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randall 
"I like to watch."
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 Posted - 01/28/2008 : 22:17:40
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I just saw this parodic gem at Sundance, and wanted to open a thread because it's the funniest movie I've seen in a long time, my favorite at this year's festival. Steve Coogan is a failed actor turned high-school drama teacher who gets a great idea, expressed in the film's title, but it'll be a musical. I won't say much more, except:
1) I predict that, unlike some recent Sundance darlings, this film will indeed find a wide audience [it was purchased at Sundance for $10MM], and if it does, Coogan finally becomes a US household name.
2) Since it's a parody of the "inspirational teacher" genre, several of whose members are actually title-checked in the movie, this one, if successful, may do us the service of ending that little tributary, at least for now.
3) Within this film is the most hilarious musical number I have ever seen in a movie, and that includes "Springtime For Hitler." I won't give you the song title so as to avoid the Spoiler Police, but PM me if you want to know it. I guarantee the title alone will make you laugh, and make you want to see this pants-wettingly funny flick.
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Edited by - randall on 01/31/2008 01:52:07 |
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Ali 
"Those aren't pillows."
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Posted - 01/29/2008 : 06:58:48
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They covered it this weekend on CNN's Inside Film (or whatever it is called). It looked really interesting (though I did find Coogan's American accent jarring in the couple of scenes that I saw).
How was this year's Sundance overall?
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randall
"I like to watch."
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Posted - 01/29/2008 : 10:48:44
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| Snowier than usual outside...a few more smiles amidst the doom and gloom inside. I can only see a tiny fraction of the fest in my allotted time, though I do catch award winners on the last day. Thumbnails and opinions coming today or tomorrow. |
Edited by - randall on 01/31/2008 01:53:04 |
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BaftaBaby
"Always entranced by cinema."
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Posted - 01/29/2008 : 13:04:32
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quote:
Originally posted by Randall
Thumbnails and opinions coming today or tomorrow.
Eagerly awaiting your take!
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randall
"I like to watch."
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Posted - 04/21/2008 : 02:21:26
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| For more on this August release [at least in the US], check this out. |
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damalc
"last watched: Sausage Party"
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Posted - 06/24/2008 : 23:45:53
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quote:
Originally posted by Randall
I just saw this parodic gem at Sundance, and wanted to open a thread because it's the funniest movie I've seen in a long time, my favorite at this year's festival. Steve Coogan is a failed actor turned high-school drama teacher who gets a great idea, expressed in the film's title, but it'll be a musical. I won't say much more, except:
1) I predict that, unlike some recent Sundance darlings, this film will indeed find a wide audience [it was purchased at Sundance for $10MM], and if it does, Coogan finally becomes a US household name.
2) Since it's a parody of the "inspirational teacher" genre, several of whose members are actually title-checked in the movie, this one, if successful, may do us the service of ending that little tributary, at least for now.
3) Within this film is the most hilarious musical number I have ever seen in a movie, and that includes "Springtime For Hitler." I won't give you the song title so as to avoid the Spoiler Police, but PM me if you want to know it. I guarantee the title alone will make you laugh, and make you want to see this pants-wettingly funny flick.
i saw the preview this weekend and was uninterested. the trailer showed a few people-getting-hit-in-the-head gags and turned me straight off. as a fan of The Bard, i still want to see it, and i think Randall's word is good, but the trailer really lowered my expectations.
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randall
"I like to watch."
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Posted - 06/26/2008 : 15:34:33
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quote:
Originally posted by damalc
[quote]
i saw the preview this weekend and was uninterested. the trailer showed a few people-getting-hit-in-the-head gags and turned me straight off. as a fan of The Bard, i still want to see it, and i think Randall's word is good, but the trailer really lowered my expectations.
This happens a lot when anyone becomes so enthusiastic; Richard Roeper probably regrets saying that FORGETTING SARAH MARSHALL goes on his list of top comedies of all time, but he did say it...
All I can tell you is that without seeing a trailer of any kind, with not even a catalog-page to guide me [it entered the Sundance grid too late to be included in the advance material], nothing but the title [before this movie I couldn't have picked Steve Coogan out of a lineup, but now I can!], I and an auditorium full of people nearly wet our pants laughing at HAMLET 2.
I won't say it's perfect, but its highs are rarely reached by a movie comedy; it's up there with THE PRODUCERS and LOVE STORY [just kidding]. I'll also stipulate that we were warned we were about to see a work in progress, so changes might have been made post-Sundance. But I'll be interested in your take when it opens in August, especially since you've been burned by the trailer. Enjoy!
EDIT: Re Coogan, I loved the moment during director Andrew Fleming's Q&A when someone asked, "Where did you find that wonderful leading man?" Fleming had to pause and think about his reply; some Americans don't understand that just because someone's unknown in the US doesn't mean he's unknown everywhere.
It was my second favorite Sundance Q&A experience: the first was some years ago after a screening of CONTROL ROOM, when an Al Jazeera newsman in attendance was asked in that annoying self-flagellating knee-jerk-liberal way, "How can you maintain your objectivity after everything we've done to your country [meaning Iraq]?" His answer, which brought the house down: "Madam, I'm Sudanese." IOW, the questioner lumped together every Middle Easterner in her own bleeding heart, and the serendipitous answer was just perfect. I'm fairly liberal myself, but I still hate whining. |
Edited by - randall on 06/27/2008 21:25:56 |
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randall
"I like to watch."
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Posted - 07/24/2008 : 22:27:33
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| My friends, I am starting to see dumbass-entertainment-type coverage. Judge for yourselves, and...ENJOY! |
Edited by - randall on 07/24/2008 22:28:53 |
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demonic 
"Cinemaniac"
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Posted - 08/06/2008 : 21:09:51
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| Yes, I saw the trailer online tonight and have to say my expectation seriously lowered; which is a shame because it's obviously a better product from Randall's experience than the trailer suggests. |
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randall
"I like to watch."
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Posted - 08/06/2008 : 21:50:58
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| Hmmmm...maybe it is so lowbrow that the Apatonians rule the summer. But the thing is...it's funny! |
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randall
"I like to watch."
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Posted - 08/25/2008 : 21:57:30
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And, in its first US weekend, HAM2 grosses....
$435,000!!!!!
Yes, I'm laughing too. However, it only showed on 103 screens, which gives it a per-screen average of $4,223, greater than all but three of the weekend's top ten. [Easier to gross millions if you're packin' 3000-plus screens...]
In the world of indies, this is a good sign: it means that many people who had *heard* about it, and *could* see it, *did*. Most of those who read the raves in ROLLING STONE, WALL ST. JOURNAL, etc., were unable to buy a ticket cause it wasn't playing in their town. Meanwhile, the lukewarm/tepid NY TIMES didn't seem to keep people away here in the Apple.
I think people get the high concept and then just want to know if it's funny or not. I leave that very pleasant discovery for you all.
EDIT: Like any good indie, HAM2 will be opening wider next weekend, then wider still. It's how *all* movies used to open in the olden days. VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA, the Woodman's best film in years, is riding the same release strategy to fine success. |
Edited by - randall on 08/25/2008 22:02:11 |
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damalc
"last watched: Sausage Party"
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Posted - 11/15/2010 : 17:32:39
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finally saw it on dvd. it just didn't grab me. i think that's mainly because i never see the inspirational-teacher movies that Ham2 is spoofing.
however, i just can't stop singing "Rock Me Sexy Jesus/" |
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randall
"I like to watch."
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Posted - 11/16/2010 : 01:18:12
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quote:
Originally posted by dama11c
finally saw it on dvd. it just didn't grab me. i think that's mainly because i never see the inspirational-teacher movies that Ham2 is spoofing.
however, i just can't stop singing "Rock Me Sexy Jesus/"
Most others agreed with you. It bombed. However, "Rock Me Sexy Jesus" survives! Furthermore, I still think it's funny! |
Edited by - randall on 11/16/2010 01:22:55 |
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BiggerBoat 
"Pass me the harpoon"
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Posted - 11/16/2010 : 12:36:19
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| I've just bought a JESUS ROCKS YOU belt. I dunno if it's connected. Would have been happy if it read 'Sexy Jesus rocks you'. |
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MguyX
"X marks the spot"
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Posted - 11/16/2010 : 15:11:03
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quote:
Originally posted by Bi11erBoat
I've just bought a JESUS ROCKS YOU belt. I dunno if it's connected. Would have been happy if it read 'Sexy Jesus rocks you'.
Get some studs and a riveter, or a silver marker!!!  |
Edited by - MguyX on 11/16/2010 15:12:33 |
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Hamlet 2
