list http://www.spout.com/ Recent community activity around Crumb on Spout Copyright 2005-9 Spout, LLC Spout RSS http://www.spout.com/images/SpoutLogoRSS.jpg http://www.spout.com/ 136 30 http://www.spout.com/films/Crumb/91294/default.aspx Title: Crumb
Year: 1995
Director: Terry Zwigoff
Plot: So well-regarded was the documentary Crumb (1994) that the failure of it and of the same year's equally acclaimed Hoop Dreams (1994) to result in Oscar nominations caused a media furor which forced the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to revamp its documentary nomination process. Robert Crumb is a respected but controversial underground comic book artist and writer whose creations include the popular "Keep on Truckin'" and Fritz the Cat (1972). Crumb's adult subject matter includes weird sexual obsessions, social criticism, and personal, confessional observations about abnormal human psychology. The genesis and meaning of Crumb's work is explained through a series of interviews with his colleagues, former lovers, and especially family members, which reveal a horrific upbringing that has crippled both Crumb and his siblings -- but has also fueled the artist's groundbreaking work. A long-time friend of the film's subject, director Terry Zwigoff followed Crumb (1994) with another comic book-related project, Ghost World (2000), a drama based on a story from the anthology series "Eightball" by Daniel Clowes. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
Times Tagged: 29
Number of Lists: 25
Number of blog posts: 3
Number of discussion threads: 8
SpoutRating: 4
]]>Sat, 11 Jul 2009 13:01:59 GMTCrumb1995Terry ZwigoffSo well-regarded was the documentary Crumb (1994) that the failure of it and of the same year's equally acclaimed <a href=/films/90856/default.aspx style='text-decoration:underline'>Hoop Dreams</a> (1994) to result in Oscar nominations caused a media furor which forced the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to revamp its documentary nomination process. Robert Crumb is a respected but controversial underground comic book artist and writer whose creations include the popular "Keep on Truckin'" and <a href=/films/346031/default.aspx style='text-decoration:underline'>Fritz the Cat</a> (1972). Crumb's adult subject matter includes weird sexual obsessions, social criticism, and personal, confessional observations about abnormal human psychology. The genesis and meaning of Crumb's work is explained through a series of interviews with his colleagues, former lovers, and especially family members, which reveal a horrific upbringing that has crippled both Crumb and his siblings -- but has also fueled the artist's groundbreaking work. A long-time friend of the film's subject, director <a href="/players/P___118083/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Terry Zwigoff</a> followed Crumb (1994) with another comic book-related project, <a href=/films/193725/default.aspx style='text-decoration:underline'>Ghost World</a> (2000), a drama based on a story from the anthology series "Eightball" by Daniel Clowes. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide29Tag Target (>10)25384http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/t77704dabqv.jpghttp://www.spout.com/films/Crumb/91294/default.aspxFilm http://www.spout.com/blogs/risselada/archive/2009/11/13/44355.aspx Post By: Risselada
Post To: Risselada Blog
Post Date: 11/13/2009 1:12:22 PM
Body: This is the fifth feature length film I've seen by director Terry Zwigoff. I chose to watch this film based on previous good ratings I've given other films by this director and to better my favorite directors by algorithm listing. Louie Bluie I've now seen all of Terry Zwigoff film's, and I find it amusing that the last one I was able to see was a documentary that I watched on a little TV in a library viewing room, since this was also the case with the first movie of his I saw. Although that film, Crumb, I watched in college in a cramped little room with a bunch of other guys and one girl. And if you've seen Crumb, you may know why that was a bit uncomfortable. I still thought it was a great documentary though, and was the beginning of my love for Terry Zwigoff. Ghost World and Bad Santa have been my favorites, but his early documentaries are good too. I would love to see him direct another documentary soon. It's his knack for finding the interesting people to base his films on that is one of his main talents. Terry Zwigoff:Total feature length films seen: 5Previous average film score: 9.25New average film score: 9 Rating: 8/10
]]>Fri, 13 Nov 2009 18:12:22 GMTRisseladaRisselada Blog11/13/2009 1:12:22 PMThis is the fifth feature length film I've seen by director Terry Zwigoff. I chose to watch this film based on previous good ratings I've given other films by this director and to better my favorite directors by algorithm listing. Louie Bluie I've now seen all of Terry Zwigoff film's, and I find it amusing that the last one I was able to see was a documentary that I watched on a little TV in a library viewing room, since this was also the case with the first movie of his I saw. Although that film, Crumb, I watched in college in a cramped little room with a bunch of other guys and one girl. And if you've seen Crumb, you may know why that was a bit uncomfortable. I still thought it was a great documentary though, and was the beginning of my love for Terry Zwigoff. Ghost World and Bad Santa have been my favorites, but his early documentaries are good too. I would love to see him direct another documentary soon. It's his knack for finding the interesting people to base his films on that is one of his main talents. Terry Zwigoff:Total feature length films seen: 5Previous average film score: 9.25New average film score: 9 Rating: 8/10 http://www.spout.com/groups/Movie_Polls/Re_What_is_your_favorite_movie_directed_by_Terry_Z/657/43002/1/ShowPost.aspx Post By: Windbreaker
Post To: Movie Polls
Post Date: 7/11/2009 9:01:59 AM
Body: [quote user="Risselada"] Please reference this thread for the rules of this group. Sorry if anyone missed having a poll last week. I was incredibly busy. Well I still am, but I managed to make time this week. Please vote only once in each poll. Movies referenced in this poll:Art School ConfidentialBad SantaCrumbGhost WorldLouie Bluie [/quote] I've never even heard of Terry Zwigoff. Some of the films, yes. But TZ is a stranger to me.
]]>Sat, 11 Jul 2009 13:01:59 GMTWindbreakerMovie Polls7/11/2009 9:01:59 AM[quote user="Risselada"] Please reference this thread for the rules of this group. Sorry if anyone missed having a poll last week. I was incredibly busy. Well I still am, but I managed to make time this week. Please vote only once in each poll. Movies referenced in this poll:Art School ConfidentialBad SantaCrumbGhost WorldLouie Bluie [/quote] I've never even heard of Terry Zwigoff. Some of the films, yes. But TZ is a stranger to me. http://www.spout.com/groups/Movie_Polls/Re_What_is_your_favorite_movie_directed_by_Terry_Z/657/42975/1/ShowPost.aspx Post By: Risselada
Post To: Movie Polls
Post Date: 7/9/2009 1:30:34 PM
Body: [quote user="pippin06"] [quote user="JimBell"] Although I missed Bad Santa, I'd say Ghost World is the best. While Art School was rather straight-forward and predictable, Ghost World caught me off guard. It was somewhat like Jane Austen's Emma--I read the book thinking that Emma was the heroine, and then someone said, "Re-read the first sentence" and I realized that the author was from the get-go critical of her main character. It's a fine line to do that and not get depressingly negative, not build hostility toward your central character. Zwigoff pulled it off in Ghost World. [/quote] That's a great comparison, Jim. I liked the parallel you drew with Emma; that's really spot-on. [/quote] I concur. That's a very interesting way to look at it. I think my first Zwigoff film was Crumb. I actually saw this with a bunch of people I was on the board with for our college film arts group. We would have to preview certain films to decide if we wanted to screen them for a larger audience. We actually ended up watching this in an extremely cramped little viewing room in the library. It was all men except for one girl. I think everyone felt embarassed because of that. If you've seen some of R. Crumb's drawings, then you probably know why. Still, this is a fantastic documentary! Ghost World was a total revelation to me. I feel completely in love with it. Probably because I was infatuated with both of the characters and the actresses. The beautiful Thora Birch and the then reletively unknown Scarlett Johansson. I was first most excited about Bad Santa because of the Coen brothers' producer credit on the film. I thought at one point they had a "story by" credit too, but now I'm not seeing that. The movie is so hilarious! I love the kid in the movie! Too often kids in movies are too cute and precocious. This kid was fat and dumb, but still a nice kid. I love that so much more. After all of this Art School Confidential was a bit of a disappointment, even though it still has some great moments. I still have yet to see Louie Bluie, but it sounds really great. I love that old style of music that Terry seems to be infatuated with as so do his collaborates like R. Crumb and Daniel Clowes. It looks like it's available at my library on VHS, so I'm planning on checking it out soon. Terry is one of my favorite current filmmakers.
]]>Thu, 09 Jul 2009 17:30:34 GMTRisseladaMovie Polls7/9/2009 1:30:34 PM[quote user="pippin06"] [quote user="JimBell"] Although I missed Bad Santa, I'd say Ghost World is the best. While Art School was rather straight-forward and predictable, Ghost World caught me off guard. It was somewhat like Jane Austen's Emma--I read the book thinking that Emma was the heroine, and then someone said, "Re-read the first sentence" and I realized that the author was from the get-go critical of her main character. It's a fine line to do that and not get depressingly negative, not build hostility toward your central character. Zwigoff pulled it off in Ghost World. [/quote] That's a great comparison, Jim. I liked the parallel you drew with Emma; that's really spot-on. [/quote] I concur. That's a very interesting way to look at it. I think my first Zwigoff film was Crumb. I actually saw this with a bunch of people I was on the board with for our college film arts group. We would have to preview certain films to decide if we wanted to screen them for a larger audience. We actually ended up watching this in an extremely cramped little viewing room in the library. It was all men except for one girl. I think everyone felt embarassed because of that. If you've seen some of R. Crumb's drawings, then you probably know why. Still, this is a fantastic documentary! Ghost World was a total revelation to me. I feel completely in love with it. Probably because I was infatuated with both of the characters and the actresses. The beautiful Thora Birch and the then reletively unknown Scarlett Johansson. I was first most excited about Bad Santa because of the Coen brothers' producer credit on the film. I thought at one point they had a "story by" credit too, but now I'm not seeing that. The movie is so hilarious! I love the kid in the movie! Too often kids in movies are too cute and precocious. This kid was fat and dumb, but still a nice kid. I love that so much more. After all of this Art School Confidential was a bit of a disappointment, even though it still has some great moments. I still have yet to see Louie Bluie, but it sounds really great. I love that old style of music that Terry seems to be infatuated with as so do his collaborates like R. Crumb and Daniel Clowes. It looks like it's available at my library on VHS, so I'm planning on checking it out soon. Terry is one of my favorite current filmmakers. http://www.spout.com/groups/Movie_Polls/Re_What_is_your_favorite_movie_directed_by_Terry_Z/657/42961/1/ShowPost.aspx Post By: tadiv
Post To: Movie Polls
Post Date: 7/8/2009 8:00:12 PM
Body: I have seen all of them except Louie Bluie. I think I like Crumb the best. Tom
]]>Thu, 09 Jul 2009 00:00:12 GMTtadivMovie Polls7/8/2009 8:00:12 PMI have seen all of them except Louie Bluie. I think I like Crumb the best. Tom http://www.spout.com/groups/Movie_Polls/What_is_your_favorite_movie_directed_by_Terry_Zwig/657/42955/1/ShowPost.aspx Post By: Risselada
Post To: Movie Polls
Post Date: 7/8/2009 4:30:10 PM
Body: Please reference this thread for the rules of this group. Sorry if anyone missed having a poll last week. I was incredibly busy. Well I still am, but I managed to make time this week. Please vote only once in each poll. Movies referenced in this poll:Art School ConfidentialBad SantaCrumbGhost WorldLouie Bluie
]]>Wed, 08 Jul 2009 20:30:10 GMTRisseladaMovie Polls7/8/2009 4:30:10 PMPlease reference this thread for the rules of this group. Sorry if anyone missed having a poll last week. I was incredibly busy. Well I still am, but I managed to make time this week. Please vote only once in each poll. Movies referenced in this poll:Art School ConfidentialBad SantaCrumbGhost WorldLouie Bluie http://www.spout.com/groups/Filmmakers_Forum/Re_Short_documentary_on_24_Hour_Comics_day_online/435/40554/1/ShowPost.aspx Post By: seely
Post To: Filmmakers Forum
Post Date: 2/19/2009 1:22:32 PM
Body: [quote user="ShaunHuston"] I teach geography and film studies at Western Oregon and am interested in the relationships between people, place, and culture. I began noticing that Portland was home to a large number of comics writers and artists and was interested in exploring why that was. Cities like Portland have been successful at attracting the "creative class", but not every city has been a magnet for this particular group. I wish I had good funding stories! I have built up my equipment over a few years, partiy with my own funds and partly with university support. My work last summer was underwritten by a development grant from Western, and I had a small group of students and recent grads working on the project for credit and experience. From here, who knows. I am benefitting from the accessibility of digital technology and a profession that affords me time to develop these kinds of interests, but I have not yet ventured into serious fundraising to support my work. [/quote] Sounds like a cool project--kind of reminds me of Crumb, which for anyone who hasn't seen it is a documentary of is a documentary of gonzo-comic artist Robert Crumb, who was also the artist of the comic book featured in American Splendor. Anyways, it sounds like a really cool project--best of luck on it!
]]>Thu, 19 Feb 2009 18:22:32 GMTseelyFilmmakers Forum2/19/2009 1:22:32 PM[quote user="ShaunHuston"] I teach geography and film studies at Western Oregon and am interested in the relationships between people, place, and culture. I began noticing that Portland was home to a large number of comics writers and artists and was interested in exploring why that was. Cities like Portland have been successful at attracting the "creative class", but not every city has been a magnet for this particular group. I wish I had good funding stories! I have built up my equipment over a few years, partiy with my own funds and partly with university support. My work last summer was underwritten by a development grant from Western, and I had a small group of students and recent grads working on the project for credit and experience. From here, who knows. I am benefitting from the accessibility of digital technology and a profession that affords me time to develop these kinds of interests, but I have not yet ventured into serious fundraising to support my work. [/quote] Sounds like a cool project--kind of reminds me of Crumb, which for anyone who hasn't seen it is a documentary of is a documentary of gonzo-comic artist Robert Crumb, who was also the artist of the comic book featured in American Splendor. Anyways, it sounds like a really cool project--best of luck on it! http://www.spout.com/blogs/seely/archive/2009/2/11/40398.aspx Post By: seely
Post To: seely
Post Date: 2/11/2009 1:15:16 PM
Body: Anyone who enjoyed American Splendor would be well-advised to check out 1994's "Crumb". The film, although a documentary, is filmed in much the same style as American Splendor, or more than likely American Splendor is filmed in much the same style as Crumb. Irrergardless, it is a must-see. Harvey Crumb was the avant-garde artist behind American Splendor, and frankly the documentary film is disturbing, hilarious and goes into great depth to explain the psychologically troubled pen behind the pages of American Splendor.
]]>Wed, 11 Feb 2009 18:15:16 GMTseelyseely2/11/2009 1:15:16 PMAnyone who enjoyed American Splendor would be well-advised to check out 1994's "Crumb". The film, although a documentary, is filmed in much the same style as American Splendor, or more than likely American Splendor is filmed in much the same style as Crumb. Irrergardless, it is a must-see. Harvey Crumb was the avant-garde artist behind American Splendor, and frankly the documentary film is disturbing, hilarious and goes into great depth to explain the psychologically troubled pen behind the pages of American Splendor. http://www.spout.com/blogs/spoutblog/archive/2008/11/11/37228.aspx Post By: SpoutBlog
Post To: SpoutBlog on spout.com
Post Date: 11/11/2008 6:01:24 PM
Body: The holidays are coming, and that either means spending time with your dysfunctional family or escaping them for the movies … where you’re likely to be met by other, fictional dysfunctional families. Already this season, Rachel Getting Married introduced us to the f’ed up faux masala of the Buchman clan, and later this month we get to follow Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon as they’re pulled into their separate quadrants of kin in Four Christmases. Also, for those who think dysfunction is an American tradition, this weekend sees the release of the French film A Christmas Tale (Un conte de Noël), which unites the two major premises of dysfunctional family movies by being set during the holidays and involving an ill family member. With two more weeks left until Thanksgiving, after which we might not want to think about another family, real or cinematic, for the rest of our lives, it’s a perfect time to celebrate those dysfunctional tribes we love the best. Literally thousands of movies feature such families, though, so we’re sure to have left out some of your favorites. Definitely chime in below, and/or join the discussion currently going on over in our Top 5 group. The Corleones in The Godfather, The Godfather Part II and The Godfather Part III Any film about a family business is sure to qualify, but none exhibit more dysfunction than those in which the business is the mafia. Some other good examples include the Tempios of The Funeral and the Russian clan in Eastern Promises. But there’s no doubt that the Corleones take the cake. Maybe it’s Fredo’s fault, because inspiring fratricide is certainly evidence of a failing family. No, the Corleones are dysfunctional from the time Fredo and his siblings are little children, when Vito enters his family into a life of crime, from which none of its members will be able to escape. The “Johnsons” in Pink Flamingos If you only define dysfunctional as non-functioning, you leave out a great number of truly dysfunctional families, the kind that apparently gets along quite fine on their own but which doesn’t function within society. Think the Hewitts in the Texas Chainsaw Massacre films and the motley crew made up of Sycamores, Vanderhofs, Carmichaels and others in You Can’t Take it With You. Technically the “Johnsons” are an internally functioning group, and they even have an official place in society as “the filtiest people alive,” but with a shit-eating matriarch, an egg-obsessed granny and a son who likes to have sex employing live chickens, it doesn’t really get much more abnormal, and therefore dysfunctional, than this family. The Lisbons in The Virgin Suicides Both abnormal and non-functioning, it also doesn’t get much more dysfunctional than a family in which the kids commit collective suicide (well, one of them started the trend early). The Tenenbaums in The Royal Tenenbaums They’re clearly born out of Salinger’s Glass family, and their situation is so common that A Christmas Tale almost seems like a French remake of the Wes Anderson’s movie. But the Tenenbaums have come to be one of the most beloved dysfunctional families in cinema, so it’d be a crime to leave them off this list. They’re so popular that many fans probably wouldn’t mind having such an asshole for a father as long as they got to be a member of the family, similar to the dreams of outsider Eli Cash (Owen Wilson). Also, there are probably some guys out there who dream of having Margot (Gwyneth Paltrow) as a non-blood-related sister — as long as she’s really into making out with adopted-family siblings. The Aibellis in Spanking the Monkey Non-blood-related “incest” is one thing, but the Tenenbaums have nothing on the dysfunction of the Aibellis, with their motherloving son, Ray (Jeremy Davies), and the disturbingly consentual — though alcohol-induced — sex that occurs one awkward summer. The only incestuous family that might actually be more dysfunctional is the Cross clan of Chinatown. The Proffitts in Overboard The movie’s tone allows it to seem like such an innocently fun premise, but imagine a family in real life that would kidnap and exploit an amnesiac woman the way Dean Proffitt (Kurt Russell) and his four sons do. And imagine the woman who escapes this situation only to return in a Stockholm syndrome-as-happy-ending decision. Not only is it immoral, illegal and unlikely, it’s highly dysfunctional. The Crumbs in Crumb Dysfunctional families are obviously not limited to fiction, so it’s necessary to cite at least one documentary. Again, it’s difficult to narrow down. There are the scandal-stricken Friedmans of Capturing the Friedmans, the daffy duo in Grey Gardens (and The Beales of Grey Gardens) and the fraternal foursome of Brother’s Keeper. But it’s comic artist R. Crumb’s family that comes off as the most interestingly screwed up. Equally expected and revealing for a man of Crumb’s odd nature, reclusive brother Charles, bowel-cleansing Maxon and uncomfortable mother Beatrice are almost too strange to believe real. The Browns in Buffalo ‘66 Dysfunctional family movies often peak with their respective dinner scenes, in which uncomfortable announcements are made or food is thrown or climactic fights occur. None are funnier, however, than the reunion meal between Billy Brown (Vincent Gallo) and his unloving parents (Angelica Huston and Ben Gazzara). Mom ignores her son in order to watch football while Dad mostly hits on Billy’s pretend wife (Christina Ricci). The Dilwegs in The Pharmacist W.C. Fields has given us a few of the funniest dysfunctional families in film, and many fans would quickly reference the Sousés from The Bank Dick as his greatest tribe. But its this family from Fields’ earlier short The Pharmacist that should come to mind first, if only thanks to the daughter who shakes a martini with a pogo stick and eats the family pet after being denied supper. Radha’s family in Mother India The entire genre of melodrama offers up worthy selections for this list, but Bollywood arguably makes the most dysfunctional family melodramas of all, perhaps because a lot of them are meant as allegories for the dysfunctions of the Indian subcontinent. Mother India is possibly the most significant example from Indian cinema, even more than monumental films like Pather Panchali that aren’t of the Bollywood tradition. The film has all the necessary components: the metaphorically castrated and eventually abandoning patriarch; the desperate yet enduring matriarch; the sons who follow paths on separate side of the law. There’s even a familial sacrifice that’s comparable to the one in The Godfather Part II. Originally posted on:SpoutBlog
]]>Tue, 11 Nov 2008 23:01:24 GMTSpoutBlogSpoutBlog on spout.com11/11/2008 6:01:24 PMThe holidays are coming, and that either means spending time with your dysfunctional family or escaping them for the movies … where you’re likely to be met by other, fictional dysfunctional families. Already this season, Rachel Getting Married introduced us to the f’ed up faux masala of the Buchman clan, and later this month we get to follow Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon as they’re pulled into their separate quadrants of kin in Four Christmases. Also, for those who think dysfunction is an American tradition, this weekend sees the release of the French film A Christmas Tale (Un conte de Noël), which unites the two major premises of dysfunctional family movies by being set during the holidays and involving an ill family member. With two more weeks left until Thanksgiving, after which we might not want to think about another family, real or cinematic, for the rest of our lives, it’s a perfect time to celebrate those dysfunctional tribes we love the best. Literally thousands of movies feature such families, though, so we’re sure to have left out some of your favorites. Definitely chime in below, and/or join the discussion currently going on over in our Top 5 group. The Corleones in The Godfather, The Godfather Part II and The Godfather Part III Any film about a family business is sure to qualify, but none exhibit more dysfunction than those in which the business is the mafia. Some other good examples include the Tempios of The Funeral and the Russian clan in Eastern Promises. But there’s no doubt that the Corleones take the cake. Maybe it’s Fredo’s fault, because inspiring fratricide is certainly evidence of a failing family. No, the Corleones are dysfunctional from the time Fredo and his siblings are little children, when Vito enters his family into a life of crime, from which none of its members will be able to escape. The “Johnsons” in Pink Flamingos If you only define dysfunctional as non-functioning, you leave out a great number of truly dysfunctional families, the kind that apparently gets along quite fine on their own but which doesn’t function within society. Think the Hewitts in the Texas Chainsaw Massacre films and the motley crew made up of Sycamores, Vanderhofs, Carmichaels and others in You Can’t Take it With You. Technically the “Johnsons” are an internally functioning group, and they even have an official place in society as “the filtiest people alive,” but with a shit-eating matriarch, an egg-obsessed granny and a son who likes to have sex employing live chickens, it doesn’t really get much more abnormal, and therefore dysfunctional, than this family. The Lisbons in The Virgin Suicides Both abnormal and non-functioning, it also doesn’t get much more dysfunctional than a family in which the kids commit collective suicide (well, one of them started the trend early). The Tenenbaums in The Royal Tenenbaums They’re clearly born out of Salinger’s Glass family, and their situation is so common that A Christmas Tale almost seems like a French remake of the Wes Anderson’s movie. But the Tenenbaums have come to be one of the most beloved dysfunctional families in cinema, so it’d be a crime to leave them off this list. They’re so popular that many fans probably wouldn’t mind having such an asshole for a father as long as they got to be a member of the family, similar to the dreams of outsider Eli Cash (Owen Wilson). Also, there are probably some guys out there who dream of having Margot (Gwyneth Paltrow) as a non-blood-related sister — as long as she’s really into making out with adopted-family siblings. The Aibellis in Spanking the Monkey Non-blood-related “incest” is one thing, but the Tenenbaums have nothing on the dysfunction of the Aibellis, with their motherloving son, Ray (Jeremy Davies), and the disturbingly consentual — though alcohol-induced — sex that occurs one awkward summer. The only incestuous family that might actually be more dysfunctional is the Cross clan of Chinatown. The Proffitts in Overboard The movie’s tone allows it to seem like such an innocently fun premise, but imagine a family in real life that would kidnap and exploit an amnesiac woman the way Dean Proffitt (Kurt Russell) and his four sons do. And imagine the woman who escapes this situation only to return in a Stockholm syndrome-as-happy-ending decision. Not only is it immoral, illegal and unlikely, it’s highly dysfunctional. The Crumbs in Crumb Dysfunctional families are obviously not limited to fiction, so it’s necessary to cite at least one documentary. Again, it’s difficult to narrow down. There are the scandal-stricken Friedmans of Capturing the Friedmans, the daffy duo in Grey Gardens (and The Beales of Grey Gardens) and the fraternal foursome of Brother’s Keeper. But it’s comic artist R. Crumb’s family that comes off as the most interestingly screwed up. Equally expected and revealing for a man of Crumb’s odd nature, reclusive brother Charles, bowel-cleansing Maxon and uncomfortable mother Beatrice are almost too strange to believe real. The Browns in Buffalo ‘66 Dysfunctional family movies often peak with their respective dinner scenes, in which uncomfortable announcements are made or food is thrown or climactic fights occur. None are funnier, however, than the reunion meal between Billy Brown (Vincent Gallo) and his unloving parents (Angelica Huston and Ben Gazzara). Mom ignores her son in order to watch football while Dad mostly hits on Billy’s pretend wife (Christina Ricci). The Dilwegs in The Pharmacist W.C. Fields has given us a few of the funniest dysfunctional families in film, and many fans would quickly reference the Sousés from The Bank Dick as his greatest tribe. But its this family from Fields’ earlier short The Pharmacist that should come to mind first, if only thanks to the daughter who shakes a martini with a pogo stick and eats the family pet after being denied supper. Radha’s family in Mother India The entire genre of melodrama offers up worthy selections for this list, but Bollywood arguably makes the most dysfunctional family melodramas of all, perhaps because a lot of them are meant as allegories for the dysfunctions of the Indian subcontinent. Mother India is possibly the most significant example from Indian cinema, even more than monumental films like Pather Panchali that aren’t of the Bollywood tradition. The film has all the necessary components: the metaphorically castrated and eventually abandoning patriarch; the desperate yet enduring matriarch; the sons who follow paths on separate side of the law. There’s even a familial sacrifice that’s comparable to the one in The Godfather Part II. Originally posted on:SpoutBlog http://www.spout.com/groups/Filmspotting/Top_5_Films_about_Brothers/304/20466/1/ShowPost.aspx Post By: Proteus
Post To: Filmspotting
Post Date: 10/7/2007 2:29:22 AM
Body: #1 - Rumble Fish. This astonishingly beautiful film was so far ahead of its time critics tarred, feathered, and ran it out of town. It is, however, an achingly emotional story about the effects of time, distance, growth, and alienation. It's a love-it-or-hate-it film, and many will be put off by it, but those who can appreciate it will almost certainly adore it. It may be Coppola's best. #2 River's Edge - in keeping with the 1980s, this portrayal of sibling rivalry and suburban alienation in a lower-middle-class home reveals more about the time it was made than any other movie of 1987. It is Keanu's best performance, and although much of the film is terribly cheesy and hammy, heavy-handed and predictable, it retains a nostalgic charm and a surprising relevancy today. Both #1 and #2 feature Dennis Hopper very prominently. This is coincidence. Both were made shortly after his dedication to sobriety. this is probably not coincidence.#3 City of Lost Children. One & "petit frere" compare very nicely with the hysterical infants from the beginning of the film and the narcoleptic sextuplets played by Dominique Pinon. There's something recognizably fraternal in the siamese twins, too, although they are sisters. #4 Brødre. Anyone who saw this 3 years ago need never see "in the Valley of elah" or its ilk. This movie nailed the narrative of the fractured vet's effects on his ociety, and the most painful effects on his family. The product of a country with almost no modern experience of war, and the product of a woman director, this film captures the male ego and identity in a frank, respectful, and startlingly honest way. #5 Fists in the Pocket - as sstartling today as it was in its 1965 debut, this portrait of a family in the midst and grasp of insanity is horrifying, but startlingly recognizable in the modern world. Most families have their moments, and most brothers in particular bear either the brunt or the responsibility for countless acts and thoughts of violence toward their own family. Nice picks, gentlemen. Ki-ka-wah-pah-min mino.
]]>Sun, 07 Oct 2007 06:29:22 GMTProteusFilmspotting10/7/2007 2:29:22 AM#1 - Rumble Fish. This astonishingly beautiful film was so far ahead of its time critics tarred, feathered, and ran it out of town. It is, however, an achingly emotional story about the effects of time, distance, growth, and alienation. It&#39;s a love-it-or-hate-it film, and many will be put off by it, but those who can appreciate it will almost certainly adore it. It may be Coppola&#39;s best. #2 River&#39;s Edge - in keeping with the 1980s, this portrayal of sibling rivalry and suburban alienation in a lower-middle-class home reveals more about the time it was made than any other movie of 1987. It is Keanu&#39;s best performance, and although much of the film is terribly cheesy and hammy, heavy-handed and predictable, it retains a nostalgic charm and a surprising relevancy today. Both #1 and #2 feature Dennis Hopper very prominently. This is coincidence. Both were made shortly after his dedication to sobriety. this is probably not coincidence.#3 City of Lost Children. One &amp; &quot;petit frere&quot; compare very nicely with the hysterical infants from the beginning of the film and the narcoleptic sextuplets played by Dominique Pinon. There&#39;s something recognizably fraternal in the siamese twins, too, although they are sisters. #4 Br&oslash;dre. Anyone who saw this 3 years ago need never see &quot;in the Valley of elah&quot; or its ilk. This movie nailed the narrative of the fractured vet&#39;s effects on his ociety, and the most painful effects on his family. The product of a country with almost no modern experience of war, and the product of a woman director, this film captures the male ego and identity in a frank, respectful, and startlingly honest way. #5 Fists in the Pocket - as sstartling today as it was in its 1965 debut, this portrait of a family in the midst and grasp of insanity is horrifying, but startlingly recognizable in the modern world. Most families have their moments, and most brothers in particular bear either the brunt or the responsibility for countless acts and thoughts of violence toward their own family. Nice picks, gentlemen. Ki-ka-wah-pah-min mino. http://www.spout.com/groups/Filmspotting/Re_Top_5_Misfits/304/16639/1/ShowPost.aspx Post By: jmart
Post To: Filmspotting
Post Date: 7/27/2007 12:50:48 AM
Body: 5. The Klopeks in The 'Burbs - perhaps for a good reason, but they just can't seem to get any lovin'4. Robert and Charles Crumb in Crumb - so far outside the world around them, they're better off just staying inside3. Adam Sandler as Barry Egan in Punch-Drunk Love - you don't want to be on his bad side, and nobody understands his good side2. Robert De Niro as Rupert Pupkin in The King of Comedy - only Sandra Bernhard and his mother (perhaps) love him1. Godzilla - who could be more misunderstood and abused than a giant irradiated dinosaur in Tokyo?
]]>Fri, 27 Jul 2007 04:50:48 GMTjmartFilmspotting7/27/2007 12:50:48 AM5. The Klopeks in The &#39;Burbs - perhaps for a good reason, but they just can&#39;t seem to get any lovin&#39;4. Robert and Charles Crumb in Crumb - so far outside the world around them, they&#39;re better off just staying inside3. Adam Sandler as Barry Egan in Punch-Drunk Love - you don&#39;t want to be on his bad side, and nobody understands his good side2. Robert De Niro as Rupert Pupkin in The King of Comedy - only Sandra Bernhard and his mother (perhaps) love him1. Godzilla - who could be more misunderstood and abused than a giant irradiated dinosaur in Tokyo? http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/funny/MemberTagFilms.aspxfunny
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