Sragow on Guest

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"Much of the media would have you believe that [Christopher Guest's] For Your Consideration isn't as sublime as A Mighty Wind, which three years ago was thought to be not as funny as Best in Show. They're all brilliant. What the philosopher and literary critic G.K. Chesterton said of Charles Dickens' fiction I would say of Guest's movies: Sit back, relax and savor them, not just as individual movies but as slices of the greater Guest." -- Baltimore Sun critic Michael Sragow writing in the 12.22 L.A. Times.

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Posted by Jeffrey Wells on December 23, 2006 at 1:08 PM

comment #1

Craig Kennedy says ...

I really like A Mighty Wind even if it isn't as funny and biting as Show or Guffman. It has a sweetness and an affection for folk music even while it's poking fun at it. I was really disappointed in For Your Consideration. There's a lot of great comedy to be had scewering Hollywood and this movie seemed to miss tapping any of it. I really wanted to like it, but I had one good laugh and maybe a couple of chuckles.

Posted by Craig Kennedy at December 23, 2006 9:14 PM

comment #2

Breedlove says ...

i have to say i find the christopher guest movies pleasing enough but, on the whole, overrated. he and his whole company of actors annoy me a bit - they seem to think they're much funnier than they are. fred willard a genius? catherine o'hara a genius? i just don't see it. and as for comparing guest to dickens...please. c'mon. calm down.

Posted by Breedlove at December 23, 2006 11:06 PM

comment #3

jeffmcm says ...

FYC is definitely the weakest of the four movies, it's the closest to home for Guest and co. and they seem to either shy aware from truly biting satire, or they go too far and the movie just feels bitter.
Catherine O'Hara is a genius, though.

Posted by jeffmcm at December 24, 2006 12:37 AM

comment #4

Dixon Steele says ...

I'm a big Guest fan, but I gotta say that FYC is easily the runt of the litter. Real disappointing.

Oh well, 3 out of 4 ain't bad...

Also saw VOLVER, solid Almodovar with an impresively gorgeous Cruz and THE HISTORY BOYS, the kind of movie only Rex Reed could love.

Posted by Dixon Steele at December 24, 2006 9:44 AM

comment #5

Hallick says ...

"Much of the media would have you believe that [Christopher Guest's] For Your Consideration isn't as sublime as A Mighty Wind, which three years ago was thought to be not as funny as Best in Show."

Much of the media, much of Guest's hardcore fans, much of pretty much everybody who's paying attention...

Yippie for Sragow getting a four-star experience from all of the movies, but even a fanboy should be able to understand that his is a minority opinion once in a while and you don't have to ascribe ulterior motives or media brainwashing to people who felt less enthused.

Posted by Hallick at December 24, 2006 3:20 PM

comment #6