Dr. Strangelove is not only the best black comedy of all time it's the best comedy of all time. Fargo also goes on the list for me as well.

I have to offer "Fargo" as my favorite dark comedy. It is difficult to mix such realistic gore and humor; but this was a great movie. I think it also has one of the great, diverse ensembles: William Macy, Steve Buscemi (who steals scene after scene),and Frances McDormand(who seemed made for the role of a persistant police chief).

I just saw Man Bites Dog the other night. That was very dark and very comedic. More movies should have that sense of humor.

The only dark comedy I know is my favorite Mars Attacks!!!!

Martian Leader.

quote:

martian leader
Slacker First Class
Posted 04 March 2008 09:54 PM Hide Post
The only dark comedy I know is my favorite Mars Attacks!!!!

Martian Leader.

For the only dark comedy, you have good taste - a great example of dark and funny - like the taste of Chinese sweet and sour.

Thank you tabuno. Mars Attacks is probably the best dark comedy in a long time, wouldn't you agree?

Martian leader.

quote:

martian leader Slacker First Class
Posted 05 March 2008 12:26 AM
Thank you tabuno. Mars Attacks is probably the best dark comedy in a long time, wouldn't you agree?

Martian leader.

Dark comedy is a difficult genre to pin down because it requires a delicate balance between serious drama and comedy with an underlying element of death, betrayal, or sinister wrongfulness. What level a particular audience member is willing to accept towards darkness versus comedy is personal. In looking over my list of 250 all time favorite films, I've come across the following dark comedies that I've enjoyed as among the best of the dark comedies:

He Was a Quiet Man (2007). A compelling and visually fascinating look at a deranged corporate man played by Christian Slater in one of the best performances in years who befriends a female employee who is serious injured in a tragic accident at work. This reveals some of the best inner workings of the terrible experiences and emotions that compel people to inhuman actions.

Pulp Fiction (1994). A cult favorite.

The Matador (2005). Pierce Brosnan stars in this dark comedy action thriller drama about an assassin who begins having panic attacks and his unusual relationship with a businessman played by Greg Kinnear. This is a well-balanced, well-performed movie that has a fine triple twist ending along with a rarely strong comedic element in such a dark movie.

Death to Smoochy (2002). Robins plays a fired children's show host who seeks revenge.

2 Days in the Valley (1996). An entertaining murder/assassination collage of three strands of a story that has nice wit, satire, and an element of humanistic decency.

You Kill Me (2007). Ben Kinsley plays an alocholic assassin who is sent to the west coast to recovery.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: tabuno,

My favorites (in no particular order):
"Zero Effect"
"2 Days in the Valley"
"Drowning Mona"
"Fargo"
"Little Shop of Horrors"
"The 'Burbs"
"Mars Attacks"
"Beetlejuice"
"Gridlock'd"
"The Ice Harvest"
"Bad Santa"
"Better Off Dead"
"Freeway"
"Get Shorty"
"The Ladykillers" (2004) I haven't seen the original
"Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels"
"Raising Arizona"
"Ruthless People"

Just a few off the top of me head. I can't believe some of these HAVEN'T been mentioned!

Is Fargo a comedy? In any way?

Barton Fink is great. Barton Fink is a comedy. One of my favourite movies. I haven't seen all of the Coen's films, but I'm of the impression that Barton Fink is their best.

quote:

Borgnefesse Slacker First Class
Posted 16 March 2008 08:53 PM

Is Fargo a comedy? In any way?

In what way is Fargo not a dark comedy? Some heavy-weight posters have listed it as such on this thread.

quote:

Originally posted by Borgnefesse:
Is Fargo a comedy? In any way?

Are you tellin' me you were able to watch this movie and NOT laugh? Whether it was at the way they talked or at how AWFUL the situation was becoming, I was laughing for most of the movie. I was absolutly rollin' when I came upon the infamous woodchipper scene! That guy was really havin' trouble with that leg!

quote:

Originally posted by tabuno:

In what way is Fargo not a dark comedy? Some heavy-weight posters have listed it as such on this thread.

I just didn't get the impression that its intention was to have Monkey_Boy absolutely rollin'. Comedies are funny on purpose. It is based on a true story, and it would be a bit mean to make it as a comedy.
But I can see why it makes you laugh. I don't remember laughing, but I did watch it alone, and movies are always more amusing when there are other people in the room rollin'.
But do you guys think it was meant to be funny?

quote:

Originally posted by Borgnefesse:
It is based on a true story, and it would be a bit mean to make it as a comedy.

That's why it's a DARK COMEDY. You laugh AT THEM, not with 'em. Besides, it wasn't a true story afterall.

quote:

Borgnefesse Slacker First Class
Posted 17 March 2008 12:53 PM

quote:
Originally posted by tabuno:

In what way is Fargo not a dark comedy? Some heavy-weight posters have listed it as such on this thread.

I just didn't get the impression that its intention was to have Monkey_Boy absolutely rollin'. Comedies are funny on purpose. It is based on a true story, and it would be a bit mean to make it as a comedy.
But I can see why it makes you laugh. I don't remember laughing, but I did watch it alone, and movies are always more amusing when there are other people in the room rollin'.
But do you guys think it was meant to be funny?

Nice response. Black comedy means that a movie is both funny and serious, containing some quite dark elements, usually including death or loss or extreme sadness - one of the more difficult genre to pull off well. Frances McDormand's Best Leading Actress Oscar performance and character lent the movie a light hardedness that is hard to smile at even in light of the drama that unfolds. Frances as a pregnant sheriff is a wonderful role that is sometimes hard to maintain a consistent serious view as her personality and disarming approach to solving a crime makes for emotional relief that is light and pedestrian-ordinary.

quote:

Originally posted by tabuno:
Frances McDormand's Best Leading Actress Oscar performance and character lent the movie a light hardedness that is hard to smile at even in light of the drama that unfolds. Frances as a pregnant sheriff is a wonderful role that is sometimes hard to maintain a consistent serious view as her personality and disarming approach to solving a crime makes for emotional relief that is light and pedestrian-ordinary.

Leaving the theater after having watched No Country For Old Men, my ex girlfriend starts complaining that all movie-women are pretty and helpless and lacking in character and so forth. My first thought was to make her see Kill Bill 2, but then I remembered Fargo and Frances McDormand. Frances McDormand is quite awesome. So I'll have to make her see Fargo. (My god, there are a billion movies she hasn't seen yet. It would have been easier if she hadn't dumped me. She's not even seen Star Wars IV.)

I saw three dark comedies today. La Grande Bouffe, Delicatessen and Underground. Underground was the most entertaining.

quote:

Borgnefesse Slacker First Class
Posted 17 March 2008 08:19 PM

Leaving the theater after having watched No Country For Old Men, my ex girlfriend starts complaining that all movie-women are pretty and helpless and lacking in character and so forth. My first thought was to make her see Kill Bill 2, but then I remembered Fargo and Frances McDormand. Frances McDormand is quite awesome. So I'll have to make her see Fargo. (My god, there are a billion movies she hasn't seen yet. It would have been easier if she hadn't dumped me. She's not even seen Star Wars IV.)

[quote]

My reply truly deserves to be on a thread of its own concerning women in movies. But there a lot of good movies with strong performances by female actresses in demanding and powerful roles:

1. Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975). An eerie, haunting mystery of the unknown fate of three girls in the turn of the century Australian outback. Directed by Peter Weir.

2. Nomads (1986). One of the most captivating, haunting, eerie movies made starring Pierce Brosnan in one of his finest performances as a anthropologist and the female doctor who has a strange connection to him in her attempts to discover the mystery of his man's demise.

3. North Country (2005). This powerful, compelling, and intimately involving movie regarding a woman miner played by Charlize Theron and first sexual harrassment class action lawsuit is consistently dramatic and inspirationally awesome in its performances and script. [Reviewed 12/30/05].

4. Alien (1979). The original theatrical release. Set a new landmark for serious science fiction in the best directed movies of the 1979 along with a strong female role starring Signourney Weaver. IMDb #63.

5. Dogville (2004). Nicole Kidman offers up a superb performance in a script that is super rich in acting, a blend of a movie directed stage production that penetrates into the inner core of the human soul. One of the most powerful portrayals of social and interpersonal interactions on film.

6. Kill Bill Vol. 2 (2004). This is among the best movies of the year from a script, cinematography, character standpoint. A substantive and deeper as well as more edgy, emotional version than the over the top Volume No. 1 which tended towards satire of a number of genre. IMDb #100.

7. House of Mirth (2000). A strong performance by Gillian Anderson of the X-files in a historical period piece.

8. Nanny Diaries (2007). Scarlett Johansson stars as a recent bachelor graduate in business with a minor in anthropology and voice overs her experience as a nanny in what is one of the best general audience movies that exposes the darker and richer themes of family drama. Even though marketed as a family comedy, this movie really is a compelling look at family dynamics with a real ending. 9/10. [Reviewed 9/1/07].

9. Moulin Rouge (2001). The best musical revival of the past decade.

10. Spirited Away (2001). An amazing contemporary Japanese animated movie fairy-tale. IMDb #42.

11. Memoirs of a Geisha (2005). A richly beautiful and elegant as well as disturbingly emotional sacrifice and burden of forbidden love of this mysterious role of Geisha. This powerful, compelling movie brings to life the suffering of idealistic love and the distinguished role of Geisha to American audiences. [Reviewed 1/5/06]. 2005 Oscars for Cinematography, Art Direction, and Costume Design.

12. Heroes (2006) TV. First season. This science fiction television series that takes a more serious look at superheros, is an amazing, dazzling, and compelling series of stories about ordinary people dealing with a special abilities along with a mysterious killer and a secret conspiracy. Rivals most science fiction movies for sustained emotional and dramatic impact. 9/10. [Completed review of series 1/12/07].

13. The Joy Luck Club (1993). Film adaptation of the book about four Chinese women and their families' history.

14. Invasion (2007). Nicole Kidman stars in this third remake of "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" in an emotional as well as thinking version of the classic movie. Great direction, great acting, great script full of tension, gripping fear, and doubt, along with a solid ending. 9/10. [Reviewed 9/19/07].

15. Pieces of April (2003). A great female movie about a single woman's voyage of discovery in life.

16. The Hours (2003). Another Nicole Kidman vehicle playing the role of female author.

17. The Incredibles (2004). The most delicious, socially relevant and dazzling uses of contemporary state of the art animated movies of the best. The brings home the art of the possible and captures the supreme essence of animation at its best. IMDb #73.

18. The Queen (2006). An Oscar-caliber performance by Helen Mirren for her portrayal of Queen of England and her interaction with Tony Blair, the newly elected prime minister during the aftermath of Princess Diana's tragic death. Nine of out Ten Stars. Reviewed 1/28/07.

19. Pride and Prejudice (1995). Six-hour television* mini-series with Colin Firth that presents a fun, delicious experience of the class divide in old Britain along with the animated, independence of one of Jane Austen's beloved young lady females in a compelling cold/hot relationship with Darcy, a rich aristocrat, played by Mr. Firth. [Reviewed 3/11/06].

20. The Chronicles of Naria: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe (2005). A fabulously looking, sincere, and well performed children's fantasy movie. [Reviewed 12/11/05].

21. Being John Malkovich (2000). An surrealistic, fantasy expose into the inner mind. IMDb #243.

22. Premonition (2007). Sandra Bullock stars in this eerie mystery thriller where she told that her husband has died but then later wakes up to find him alive. This an emotional sensitive and excellent look at death and life and family relations. 8/10. [Reviewed 3/17/07].

23. The Day The Earth Stood Still (1951). The classic sci fi movie of the 1950s. IMDb #190. National Film Registry movie.

24. Music and Lyrics (2007). A has been pop star played by Hugh Grant ends up with his substitute plant watering help played by Drew Barrymore in this very funny romantic comedy in an attempt to create a more contemporary musical number of a teen singer sensation. 9/10 [Reviewed 2/18/07] [Originally ranked 156 as of 2/25/07 - moved up].

25. Georgia Rule (2007). Lohan Lindsay, Jane Fonda, and Felicity Huffman provide excellent entertaining performances in this movie made for the mass audience regarding the relational estrangement between three generations and the impact of childhood abuse. 9/10. [Reviewed 5/18/07].

26. Chicago (2002). A brilliant movie adaptation of musical remake of the stage production.

Other movies for consideration include: Like Water for Chocolate (1993), Chocolat (2001), Amelie (2002), Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (2005), Whale Rider (2002), Cold Mountain (2003), Margot at the Wedding (2007), Calendar Girls (2003), The Human Stain (2003), Frida (2002), Against the Ropes (2004), The Company (2003), The Secret of Roan Inish (1995), Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life (2003), The Secret Garden (1993), Girl, Interrupted (1999), Mostly Martha (2001), Run, Lola, Run (1998), Fahrenheit 451 (1966), Sweet November (2001), Brokedown Palace (1999), Fly Away Home (1996), Elektra (2005), Proof (2005), If Only (2004), Mr. and Mrs. Smith (2005), Under the Tuscan Sun (2003), Dark Water (2005), Uptown Girls (2003),
The Perfect Man (2005), Waitress (2007), Evita (1996), Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (2007), I Know Who Killed Me (2007).

Good gravy, Tabuno! Where were ya when this thread was created! I'm sure your list woulda put mine to shame.

Bringing the topic back to Dark Comedies, *AHEM*, I just got through watching "A Life Less Ordinary". I CAN'T BELIEVE I FORGOT TO MENTION THIS MOVIE! It really is one of my favorites. I guess it just kinda faded into my ever-expanding DVD library until my eyes landed on it a few hours ago. Ian Holm is just completely evil in this movie. Even more so than when he tried to take the One Ring from Frodo!