The Comedy (2012)
The documentaries over the last couple of weeks brought a welcome change to the usual MotW drill we had become accustomed to since early 2013. We had been touching on some heavy topics moral topics and seeing some of those topics displayed in real life was a great experience. Since today is Easter Sunday, I thought about throwing something easily digestible at you guys. In the end, I settled on something that I think will be something of a head scratcher. I chose the 2012 dramedy, The Comedy, starring Tim Heidecker. It doesn't have well-formed narrative or any driving force, but it examines some real philosophical issues. It's a movie that forced me to examine the deepest questions in life.
Tim Heidecker gives an incredible performance, one I really didn't think he had in him, as the lead character Swanson. Swanson is not a relatable or likable guy, but Heidecker makes you crave more. Swanson has no sense of what manners or responsibility are and it's unclear as to whether he can even feel. So, give The Comedy a chance and let's study this interesting and entertaining character.
What a interesting movie and character! I really liked the bizarre conversations that the group of friends had and how they would always be jokingly in favor of the controversial side of an issue. The hobos outside of wall street was also very humorous.
ReplyDeleteWhat so interesting about Swanson was how he appeared terrifyingly unstable at time and that there is something clearly that is not right like when he is in the taxi cab or at the bar. At the same time Swanson also comes off as not mentally stable but just a prick but him being conflicted always seemed to prevail over the idea that he isn't a good person. A lot of this can be credited to Heideckers performance.
I don't know which of Swanson's bits was his best, but damn! The nerve he has to do some of this stuff shows how tormented he was. The "nada en la piscina" scene, everything that transpires in the restaurant, his nonchalance when the girl is having a seizure on his bed, in the bar with the blacks, and of course the taxi cab all are all shocking and raw.
ReplyDeleteI'm pretty sure that Swanson's motivation is that he does these things to feel like he's alive. Normal life has become too mundane to him. He needs an escape, so he does off the wall things to get a rise out of those around him. The finale makes me think that Swanson is trying to come to terms with his behavior. He knows it's wrong and he wants to break out and be of value to society. His father's death shows him that life is short and he needs to grow up.