Christopher Guest

hillcity

hillcity

Well-known member
I'm just discovering this guy...he's GREAT! And it's totally redeemed my view of Eugene Levy as it's been tainted by American Pie and Armed and Dangerous....

So far I've seen Guffman, and Mighty Wind. I'm going to check out Best in Show once my blockbuster gets it back in, and Spinal Tap whenever I can get my hands on it...
any other suggestions?

I was previously under the impression that mockumentaries were childish and unimportant. But these guys really make it hilarious and interesting.  Any other good mocks?

Others that come to mind are:
Blair Witch
Drop Dead Gorgeous
Watermelon Woman *shudder*
 
Re: Christopher Guest

People always talk about Best in Show, but Guffman is his best film hands down. I really dig how the townsfolk talk about how "his wife" is still living in New York. So funny.

e
 
Re: Christopher Guest

He's a pretty amazing guy, very talented...as are the rest of his "troupe" that work on his films.

I think his greatest accomplishment by far though, was marrying Jamie Lee Curtis. Gotta say bravo to him on that one!!!
 
Re: Christopher Guest

haha He's the real Mr. Krank.

I liked Guffman much better than Mighty Wind.

Though I was impressed that the folk songs appeared to really be performed by the cast in some cases.
 
Re: Christopher Guest

Though it's Rob Reiner film, I think "This is Spinal Tap" still reigns as the best mockumentary with Guest as a player.
 
Re: Christopher Guest

I'd agree. The thing about the way he works is that it's uneven. It's a running inside joke. When you get it, it's hilarious. WHen you don't, it's like "?"
 
Re: Christopher Guest

I might be overstating his talent a bit, but I really appreciate that his scenes are often at their funniest when no one is saying anything at all - kinda like Family Guy.

Seth MacFarlane's characters have great dialogue, but it is the:

...beat, beat and... another beat that really makes his show so hilarious. Smash cuts (few people really get these right) are used to incredible effect here as well.

Mr. Guest lets his actor's faces do a lot of the writing for him too - and that is a hallmark of truly great direction. Where Tarantino is so dialogue-focused - everything is a set-up for another power line or monologue - Mr. Guest has few.

Instead, his script seems to organically flow from the characters themselves - as if we really are just a documentary crew eavesdropping... a fly on the wall. The camera is never obtrusive - I don't recall ever noticing a particular shot in his films as memorable.

His characters are common, egomaniacal and ignorant - that's funny when the camera is bold enough to linger and linger until they say something truly "poignant".
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top