comedy
We ALL want Happily Ever After…
April 16th, 2008
Fairy Tales: Folly or Faith? An audio exploration of Enchanted by Pastor James Harleman Enchanted intrigued me as it hit squarely on one of my favorite narrative dichotomies in Hollywood storytelling… what I affectionately call “Life Under the Sun” and “Life Beyond the Sun” films. These worlds collide in Enchanted in what I think is [...]
Read More...Redundancy, Rebellion, and Staplers…
April 9th, 2008
Whether you cross decades or cross the pond, you can find shared shenanigans, duplicated drudgery, synchronized self-absorption, and facsimilied foolishness. Office politics and the cubicle life play themselves out in some amazing comedies which don’t try to hide that they’re dipping in the same office pool. From Peter to Tim to Jim, we feel a [...]
Read More...Fatboy runs from Abdication to Dedication
March 28th, 2008
A review of RUN, FATBOY, RUN by James Harleman (Rated PG-13) “… let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us…” – Hebrews 12:1b Marathon becomes metaphor in this story of the everyman’s desperate flight from role and [...]
Read More...There’s No Place Like D’OH!!!
August 14th, 2007
The Simpsons Movie by James Harleman The funniest part of The Simpsons movie may be the opening, when frustrated father Homer Simpson groans over watching a movie that is essentially a big screen version of what you can see at home on TV. This self-awareness sets up the movie nicely, also setting the level of [...]
Read More...Sometimes Truth…
June 21st, 2007
Is your life a comedy or a tragedy? When Harold Crick (Will Ferrell) hears the narrator of his life while brushing his teeth, he panics with the realization that his fate may not be his own. What ensues is a fascinating character study of a tax collector looking at his life – his time, his [...]
Read More...“If you ain’t first, you’re last” – Ricky Bobby
March 28th, 2007
It was a joy and pleasure to discuss the deep spiritual implications of Talledega Nights: The Ballard of Ricky Bobby last month in North Seattle. Yes, I’m serious. This movie helps illustrate why we laugh along with comedy, how many of us pray to our own personal Jesus, and how so many of us listen [...]
Read More...Monotony, Singleness, & Dating in Shaun of the Dead
February 21st, 2007
One of the greatest chick flicks of all time, Shaun of the Dead is a great romance movie.. With blood. And Zombies. And a lot of laughter… if you’re a little bit twisted. Simon Pegg released Hot Fuzz as his comedy follow-up, and will be the new “Scotty” in J.J. Abrams new Star Trek flick. [...]
Read More...Fight Makes Right…
December 18th, 1999
A review of “FIGHT CLUB” by James Harleman Starring Brad Pitt Edward Norton Helena Bonham Carter Directed by David Fincher Based on the book by Chuck Palahniuk 139 minutes, Rated R Tyler Durden is right… For those who’ve already seen “Fight Club”, (the latest cinematic offering from the man who brought us the horrific mystery “Seven” and [...]
Read More...