jeanne@ucla-cs.UUCP (11/13/84)
I saw Bill Forsyth's new movie Comfort and Joy last night and it is both. There's no problem about a spoiler here, because it's almost impossible to talk about Forsyth's movies (his others include Gregory's Girl and Local Hero) without sounding crazy. Out of the context of the movie, the subjects sound bizarre. Just a hint -- this movie is about a dj (in Scotland -- Forsyth is Scottish) who, during the week before Christmas, is deserted by his girlfriend with no warning and gets involved in a war between rival ice cream sellers. I know it sounds weird, but if you enjoy originality and a liberal touch of whimsy, you'll enjoy this movie (as well as Forsyth's other two movies).
schneider@vlnvax.DEC (12/05/84)
I feel I have to reply in defense of Bill Forsyth, who makes movies I truly enjoy. Based on her blanket statement below, Baby Sister ought to stick to her movies of the Star Wars genre if she resents being made to think a little... > I saw comfort and joy in Chicago and walked out after the first hour. > Unless you have an ice cream fetish, there is nothing of interest in > the entire film. > > (Note: I am just the sister of the person whose login appears on > this note and I am just visiting, so please do not respond.) Before Comfort and Joy I also enjoyed Local Hero and Gregory's Girl by Forsyth. The latest two by this Scot (L.H. and C&J) I find stick with me long after I've seen them in a manner few movies in the last decade have. No multi-million dollar budgets here, but LH offered breathtaking views of the Scottish countryside while C&J explored a bit of urban Scotland (perhaps Edinburgh). I found a similar theme across the two movies: very real, likeable people caught in absurd situations and faced with decisions that the audience accompanies them through. The absurd is prominent but the lead roles take the audience through it with a good-natured, toungue-in-cheek attitude. Believe me, Comfort and Joy has a far wider appeal than the ice cream fetish crowd. What's more the original review here is the first notion of dissent I've seen, read or heard to this or Forsyth's other movies. PS: There are no big name actors here but how many noticed Gregory's best friend playing the garage mechanic who offered to bang out Dicky Bird's dented BMW, and was Dicky Bird also in the Australian film, Don's Party? Daniel Schneider DEC, Marlboro, MA {...vlnvax}::decwrl::rhea ::vlnvax::schneider
whc@sftri.UUCP (W.H.Canilang) (12/07/84)
<Do I really gotta put this line here?> I saw "Comfort and Joy" recently in Chicago and truly enjoyed this delightful little Christmas card from Forsyth. I have also seen "Gregory's Girl" and "Local Hero", and "Comfort and Joy" just didn't seem to measure up in my opinion. Whereas "Gregory's Girl" is a tender, comical snapshot of that 'awkward' period of growing up, and "Local Hero" casts a certain mythical/mystical spell over the viewer, "Comfort and Joy" is simply a delectable, disposable fluff. Sure it's about someone finding that they have an influence on people's lives around them but don't you think a silly local ice cream skirmish compared to the problems of growing up or the altering of people's lives as technology marches forward is a little contrived? Anyway, "Comfort and Joy" gets my (reserved) recommendation. For those interested, I read somewhere that Forsyth had conceived of "Comfort and Joy" before doing "Gregory's Girl" but was unable to drum up enough interest. He did it now, after establishing his name/box office potential(?) and evolving "Comfort and Joy"'s ideas into "Local Hero". There's also a pre-"Gregory's Girl" movie called "That Sinking Feeling" that was around NYC last Christmas(?). It has something to do with a bunch of lads out to get themslves some glory by stealing sinks in and around Glasgow(?). I believe it featured a few of Forsyth's favorite actors (the tall one who played Gregory and Ricky Tarr in "Local Hero"; the mop topped one who played Gregory's Caracas-bound friend and auto mechanic in "C&J"). Forsyth had tried to block distribution, saying that it was not a mature enough work. I never saw it, but the N.Y. Times liked it. Any one see it? Bill Canilang ...ihnp4!attunix!whc