbid hilarity that comes from actually having to deal with such inescapable events. Sellers and the crew are in top form, adding levity to the situations, even when their lines really are meant to be serious.
In Dr. Strangelove, the U.S. Military has been sent into a mad dash to counter-act the events caused by an insane base commander. He has initiated “Attack Wing Plan R”, a preemptive strike against a Russian sneak attack…only the Russians haven’t attacked. The film follows the events of the President and the country’s top generals in a War Room trying to abort “Plan R” and the one B-52 team which cannot be reached for recall. To make matters worse they learn the imminent attack on Russia will trigger their secret “Doomsday” device. That tamper-proof device will unleash nuclear fallout and the end of the world…well, for the next 93 years anyway. “The whole purpose of a Doomsday device is lost, if you keep it a secret!! Why didn’t you tell the word!?”
Peter Sellers (playing 3 characters including the zany titular Dr. Strangelove) has never been funnier. Each of his three characters tries to “right the boat” but to no avail. An equally funny George C. Scott, in the wake of the coming disaster, still tries to maintain his composure and U.S. supremacy even though neither has much time left. Further if a film features characters named Commander Jack D. Ripper, and Col. Bat Guano, you’ll come to find rampant insanity hiding in every corner of this film. Yet none more than the attempts to soften the mushroom cloud apocalypse with the song “We’ll Meet Again“. If that’s not darkly humorous, I don’t know what is. A simulcast of seriousness/lunacy abounds the whole ride is about as wild as Slim Pickens’ rodeo swan song.
By Marc form Go,See,Talk!
The King of Comedy (1982)
“Is Mr. Langford expecting you?” Langford’s Secretary - “Yes, I don’t think he is.” – Rupert Pupkin
Meet Rupert Pupkin – whose name is often mispronounced and misspelled. He’s an insecure, timid and dissolutional young man whose dream is to perform a guest spot on “The Jerry Langford Show”. His psychopathic friend Masha is deeply obsessed with Jerry and after numerous failed attempts of Rupert going to Jerry’s office for a meeting – the two devise a plan to kidnap Jerry.
“The King of Comedy” remains to be the greatest Scorsese film that no one has seen. It showcases Robert DeNiro’s finest performance as Rupert, a wickedly hilarious psychotic performance of a lifetime by Sandra Bernhard as Masha and a steady cool and calm of normality that’s brought to the film by Jerry Lewis as Jerry Langford – a Johnny Carson esq late night host.
This film has a nice polish on it, it looks and feels light and breezy but under the façade this is a deeply dark and sinister film. Rupert is so utterly delirious that his basement room is his Mother’s house is a mock studio with cardboard cutouts of celebrities where he performs in front of an invisible audience every night. The film is incredibly funny – yet you find yourself wanting to look away at how terribly humiliating situations in the film become.
After failing to meet with Jerry at his office, Rupert invites a woman who was in love with in high school, and is now a local bartender, to join him for a weekend at Jerry’s home. Rupert arrives at Jerry’s home and forces his way past the butler and maid. He then begins to walk around Jerry’s house telling this woman all about Jerry’s achievements and his life – speaking as if he’s known Jerry for an eternity. Once Jerry arrives home, he demands Rupert leave, he threatens Rupert with the police and begins shouting at him. This is one of many, many situations in the film that is so painfully humiliating to watch we find ourselves wanting to turn away – but we can’t. We are so mesmerized by the film.
This is film is the essence of black comedy, planting the seeds for future films. Will Farrell’s character in “Wedding Crashers” – the grown man living in his off screen mother’s basement who is constantly yelling at her. “The King of Comedy” started that all.
By Frank from Pompous Film Snob
Heathers (1989)
“Your society nods its head at any horror the American teenager can think to bring upon itself.” J.D. (Christian Slater)
Back in the 1980s, there was a clown car-esque release of movies about teens — their dweeby friends, their terminally unhip parents, their Saturday detentions, their proms and (most important) their neverending quest for carnal treasure. Then came Michael Lehmann’s vicious “Heathers” in 1988, which hammered a croquet mallet on the clichés and the squishy afterschool love-ins that came before. The film leveled an unblinking eye at the quick-n-dirty politics of high school as well as the obliviousness of the adults in charge and, in the process, became the standard not just for dark comedies but for all future teen comedies, too.
The teens in “Heathers” have adapted to the unspoken Darwinian laws of high school. Heather Chandler (Kim Walker) rules her clique of yes women – fearful Heather Duke (Shannen Doherty), bubbleheaded Heather McNamara (Lisanne Falk) and Veronica (Winona Ryder), a precocious student of human nature – with such ferocity that the likes of Pol Pot would bow before her. No one dares to question her authority until shake-up-the-establishment loner J.D. (Christian Slater) pops onto the radar. Not one to become any dictator’s collateral damage, he draws Veronica in his plot to murder Westerburg High’s aristocracy and make their deaths look like scandalous suicides. Soon Veronica’s “teen-angst bullshit” begins to amass a formidable body count.
Commonly labeled as a “teen movie” (and it is a stellar one), “Heathers” is, above all else, a spot-on dark comedy that spins stereotypes into macabre yet revealing jokes. Dark comedies, be they sneaky and subtle or bloody, are meant to shine unwelcome light on the twisted inner workings of human nature and society. They are meant to be fearless. In “Heathers,” scriptwriter Daniel Waters mercilessly skewers the fluffy clichés to get at the mean, cold truths about high school. Societal satires don’t come gutsier or smarter than this. Waters presents all the usual suspects – the fat girl, the lone wolf, the jock – in their natural habitat with a kind of ruthlessness not seen before in movies about teen-agers. Every offhand observation, particularly Veronica’s “She’s my best friend. God, I hate her,” is blisteringly and hilariously accurate. But these aren’t the belly laughs dumb comedy serves up; no, these laughs lump in your throat because it’s all truth and no artificial sweetener. That’s the kind of truth you need a Slushie to wash down.
By Meredith from M. Carter at the Movies
American Beauty (1999)
“I feel like I’ve been in a coma for the past twenty years. And I’m just now waking up.” Lester Burham (Kevin Spacey)
When I think of the “black comedy”, I always think of films that aren’t traditionally funny, or perhaps a film that I find humorous even though it doesn’t seem like it was intended that way. Two films come to mind when I think of that conundrum and they are American Psycho and American Beauty, but it’s my feeling American Beauty embodies those qualities better than just about any film ever made.
The first line of the movie Lester announces he will be dead in a year, an essential dark tone to begin the journey that has an inevitable conclusion, and yet even in the end when all the characters come to a head and everything explodes the satire underneath doesn’t fail to disappear. The first time I saw American Beauty it felt almost sad, and even a little off setting, but the more often I would watched it it became clear that it’s core was actually comedy. A dark, dark comedy, yes, but it’s there. Lester’s defiance, his wife’s delusions, and his daughters depression all become the source of delicately calculated humor, that to this day makes me laugh out loud as hysterically as a flick like Billy Madison. It is probably one of the most complex and yet simple movies of it’s time and impacted the film world because it was so different from other movies, but aside from thoughtful and beautifully written, impeccably acted by a very gifted cast.
What makes this movie so special even today is it’s constantly evolving. You find something new or enjoyable or funny that wasn’t before in each viewing. American Beauty is a rare and twisted gem in the film world.
By Heather from Movie Mobsters
Wristcutters: A Love Story (2006)
“Are you joking? Do you guys like it here? Who the hell likes being stuck in a place where you can’t even smile? It’s hot as balls—everybody’s an asshole. I just wanna go home.” Mikal (Shannyn Sossamon)
Wristcutters: A Love Story is your basic “boy meets girl” love story. Only, both boy and girl happen to be dead. That puts an awkward spin on your classic romantic comedy. But perfect for a surprisingly literary cinematic examination of damaged souls. Zia and Mikal are both suicides. (Try to place those gender-neutral names). As punishment for taking their own lives, these kids have each been sent to a dull, lifeless wasteland that is full of the worst kind of tedious, self-absorbed people (the kind who think that their deaths will somehow solve the world’s problems). But none of the residents seem to notice that there is anything much wrong with their fates. They continue on with their petty concerns without missing a beat. Mikal highlights this willful blindness when she demands, “Are you joking? Do you guys like it here? Who the hell likes being stuck in a place where you can’t even smile? It’s hot as balls—everybody’s an asshole. I just wanna go home.”
This film is a great example of dark comedy because it flirts with the taboo subjects of suicide and perdition. It examines why humanity almost universally condemns self-harm, and it plays with the idea that many cultures view hell (ironically) as a sort of voluntary self-imprisonment. But then in the midst of all this heavy material, the film goes on to create an absurd catalogue of all the different kinds of narcissists that end up in eternal damnation like this. The vain ones go for glamorous suicide techniques like wrist-cutting. Sad sacks take dull, quiet routes, like carbon monoxide poisoning. And the jerks who really want to stick it to the man go for something really public and messy, like jumping from a building. Sure, it’s weighty stuff, but really, is there anything more comical than human vanity? Dantean references abound as our attractive lovebirds explore every corner of this wasteland, looking for answers and meaning—or just a way out.
By Allison From My Film Habit
Other Recommended Viewing:
- Arsenic and Old Lace (1944)
- Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949)
- Some Like It Hot (1959)
- The Graduate (1967)
- Harold and Maude (1971)
- Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975)
- Life of Brian (1979)
- Blood Simple (1984)
- After Hours (1985)
- Delicatessen (1991)
- Swimming with Sharks (1994)
- Welcome to the Dollhouse (1995)
- Fargo (1996)
- Citizen Ruth (1996)
- The Cable Guy (1996)
- Funny Games (1997)
- Happiness (1998)
- The Big Lebowski (1998)
- The Opposite of Sex (1998)
- Election (1999)
- American Psycho (2000)
- Hedwig & the Angry Inch (2001)
- Storytelling (2001)
- Buffalo Soldiers (2001)
- Bad Santa (2003)
- Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
- Thank You for Smoking (2005)
- Charlie Bartlett (2007)
- In Bruges (2008)
- Burn After Reading (2008)
- A Serious Man (2009)
If you would like to take part in a future Groovers & Mobsters Present email me at:
American Beauty was my first dark comedy. I never knew sad and tragic themes can be portrayed in such a humorous manner before…Regard for the movie has dipped a bit since then. But I still like it. And you’re right Heather, there’s always something new to find with each viewing.
Addicted To Films recently posted..Random Rants/Thoughts: Let the Right One In
Glad you appreciate it as well. For me it’s a timeless movie, and I think ten years down the road people will come back and see it with fresh eyes and it will get it’s recognition all over again.
Agree with you there…it keeps on giving and is just excellent on all counts though I will give Annette top honours because “I will sell this house today.” is just one f***ing scary line.
Encore Entertainment recently posted..TV Meme, Day 13: Favourite Childhood Show
She was terrifying. It was funny from the outside viewing in but can you imagine how it felt to be her family. No wonder Lester goes bat shit crazy!
Heather recently posted..Groovers & Mobsters Present: Dark Comedy
But it is must be even more scary BEING her.
Am I the only one that just didn’t get Dr. Strangelove?
Great list either way you guys… I’ve seen most of them. My wife watched Wristcutters and said it was pretty cool… I actually have a movie poster for that film that I got at Comic-Con… I wonder if it’s worth a hang?
Kai B. Parker recently posted..MY MAN CRUSHES
I read an interesting essay on Dr. Stanglelove that pretty much described every male character as being a metaphor for sexual impotence in one way or another, the details shown in physical appearance (Muffley’s bald head, Riupper’s big cigar and machine gun, there are other that I can’t remember) the moral being: you can’t put humans that naturally view their own self-worth by their sexual prowess (all men) in charge of devices that can blow up the planet.
FRC Ruben recently posted..River’s Edge
Ha! Ha!
Damn Michael Bay.
Interesting take, but that may be reading into something that’s not there. Which is the case with most film essays.
Jonathan Sullivan recently posted..Groovers & Mobsters Present: Dark Comedy
Wristcutters: A Love Story is mostly a really cool movie, but once Tom Waits shows up, things get dicey. Not because of him or anything, he’s a decent actor and the greatest musician ever (sorry Bowie!), but it kind of loses its edge as it heads towards the finish.
As for dark comedies, I brought it up before but I really dig World’s Greatest Dad. It’s newer, but the fact they can make a movie that funny based on such serious subject matter…Bobcat Goldthwait deserves his due.
David Bowie is the greatest, but we’ll just have to agree to disagree there sir.
Heather recently posted..Groovers & Mobsters Present: Dark Comedy
Kai
Wristcutters is worthy of a place on your movies you didn’t you needed to see blog, maybe you should give Allison a shout on that one.
Andy recently posted..The award winning Fandango Groovers Movie Blog
Great subject, and great choices! I’ll be seeing King of Comedy for the first time in a week or two actually, as part of a De Niro/Pacino marathon my boyfriend is putting on. It looks really good and I’m glad to hear how dark it is!
I am, however, a little distressed by the lack of any mention of Drop Dead Gorgeous.
Alex recently posted..Bottle Rocket (1996)
The King of Comedy is a monumental piece of work. I am so in love with the film on so many different levels.
Frank recently posted..The King of Comedy – 1982. Dir Martin Scorsese
I feel like such a douche for being a Scorsese fan and not seeing The King of Comedy.
Encore Entertainment recently posted..TV Meme, Day 13: Favourite Childhood Show
Ditto that Andrew. I suppose we should see ASAP and get rid of our Scarlett letters.
Heather recently posted..Groovers & Mobsters Present: Dark Comedy
Encore, I haven’t seen “King of Comedy,” either!
M. Carter @ the Movies recently posted..Review: “Serenity” (2005)
Well seeing that I’m not alone, I feel better, I am in good company.
Encore Entertainment recently posted..TV Meme, Day 13: Favourite Childhood Show
It’s one of those movies that is not part of the regular Scorsese collection — but should be watched, if for only that reason.
FRC Ruben recently posted..Star Trek III- The Search for Spock
You know, I was just never a fan of it Alex. I haven’t seen it since it’s release eons ago, so maybe a second viewing would help, but it struck me as annoying and at times too obvious, though it was a good role for Kirsten Dunst.
On a sad note, the only movie I saw on this list is American Beauty which I love by the way. I know, I know… I have a comedy tournament on my site and haven’t seen those staples of comedy
Castor recently posted..
Heathers is the one I would recommend foremost of the rest personally, and we know M.Carter has impeccable taste along with a splendid sense of humor.
Awesome. I will give it a bump
Castor recently posted..
Why thank you, Heather. I could say the same about you!
Castor, I’d say “Heathers” is a must-see dark comedy. It is, to ape “Clueless,” way harsh, but I love that about the film. It is fearless in the way dark comedies MUST be.
I’ve yet to see “Wristcutters” or “King of Comedy,” but I’ll get right on that…
M. Carter @ the Movies recently posted..Review: “Serenity” (2005)
Both worth seeing. Wristcutters is quirky in the extreme, perfect for this blog. It was actually Allison’s second choice, I nudged her towards it and am glad I did.
Andy recently posted..The award winning Fandango Groovers Movie Blog
You haven’t seen dark comedy ’til you’ve watched a Swedish film called Songs From the Second Floor. That’s comedy at zero Kelvin.
Jake Cole recently posted..Get Him to the Greek
The King of Comedy, is one of Scorsese’s most unkown, and I’m so glad you mentioned it, cause it really is that good. Also, I didn’t love Dr. Strangelove, probably cause the satire went over my head, but sooner or later I’ll be giving this a rewind.
The King Of Comedy is one I haven’t seen myself and need to push up on my To See list. I love everyones reaction to Dr. Stranglove. It’s so diverse.
From the list, The King of Comedy is definitely my favorite. Scorsese and De Niro were top-notch in this film. I feel like it doesn’t get enough recognition.
Dreher Bear (…Where The Buffalo Roam) recently posted..
It doesn’t because it’s a film that constantly flies off the radar for me and I’m a huge fan of each of those gentlemen, especially when paired!
Heather recently posted..Groovers & Mobsters Present: Dark Comedy
Damn, so sorry Burn After Readings didn’t make the top that movie is just one dollop of delightful and macabre. The Graduate, though is what tops my list – just all around excellence.
Encore Entertainment recently posted..TV Meme, Day 13: Favourite Childhood Show
Burn After Reading is one of the funniest movies of the decade to me. I know a lot of people did appreciate it in the same way I did, but whenever I find someone that does I feel the need to celebrate it!
Heather recently posted..Groovers & Mobsters Present: Dark Comedy
One of my friends was royally pissed when I told her I liked this, like if it was offensive…
…I should probably get new friends…
Encore Entertainment recently posted..TV Meme, Day 13: Favourite Childhood Show
Really? What’s so offensive about it?
FRC Ruben recently posted..Alice in Wonderland (2010) [Part 1]
oooh, probably the chair.
FRC Ruben recently posted..Quote of the Day Romantic Redneck Edition
In retrospect, possibly the chair was a red flag. But I thought it was hilarious.
Encore Entertainment recently posted..Encore’s Greatest Voices- 20-11
Anyone have a take on Very Bad Things? When it came out it was slammmmed, but I really thought it was funny.
FRC Ruben recently posted..Blue Velvet [The Mysterious Frank Booth]
I didn’t like it.
But it’s soooo funny. I saw that movie, Booty Call, and Nutty Professor within the same general epoch — 17years old-ish — I rolled on the movie theater floor at each viewing.
FRC Ruben recently posted..Recasting My Best Friends Wedding or clearing out the honkeys
Despite my silly sense of humor, dark comedy has never done much for me. Exceptions to Dr. Strangelove, and maybe The King of Comedy, but for the most part it’s a general miss for me.
It’s a nice series you have going on here though Heather (and of course Groover!), can’t wait to see the next one!
Univarn recently posted..
Thanks Univarn. I’m glad you are enjoying it. Dark Comedy is definitely something I enjoy more when in the mood, but I think anyone a fan of anything Tarantino has to be more than a little in love with dark humor. That’s me!
This was quite a lot of fun and I found a few movies to check out when I want something off the beaten (read dark) path. Thanks for hosting this! I haven’t seen King of Comedy but now it’s moved to the top of the Netflix queue:)
Marc recently posted..Off the Shelf…’The Wrestler’
I think we are all discovering that King Of Comedy is something we need to see!
Great pick, Marc & Heather… well, cause Dr. Strangelove and American Beauty are the only two I’ve seen on this list
That’s also a great quote from Walpole.
Btw, I tagged you for the Versatile Blog Award, Heather: http://wp.me/pxXPC-1Cf
rtm recently posted..
I don’t think I ever would have thought of American Beauty as dark comedy. The only other film I’ve seen here is Heathers but it sounds like I’ll have to check some of those others out.
The Film Reel recently posted..The Brood – Film Reel Review
It took a few viewings for me to really find the humor in everything, and now I laugh so much harder at it than obvious humor and comedies. Perhaps I’m just a bit twisted.
You’re not twisted…just paying attention. It’s sad humour though, but I still laugh especially small moments like Bening singing “Don’t Rain on My Parade” in the car (and every line Suvari says…whatever happened to her?)
Encore Entertainment recently posted..TV Meme, Day 23: Most Annoying Character
Poor Mena Suvari — run over by more talented actors.
FRC Ruben recently posted..Gentlemen Prefer Blondes
I can’t stand her, and once someone told me I looked like her. I do not. And I do not like her acting. But she suited this role as an insecure sniveling little bitch.
AWWWW! You don’t look anything like Suvari… that’s just mean!
“I can’t stand her” Heather, don’t be so coy tell us what you really think about her! She has actually made a lot of films and has been working constantly since American Beauty, just not in the types of movies people who like movies tend to watch! The real Surprise is Thora Birch after American Beauty she made The Hole and Ghost World and looked like she would be a big. As it turned out her little known co stars Keira Knightley and Scarlett Johansson turned out to be the big stars. Now she’s relegated to direct to DVD movies too!
andy recently posted..The Dark Knight Returns, for one last time!
That’s a random person for someone to say that you look like. Every so often, I get people saying I look like Michael Badalucco, which is also very random. I don’t see it, but I don’t mind. My wife HATES the comparison.
I’d say that you look nothing like Mena Suvari, and if anyone says that again — you should pinch there arm until there’s a bruise.
If I had to peg you as a look-a-like — I’d go with Dory
FRC Ruben recently posted..Quote of the Day Coburn Roolz Edition
Crazy blue fish that’s a spazz with short term memory but ever so sweet that it’s forgivable. i’ll take it.
Heather recently posted..Mob News: Movie Mobsters Mobile Site
It’s like a curse with American Beauty though, only Bening and Cooper leave it unscathed…and Bening still does not have that FRIGGIN OSCAR so that’s up for grabs too. Where the hell is Kevin Spacey now?
Encore Entertainment recently posted..TV Meme- Day 28- First TV Show Obsession
Jim just actually posted this write up on what he’s doing!
Glad to see Spacey does have something. The man IS talented.
It IS sad. And you grasp that even in the laughter. Maybe that’s why we all connect to it when watching, it’s because all of us have a dark side to us that isn’t so nice, and thinks bad irrational thoughts, or just has lived enough life to know that when perfection is the appearance on the outside the grass isn’t necessarily greener. So lets laugh about it fictionally instead of experiencing it?????????????
There’s a ramble for ya.
It’s a bit like a cathartic experience, in that way.
Encore Entertainment recently posted..Encore’s Greatest Voices- 20-11
Really surprised at how few peeps actually saw King of Comedy —- and you call yourselves Marty Scorsese fans.
FRC Ruben recently posted..Shutter Island
I do, as utterly shameful as it is that I haven’t seen this.