The Vault #2- The Producers (1968)

Directed By: Mel Brooks
Starring: Zero Mostel, Gene Wilder, Kenneth Mars




Where the hell do I even begin with this movie? It's one of the funniest, best written and fantastically acted movies I've ever seen. Zero Mostel plays Max Bialystock, a failing theatrical producer. Gene Wilder plays his accountant, who concocts a scheme to create the biggest flop possible, in order to scam their investors out of their excess money. I love the idea of this movie, and Mel Brooks really does everything he can with it. The two go out of their way to ensure that the play is terrible by choosing the worst play they could find and hiring the worst director and actors. It's here that a lot of the laughs come out. I won't go into detail, because I really don't want to spoil any of the jokes, because they really are that good. I will say that the performances help a great deal. Zero Mostel is perfect as Bialystock. He's so smug and sarcastic, and he never fails to get a laugh. Gene Wilder is beyond fantastic as Leopold Bloom. He's constantly on edge, and Wilder plays his panic and hysteria perfectly. The two play off each other so well, which is one of the reasons the film works as well as it does. Their chemistry really is something special, leading to the witty and flowing dialogue you'd expect from a Mel Brooks' movie. They play off each superbly, and really make this film.

The best thing about The Producers in my opinion though, is the satire, which I feel is more relevant now than it was at the time. Mel Brooks' perfectly lampoons the entire entertainment industry. Everything, from the fatcat producers, to the eccentric director and the self entered and arrogant actor, is spot on. I also really love the scene when (and I don't know if this could be considered a spoiler, but I'll say it anyway) the audience begins to love the terrible and offensive play. That's just as relevant now as it was at the time, what with all those terrible comedy movies coming out at the moment. Everything this movie says about the industry is genius, and it actually holds up pretty well today, which is more than can be said for most satires. And as long as the industry stays greedy, it'll stay relevant.

I feel it's a pretty accurate portrayal of how carnivorous the industry can be, but that never distracts from the laughs. The movie is both side-splittingly funny and bitingly sardonic, and it balances both aspects perfectly. The comedy never overshadows the commentary, and the commentary never overshadows the comedy. If anything, they improve each other, and help give the movie a distinct, yet funny and clever feel, and that's something I really respect. Mel Brooks got Best Original Screenplay for this movie and he definitely deserved it. The script is so tight and witty, and is easily one of the best things about this movie.

Is it offensive? I wouldn't say so. First of all, the context. Bialystock and Bloom are trying to make the most offensive, inappropriate and terrible play they can, so it's not out of nowhere. That's the point of the story. Also, It's treated as disgracefully tasteless in-universe, and I think that's a golden rule when it comes offensive humor. Don't try to offend your audience. Always have the characters have more of a reaction than the viewers. I've put in a link to an article about the making of this movie and Mel Brooks' vision (which you can find here: http://www.theguardian.com/film/2008/aug/16/comedy.theproducers), so check that out and see what you think.

All in all, The Producers is a pretty bold movie, and one I honestly don't think would be made today (what 2005 remake?). Despite that, it's one of the funniest movies I've ever seen. I honestly can't find anything wrong with this movie. The timing is spot on, the pacing is great, the satire is sharp, the performances are wonderful, the music is surprisingly good, and overall it's genius. It's just a great movie if you ask me, and one that really has a spot on portrayal of the entertainment industry. I'd highly recommend this one if you're looking for a laugh. It's just so clever. Give it a watch. It's definitely worth your time.

The Vault #1- It Happened One Night (1934)

Director: Frank Capra
Starring: Claudette Colbert, Clark Gable

What can you even say about this movie? Seriously, it's hailed as one of the greatest movies ever made, and though I only saw it surprisingly recently, I honestly can't really argue with that. But legacy aside, what is this movie? Claudette Colbert plays a spoiled heiress running away from her controlling father. She's on her way to New York, when she meets Peter Warne, a down on his luck reporter who sees the perfect story in her. The two make their way across the country, and of course, fall madly in love with each other along the way. It's a simple premise sure, but I think what makes it work are the two leads. They're chemistry is natural, with their banter being well written and witty. Clark Gable is hilarious in this movie. His dialogue is so quick and effortless that he never fails to get a laugh. Claudette Colbert is also great, playing the straight (wo)man to Gable's never ending string of quips. They have this fantastic back and forth, and it really makes this movie. It's so flowing and funny without trying to be, and that's not an easy thing to do.

I think this movie invented most of the tropes and clichés attributed to both road trip movies and romantic comedies, or at the very least defined them. You've got everything, from the series of mishaps, to the memorable side characters, running away from the wedding, and the inevitable moment when the to leads fall for each other. But it never feels sappy or overly sweet. It invokes tropes, but never relies on them. It feels very genuine, and that's because of both the fantastic acting, and the great writing. Maybe it's because it was one of the first films to use these tropes, but I'm not too sure that's why it works. I think it works so well due to how strong these characters are. If you're genre savvy, you can tell that they'll get together, but even so, it does feel real. The connection these two build does feel genuine, and that's what makes the ending plausible. The romance isn't shoehorned in because why not, it's used as character development. Ellie realizes her impulsive nature, while Peter realizes how stubborn he is. It feels very sincere, and works in the movie's favour.

As fantastic as this movie is, it does have a few flaws.It has dated quite a bit. Several lines were probably hilarious 82 years ago, but end up coming off as either not funny or kind of creepy. Clark Gable especially has several lines that don't sound quite right today. Look, I know it came out in 1934, but in terms of dating, this movie definitely shows it's age. Other than that? It's pretty fantastic. It Happened One Night may show it's age in places, but it's still funny, has a good story, great performances and genuine emotion. You honestly root for these two over the course of the film, and when they get together it's incredibly satisfying. I'm saying this as someone who usually isn't too big a fan of romantic comedies by the way. I think people just associate that genre with overly sweet schlock, but I highly recommend this one to the skeptics. I honestly thoroughly enjoyed this film, and I honestly think it's worthy of all of the praise it receives.

An Introduction

So... what exactly do I intend to do here? Well, talk about movies! Yeah, I'm a huge film buff, and I'm gonna use this blog to express my love of film, in the form of reviews, top tens, and more! It's just a place to talk movies, be they good, bad, animated, live-action, whatever! My main aim is to express my opinion on a variety of movies, and to express my love for the medium overall. I'm no filmmaker, nor am I a professional critic. I'm just a guy who loves movies, and this blog will hopefully reflect that.

Oh, and maybe I'll also talk TV! Anyway, enjoy your time here! And if you don't like this blog, just remember: