The MOFO Preliminary Discussion of the Top 100 Comedies

[Diehl40]

https://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=85758

Ladies and gentlemen,

We can finally get started with the Comedy Countdown!

A list of the Top 100 Comedies of All-Time comes with unique challenges: comedy can be such a broad category, and can require the watcher’s judgment as to what is a comedy, and what is not. For instance, I never considered The Graduate to be a comedy, however it appears on several Best Comedies lists. There are also Dark Comedies which require a great degree of subjectivity. In other words, what seems like a comedy to an individual might not seem like a comedy to another. Rather than telling you what a comedy is or is not, you can make that decision for yourself. You have three months to view movies that will make your ballot. The due date is June 2nd, 2022 by 11:59 p.m.


How It Works
If you've never participated in one of these, don't be intimidated: it's easy! Any member registered for at least one month is eligible to participate. Just rank your top 25 comedies (no restrictions on years). The order matters, because it determines scoring: your #1 film receives 25 points, you #2 film receives 24, and so on, with your last film, the #25 film, receiving a single point.


The Usual Annoying Rules/Details
Any decade, any length, any language, streaming or not, but there are a few things you need to know:
10

You have to nominate movies individually
You can’t nominate movies in a series (such as The Lord of the Rings series together). You must nominate each film in the series individually The Lord of the Rings is not generally considered a comedy, but you get the idea. If there are any edge cases, ask about them here and we'll make a ruling, and probably keep a running list of said cases to make things easier on others.
10
Do not reveal your list
This is important! Please do not post or discuss where a film was in your rankings until it's revealed during the countdown. Mistakes happen, but depending on specifics this may cause your ballot to become disqualified.
10
Your list is final
Please note that once your list is submitted, it will be considered final. So make sure you see the films you want to beforehand. You've got time. You actually have four months. And while that sounds like a lot, you'll be amazed at how quickly that last week will arrive.

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The countdown will begin shortly after voting ends (the exact date will be determined based on how much work is left, but safe bet it'll start less than a week after the closing date. Each day during the countdown we'll reveal two films from the list, though we may switch to one as we near the end, and we may skip a day here or there for major holidays. Once a film is revealed, the thread is open for discussion on its placement. Remember to keep it civil, this is all in good fun!




We Have a Ballot Link
Submit your ballot here https://www.movieforums.com/ballot.php

Ballot's Received:
Holden Pike
Hey Frederick
John W. Constatine
Tugg
Matt 72582
Moviefan1988
Torgo
donnie darko
ML
Kgaard
Mr Blond
John Dumbear
Allaby
Thursday Next
Deschain
SpelingError
Kaplan
seanc
xSookieStackhouse
Austruck
Death Proof
Diehl40
aronisred
Tokoma11
mojofilter
PHOENIX74
bradpitt<3
Raven73
crumbsroom
Steve Freeling
Daniel M
Scarlet Lion
Movie Meditation
Esmasus Sapos
Little Ash
Omnizoa
Miss Vicky
Groga
Thracian Dawg
Urkillinmesmalls
Powdered Water
The Usual Suspect
Frightened Inmate #2
Citizen Rules
Wbadger
Rauldc14
7th son
John Connor
Wigram
Cee Gee Reviews
R brayer
Fabulous
Markf
Adersenal
Rockatansky
Harry Lime
Jinaffetastin
Marlon Brando
Gulfport Doc
Slenter7
Ah Well
dedgumblah
Wyldesude19
Sedai
Cricket
loudykazoku
IrishSansred
Siddon
Yoda
Captain Spalding
Mistique
Rusty G.
Sarah F
gbgoodies
honeykid
iroquois
cobbyth
agrippinax
Thief
ynwtf
Wooley
Captain T
Apex Predator
beelzububble
Obi wan mifune
John Mcclain

[SpelingError]

Well, time to start creating a list. And by that, I mean, procrastinate up until the final couple weeks.

[ueno_station54]

i don't even know what i consider to be a comedy this is going to be so hard.

[Yoda]

I imagine some of you want to submit your list right away, but I need some time to prep the ballot software for the new list, so you'll have to wait at least a few days, maybe a week or two. Gives you some time to reconsider. ;)

[matt72582]

I like the rules. If I submit a movie no one else finds funny, then it won't make the list.

Three months is more than plenty of time, but I'll only need a day or two before sending my list. Thanks for doing this, Diehl!

[matt72582]

This might help you...
https://www.imdb.com/search/title/?title_type=feature&genres=comedy&my_ratings=restrict&sort=my_ratings,desc

[donniedarko]

some random recs

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8b/No%C3%ABl_Coward%27s_Blithe_Spirit_%281945_film%29.jpg/1200px-No%C3%ABl_Coward%27s_Blithe_Spirit_%281945_film%29.jpghttps://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9d/The_Great_Dictator_%281940%29_poster.jpg/640px-The_Great_Dictator_%281940%29_poster.jpghttps://flxt.tmsimg.com/assets/p13625_p_v8_ai.jpg

[matt72582]

Out of curiosity, what is your criteria for favorite comedies? Personally, if I've laughed aloud or inside once, it has a good chance. Once those are up, I go with the writing, or scenes that are audacious, usually black humor. The actor makes a difference, especially the angry types.

[matt72582]

List sent.

[Yoda]

List sent.
There's no way to submit yet. We'll be using the same ballot tool as last time, but I mentioned just above that it needs to be prepped a bit more.

[Yoda]

Out of curiosity, what is your criteria for favorite comedies? Personally, if I've laughed aloud or inside once, it has a good chance. Once those are up, I go with the writing, or scenes that are audacious, usually black humor. The actor makes a difference, especially the angry types.
Unless you're asking what Diehl's personal definition is, just to make conversation, the first post mentions that there is no criteria: anyone can vote for any film that consider a comedy.

[Wyldesyde19]

There's no way to submit yet. We'll be using the same ballot tool as last time, but I mentioned just above that it needs to be prepped a bit more.

*Submits 5 lists for good measure*

Did they get through?
👀

[John Dumbear]

Considering the vastness of comedic film, I’d be shocked if anyone gets ten off their ballot to appear in this countdown.

[Thief]

https://thumbs.gfycat.com/HelpfulConfusedBactrian-size_restricted.gif

[Chypmunk]

To be honest I expect this to end up with a list where I really don't care much for the majority of fillums on it (my sending in a list would be highly unlikely to change that) but as ever I wish the endeavour well and shall follow the countdown and participate in that thread as best as I can without being a wet blanket. I'm sure Diehl40 and co will do a grand job - certainly off to a (Monty Python) flying start with that OP artwork :up:

[matt72582]

Unless you're asking what Diehl's personal definition is, just to make conversation, the first post mentions that there is no criteria: anyone can vote for any film that consider a comedy.


I know, I'm just asking out of curiosity.

[Wooley]

Considering the vastness of comedic film, I’d be shocked if anyone gets ten off their ballot to appear in this countdown.

Absolutely, I think I've hit 25 already and I'm not even past 1950.

[Captain Terror]

Absolutely, I think I've hit 25 already and I'm not even past 1950.

I've got 25 already and I'm not even past the 3 Stooges

[Sedai]

1 - 25 : Heathers

[Miss Vicky]

This is gonna be hard. Several of my favorite movies that aren't generally considered comedies are really funny. But also, there are a lot of favorites that are considered comedies but I don't love them for their humor. Do I vote for the ones that aren't considered comedies because they crack me up even though I know I'll probably be the only voter? And do I vote for the ones that are considered comedies even though it's the emotional impact of them that I love? How do I decide?!

[Yoda]

Considering the vastness of comedic film, I’d be shocked if anyone gets ten off their ballot to appear in this countdown.
Could be! This is definitely one of the hardest to predict lists we've ever done, though that's what makes it fun, too.

Technically, depending on how stratified it is, there's always the option to make it a Top 50, which is something we do (and which I encourage) any time the bottom of a Top 100 would involve, say, just a vote or two.

[rauldc14]

I'd like a full 100 due to the unpredictability of it. Hopefully that will work out.

[ynwtf]

1 - 25 : Heathers

ok, this post has me wondering. what happens if a user actually noms one film 25 times? does it score 25pts + 24pts + 23pts, etc.? is that even possible??!?

I'm kinda joking btw. Kinda.

[Harry Lime]

Very happy that Diehl stepped up and Citizen's going to help.

Thought I'd take a stab at an early list here and it's going to be tricky. Probably a mix of comedies from my top films list, movies that might not be on the top list but I think are hilarious, and then movies that have serious comedy angles but aren't comedies, and maybe even movies that are listed as comedies but aren't as funny...I don't know! It's going to be tricky.

[Harry Lime]

I think I'll create a list of 50 and remove half and move the other half around until it feels right.

[MovieMeditation]

I actually like the idea of “anything goes” in terms of voting.

The only downside I guess, is that someone might vote for a film that tons of others would have voted for had they thought about it too (I realize this has been a thing before though I see it be a bigger thing this time).

Perhaps there can be a thread where people just post about tons of potential movies for the countdown. Some that might not be obvious picks. So people can scroll through that and be inspired. Kinda like we usually do I guess.

Yeah, I don’t know. Just thinking out loud. I look forward to the list as always though Comedy wasn’t my top pick for next list.

[Citizen Rules]

I'd like a full 100 due to the unpredictability of it. Hopefully that will work out.I sure hope it's a full 100. Even if the bottom 50 have only very few votes, it still represents what us MoFos think is funny...and in that way a full 100 list makes sense.

With that said I should say: Diehl is the Host and makes the calls...I'm his handy assistant Co-Host I make the coffee:p Oh and I did make the image in the 1st post.

[Citizen Rules]

I actually like the idea of “anything goes” in terms of voting. I should give credit where credit is due, the anything goes as a comedy was originally gbgoodies idea. She had mentioned that during another countdown and I remembered her idea and championed that for this countdown. I think it's a stellar idea as it should make the list unpredictable and the countdown fun...To me that's a big plus! I don't think the any movie goes idea would work for other countdowns but for comedy, hell yeah!


The only downside I guess, is that someone might vote for a film that tons of others would have voted for had they thought about it too (I realize this has been a thing before though I see it be a bigger thing this time).

Perhaps there can be a thread where people just post about tons of potential movies for the countdown. Some that might not be obvious picks. So people can scroll through that and be inspired. Kinda like we usually do I guess.

Yeah, I don’t know. Just thinking out loud. I look forward to the list as always though Comedy wasn’t my top pick for next list.
I've got an idea for just that kind of thread. I'll make it shortly, I just got up and I'm still tired:sleep:

[ScarletLion]

Thanks to those that are organising this. I'll get a list ready by the deadline but it's not my favourite genre of film, so it might be a bit of a mixed list. I have the same problem as other posters - I'm not sure whether to vote for the films that have made me laugh the most (E.g.: 'Blazing Saddles' or 'When Harry Met Sally') or the films that are considered as having comedy themes that I think are the best (E.g.: 'Clio from 5 to 7' or 'Amelie').

I guess I'll just mix it up.

[Harry Lime]

Top 200!

[Citizen Rules]

Thanks to those that are organising this. I'll get a list ready by the deadline but it's not my favourite genre of film, so it might be a bit of a mixed list. I have the same problem as other posters - I'm not sure whether to vote for the films that have made me laugh the most...I guess I'll just mix it up.All of the above! I'm personally just going for what ever strikes my comedy fancy.

[Holden Pike]

85772

This isn't meant to be an exhaustive list, but for my taste gives a good cross section of eras, styles, and genres. Even if you don't like or know all of these perhaps they will spark your memory for other titles? My Top 25 will somehow be whittled down from all these choices...

Dark Comedies
After Hours (1985), Something Wild (1986), Harold & Maude (1971), Heathers (1989), Four Lions (2010), In Bruges (2008), Ruthless People (1986), Lord Love a Duck (1966), The Favourite (2018), War of the Roses (1989), Where’s Poppa? (1970), Kind Hearts & Coronets (1949), Wild Tales (2014), To Die For (1995), Shallow Grave (1994), Super (2010), Thank You for Smoking (2005)

RomComs
His Girl Friday (1940), When Harry Met Sally… (1989), The Philadelphia Story (1940), Say Anything… (1989), The Apartment (1960), City Lights (1931), L.A. Story (1991), Amélie (2001), Rushmore (1998), Moonrise Kingdom (2012), They All Laughed (1981), Silver Linings Playbook (2012), About a Boy (2002), Modern Romance (1981), Lars and the Real Girl (2007), Trouble in Paradise (1932), What a Way to Go (1964), Return to Me (2000), Notting Hill (1999), Dan in Real Life (2007), Ninotchka (1939), (500) Days of Summer (2009), Broadcast News (1987), Joe versus the Volcano (1990)

Screwball & Farce
Bringing Up Baby (1938), One Two Three (1961), Raising Arizona (1987), What’s Up, Doc? (1972), Tootsie (1982), The Lady Eve (1941), A Night at the Opera (1935), The Producers (1967), The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014), It Happened One Night (1934), Arsenic & Old Lace (1943), Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (1988), My Man Godfrey (1936), A Fish Called Wanda (1988), 9 to 5 (1980), Noises Off… (1992), It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963), Seems Like Old Times (1980), The Palm Beach Story (1942), The Miracle of Morgan’s Creek (1944), Oscar (1991), What About Bob? (1991), Down & Out in Beverly Hills (1986)

Action Comedies
Beverly Hills Cop (1984), 48 Hrs. (1982), Snatch (2000), Big Trouble in Little China (1986), Romancing the Stone (1984), Grosse Pointe Blank (1997), Game Night (2018), Midnight Run (1988), Pineapple Express (2008), Sherlock Holmes (2009)

Comedy Mysteries
Clue (1985), Fletch (1985), The Big Lebowski (1998), Charade (1963), Knives Out (2019), Hot Fuzz (2007), The Nice Guys (2016), Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005), A Shot in the Dark (1964), The Thin Man (1934), Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988), Silver Streak (1976), Foul Play (1978)

Spoofs
Young Frankenstein (1974), Blazing Saddles (1974), Airplane! (1980), Monty Python’s Life of Brian (1979), The Princess Bride (1987), Top Secret! (1984), Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997), OSS-117: Cairo, Nest of Spies (2006), ¡Three Amigos! (1986), Support Your Local Sheriff! (1969), Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948), Murder by Death (1976), Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975), Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid (1982), Die, Mommie, Die! (2003), Black Dynamite (2009), The Kentucky Fried Movie (1977), Amazon Women on the Moon (1987)

Sci-Fi/Horror Comedies
Ghostbusters (1984), Shaun of the Dead (2004), Galaxy Quest (1999), Men in Black (1997), Back to the Future (1985), What We Do in the Shadows (2014), Beetlejuice (1988), The World’s End (2013), Brazil (1985), An American Werewolf in London (1981), Zombieland (2009), Tucker & Dale vs. Evil (2010), Gremlins (1984), Tremors (1990), Fright Night (1985), Guardians of the Galaxy (2014), Time Bandits (1981), Love at First Bite (1979)

Funny Musicals & Musicians
Singin’ in the Rain (1952), This Is Spın̈al Tap (1984), The Blues Brothers (1980), The Muppets (2011), A Mighty Wind (2003), Tenacious D in the Pick of Destiny (2006), That Thing You Do! (1996), The Producers (2005), Popstar: Never Stop Stopping (2016), Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story (2007), School of Rock (2003), Little Shop of Horrors (1986)

Sports Comedies
Bull Durham (1988), Slap Shot (1977), Caddyshack (1980), Let it Ride (1989), Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story (2004), Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (2006), White Men Can’t Jump (1992), The Bad News Bears (1976), The Longest Yard (1974), Tin Cup (1996), Diggstown (1992), Goon (2011), Major League (1989)

High Concept
Groundhog Day (1993), Splash (1984), Harvey (1950), The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985), Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010), All of Me (1984), A Matter of Life and Death (1946), Heaven Can Wait (1978), Defending Your Life (1991), Liar Liar (1997), Palm Springs (2020), Without a Clue (1988), Roxanne (1987), Big (1988), Elf (2003), Being John Malkovich (1999), Being There (1979), This is the End (2013), Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead (1990), Man of the Century (1999)

War/Military
Duck Soup (1933), Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964), The Americanization of Emily (1964), Stripes (1981), The Great Dictator (1940), MASH (1970), Catch-22 (1970), Team America: World Police (2004), Jojo Rabbit (2019), The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming! (1966), The General (1926), Kelly’s Heroes (1970), Private Benjamin (1980), Hail the Conquering Hero (1944), Love & Death (1975), King of Hearts (1966)

(Some of) All the Rest
Paper Moon (1973), The Graduate (1967), Arthur (1981), The Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016), Quick Change (1990), Step Brothers (2008), Lost in America (1985), The Wedding Crashers (2005), The Front (1976), A Town Called Panic (2009), Diner (1982), Tin Men (1987), My Favorite Year (1982), The Hangover (2009), The In-Laws (1979), Office Space (1999), Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan (2006), Bullets Over Broadway (1994), Barcelona (1994), The Jerk (1979), Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004), Trading Places (1983), Napoleon Dynamite (2004), A Christmas Story (1983), The Freshman (1990), Waiting for Guffman (1996), Best in Show (2000), Unfaithfully Yours (1948), Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982), Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986), Smokey and the Bandit (1977), Stranger Than Fiction (2006), The Gold Rush (1925)

85773

[John Dumbear]

Seen 138 of those HP. Good list!

[SpelingError]

This might be a bit harder than I expected. I suspect my final ballot will be full of films which loosely fit the definition (for instance, IMDb lists Chimes At Midnight as a comedy), but I'll give it a go anyways.

[Allaby]

In celebration of the comedy countdown, I changed my avatar to a more comedic image. ;)

[ueno_station54]

This might be a bit harder than I expected. I suspect my final ballot will be full of films which loosely fit the definition (for instance, IMDb lists Chimes At Midnight as a comedy), but I'll give it a go anyways.
for what its worth i made a rough list of great films that immediately jumped out at me as a comedy and Chimes at Midnight was on it.

[SpelingError]

for what its worth i made a rough list of great films that immediately jumped out at me as a comedy and Chimes at Midnight was on it.

I think there's definitely some humor in the film since Welles roasts himself for being overweight several times, both directly and indirectly (throughout the battle scene in the middle, especially). I think most people wouldn't classify it as comedy, but I'll probably include it in my list anyways.

[Citizen Rules]

In celebration of the comedy countdown, I changed my avatar to a more comedic image. ;)Looking clowny!🙂

[Wooley]

85772



Perhaps off topic a bit but it's funny, despite After Hours being one of my favorite movies of all time for almost 35 years, I have never thought of it as a comedy.

[John Dumbear]

Perhaps off topic a bit but it's funny, despite After Hours being one of my favorite movies of all time for almost 35 years, I have never thought of it as a comedy.

I can see your point, but it's in the eye of the beholder. Personally, I have a warped sense of humor, so naturally gravitate toward that angle. Films like the above mentioned and others like:

Freeway
Cold Pursuit
Happiness
God Bless America
World's Greatest Dad
Very Bad Things
Natural Born Killers
etc...

So, what are your thoughts on this issue. Should I rethink my list of just go for it?

[Holden Pike]

Perhaps off topic a bit but it's funny, despite After Hours being one of my favorite movies of all time for almost 35 years, I have never thought of it as a comedy.
Is it a frickin' documentary? Of course After Hours is a comedy.

https://youtu.be/XIRN43cVMHI

My review can be found HERE (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=1032997#post1032997).

[mrblond]

1. I'm not supportive of the "Anything fun goes" rule at all though I realize it is very difficult other definition to be established. Since half of the all time world wide production meet this rule all this can turn into some not very meaningful listing.

Please, pay attention that the real comedy is one thing and the stories that use fun instruments in their narration are something very very different.
In this connection I'd name this Countdown "Fun Styled Crime-War-Love Stories-Slice of Life--Horror-Adventures". Anything Fun but comedy.

Indiana Jones films are Fun-Styled-Adventure and meets the criteria, right?
"Amelie" is not a comedy at all. It is a contemporary fairy tale using some fun instruments in its narration.
You know, the comedies as real genre are going to be a tiny part of this countdown.

2. Another point that troubles me a lot is the simple fact that the leading classic comedy film schools are almost unknown into the English language world (due to the market control). Does it mean that titans of comedy should be skipped in this game? :shrug:

3. And these three months time of waiting are just killing me...:skeptical:
Two months would be a good consensual resolution.

Cheers!
---

[Harry Lime]

After Hours (1985)

Great list. Thanks. Right at the start I see one that I have been meaning to rewatch for years now and will add it to the list of rewatches for this countdown.

Also way at the end of the list, Step Brothers makes me laugh quite a bit.

I'll dig through everything in between.

[matt72582]

Buffalo '66
Mikey And Nicky
Harry And Tonto
A Woman Under The Influence
Minnie And Moskowitz
One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest
La Strada
Never On Sunday
Harold And Maude
Shadows In Paradise
Next Stop, Greenwich Village
Made For Each Other
Nashville
Annie Hall

[Diehl40]

Here are a few sites that may help you find films to watch as you compile your lists.




https://stacker.com/stories/1810/100-best-comedy-films-all-time-according-critics
https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20170821-the-100-greatest-comedies-of-all-time
https://www.afi.com/afis-100-years-100-laughs/
https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/guide/essential-comedy-movies/
https://www.metacritic.com/browse/movies/genre/metascore/comedy?view=detailed

[Diehl40]

Does anybody know where I can purchase or stream for free a copy of Arsenic and Old Lace (Carey Grant)

[crumbsroom]

Damn, I thought this would be easy, considering I generally thought only about six comedies have ever been good in the history of cinema. But it appears there is so far over thirty. What to do?


EDIT: Good Lord, I don't even think there's going to be room for Holy Grail. What to do? What to do?

[ueno_station54]

leaving a bunch of favs of my list because even tho they're listed as comedies i don't see them that way. feels bad man.

[Citizen Rules]

Does anybody know where I can purchase or stream for free a copy of Arsenic and Old Lace (Carey Grant)It's streaming at Apple TV, Amazon, YouTube, Google Play, Vudu, Microsoft. It's a pretty popular classic. Of course there's always that free Russian site, depending on how you feel about that.

[Holden Pike]

leaving a bunch of favs of my list because even tho they're listed as comedies i don't see them that way. feels bad man.

You're making yourself feel bad, Man.

[Wooley]

Is it a frickin' documentary? Of course After Hours is a comedy.

https://youtu.be/XIRN43cVMHI

My review can be found HERE (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=1032997#post1032997).

Yeahhhhh...

[Holden Pike]

A 2020 piece from Esquire...
35 Years Ago, After Hours Saved Martin Scorsese's Career
In the early 1980s the legendary director knew he was box office poison. That's when he made this small-budget twisted comedy that brought him back.

85820

Right now, you could make a pretty iron-clad case that Martin Scorsese is our greatest living director. There’s a handful of solid runners-up, to be sure. But I can’t think of another filmmaker (American or otherwise) who’s compiled as many masterpieces and near-masterpieces as he has during his six decades behind the camera. Even now, at age 77, there’s no shortage of major studios and steaming services who would kill to be in business with him. I mean, who else could have gotten Netflix to fork over $160 million to make a three-and-a-half hour gangster epic like The Irishman with no strings attached and no questions asked?

And yet there was a time back in the early 1980s when Scorsese was written off as box-office poison. Even after having made Mean Streets, Taxi Driver, and Raging Bull, no one wanted to touch him with a ten-foot pole. It was a dark time for the director. And even after he eventually bounced back with The Color of Money and GoodFellas, that feeling of rejection was never far from his psyche. In fact, I remember meeting the director at his brownstone on the Upper East Side of Manhattan back in the early 2000s when he told me a story about that period. It was a story I found hard to believe. But it was one hundred percent true. It went like this:

“I remember it was the last day of 1983,” he said. “The King of Comedy had come out earlier that year. And on New Year’s Eve, I was getting dressed to go to Jay Cocks’ house. I had the TV on in the background and for some reason it was tuned to "Entertainment Tonight". And I heard them say as sort of a tease before they went to commercial, ‘Coming up: The Movie Flop of the Year!’ So I sort of stuck around to see what it was. What was the Movie Flop of the Year? And when they came back, they said it was The King of Comedy! I was the flop of the year! And on top of that, I had been planning to make The Last Temptation of Christ, which had just been canceled on me. So it was a double whammy. I had nothing lined up next. And I knew I was going to have to start all over.”

Scorsese was just 41 at the time this all happened. And that “double whammy” as he called it made him start to believe that maybe he was all washed up. Or, if not washed up, then certainly in some nightmarish maximum-security wing of Director’s Jail. With no new offers from the big studios forthcoming, Scorsese quickly realized that it was time to get back to his low-budget indie roots and get a movie going fast. Something small and personal that no one could lose a lot of money on. Something that would make being a director fun again. The movie that would emerge from that dark, winter-of-the-soul period would turn out to be 1985’s After Hours — a deliriously tense and twisted comedy that remains one of his most under-appreciated films to this day.

Released on this day in 1985, After Hours is the story of an uptight New York City office drone named Paul Hackett (Griffin Dunne, never better) who returns to his depressingly non-descript apartment after work one night, finds nothing worth watching on TV, and heads out to a diner with a copy of Henry Miller’s Tropic of Cancer for company. There, he meets a mysterious and alluring woman named Marcy (Rosanna Arquette) sitting nearby and strikes up a conversation with her. She tells him about her friend, an artist who sculpts Plaster of Paris bagel-and-cream cheese paper weights. They exchange numbers. He leaves. And then, figuring why the hell not, he calls her for a date. It’s late, but she invites him downtown to the SoHo loft where she’s staying. On the cab ride there, his only money (a $20 bill) flies out of the window. Oh well, he thinks, he still might get lucky anyway. But Paul doesn’t get lucky. In fact, he gets very unlucky.

Over the next 98 hyper-caffeinated minutes, Scorsese takes us on a harrowing series of existential trials in the wee-hour nocturnal desolation below Canal Street. After his date with Marcy turns weird, he splits. And with no money to get back uptown, he loiters around a bizarre, avant-garde Manhattan ghost town populated by a put-upon bartender (John Heard) who gets some bad news about his girlfriend, a clingy waitress with a beehive hairdo and a fondness for The Monkees (Teri Garr), an S&M dominatrix with “not a lot of scars” (Linda Fiorentino) and her leather-daddy boyfriend Horst (Will Patton), a manic Mister Softee ice cream truck driver (Catherine O’Hara), and a couple of dazed and confused burglars (Cheech and Chong). At every turn, just when it looks like Paul will be able to get home thanks to the kindness of strangers, some new cruel twist of fate’s knife lands him worse off than he was just a minute earlier. At one point, looking like a Yuppie version of Job, he looks to the heavens and screams, “What do you want from me?! What have I done?!” You don’t know whether to laugh or cry for the poor schmuck.

Unlike most of the movies that he’d made up until that point, After Hours didn’t begin with Scorsese. Joseph Minion, a 26-year-old aspiring filmmaker had written the script for a film class while studying at Columbia. He’d called it Lies and then A Night in SoHo. The script would end up in the hands of An American Werewolf in London’s Dunne, who wanted to star in it. And after attracting the interest of Tim Burton, who had just finished his short film Frankenweenie, Dunne thought he was about to make the film. But after Paramount pulled the plug on Scorsese’s passion project, The Last Temptation of Christ, he knew that this was exactly the kind of giddy, guerilla-style cheapie he needed to do to keep his career momentum going and distract him from his heartache. The story was also set just blocks away from where he’d grown up in Little Italy. He knew this artsy, open-all-night demimonde of freaks and hipsters by osmosis. Burton graciously stepped aside. Although he’d end up doing okay for himself, quickly landing his feature-directing debut, Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure.

Scorsese kept Dunne on as his onscreen Everyman, Paul, and he rounded out the cast with great comic actors who weren’t required to be movie stars since After Hours’ relatively small $4.5 million budget would seem like a rounding error to the movie’s financier, The Geffen Company, and distributor, Warner Bros. He had total artistic freedom…which is exactly what he was after. “After Hours was like an independent film,” Scorsese told me. “It was shorter and cheaper. I just wanted to see if I still had the energy to shoot quickly. There’s a certain passion that you have to have to make Mean Streets or Taxi Driver and Raging Bull. I had to find that again.”

85819

Thirty-five years later, After Hours remains all energy and passion. And if you weren’t around to experience New York City before SoHo was turned into a glorified mall of chic high-end chain stores, overpriced art galleries, and $10,000-a-month studio apartments, it’s also a love letter to a gloriously gritty bygone era. With After Hours, Scorsese was working at the height of his powers — a man driven by a newfound sense of urgency, playfulness, and freedom. It’s the only movie I can think of that manages to include on its soundtrack both Bach and Bad Brains (and Peggy Lee, to boot!). And Scorsese, the merry prankster finally unburdened of the weight of world, seems to be having a blast in every frame. Especially when he makes a split-second Hitchcockian cameo in an after-hours punk venue called Club Berlin on “Mohawk Night.”

Watching After Hours today is like watching a master filmmaker rediscover what made him want to be a filmmaker in the first place. It has that over-stylized anything-goes spirit. It’s a hysterically frenzied and fizzy Kafkaesque cocktail of horrible bad luck, insane misunderstandings, screwball chaos, sweaty paranoia, and Plaster of Paris bagel-and-cream cheese paper weights. It’s also absolute perfection (even if Paul’s odyssey would be over in five minutes if the film was set just a decade later in the brave new world of ATMs, Metrocards, and cell phones).

But never mind all of that, just do yourself a favor and watch it. Because aside from being one of the strangest and most unsung entries on the resume of our era’s greatest living director, if you squint just a little while you’re watching it, you’ll also see an artist finding his own personal salvation via celluloid. And that’s exhilaratingly rare. After all, while it’s clear that absolutely nothing has changed for Paul Hackett by the final scene of the After Hours, for Martin Scorsese, everything had. He remembered his calling.

https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/movies/a34335663/after-hours-martin-scorsese-35th-anniversary-essay-history/


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CProHhddH0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkyAjUlZPb8

[Diehl40]

How about some predictions while we wait for the ballot..


1. Which director will have the most films listed in the final 100?


2. Which actor/comedian will star in the most films represented in the final 100?.

[Wyldesyde19]

How about some predictions while we wait for the ballot..


1. Which director will have the most films listed in the final 100?


2. Which actor/comedian will star in the most films represented in the final 100?.

1. Going to say Woody Allen.

2. Hmmm. Possibly Chaplin, or Robin Williams even.

[Citizen Rules]

1. Which director will have the most films listed in the final 100?
Woody Allen is a good bet, but I'll go with this director (https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000455/)

2. Which actor/comedian will star in the most films represented in the final 100?. Gotta be this guy
85825

[Hey Fredrick]

1. Which director will have the most films listed in the final 100?

Also think it's Woody Allen but he won't be getting any help from me. I'll be throwing some weight behind these kingpins of bad taste instead:

https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fmedia2.firstshowing.net%2Ffirstshowing%2Fimg4%2Ffarrellybrothers-directing-tsr.jpg&f=1&nofb=1

2. Which actor/comedian will star in the most films represented in the final 100?

Probably DDL. He seems to win everything. If not him maybe:
https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.tenor.com%2Fimages%2Faec013ac4e8d0022077b52d84c3ab955%2Ftenor.gif&f=1&nofb=1

[SpelingError]

How about some predictions while we wait for the ballot..


1. Which director will have the most films listed in the final 100?


2. Which actor/comedian will star in the most films represented in the final 100?.

Woody Allen

Maybe Chaplin. Or Jim Carrey.

[Wooley]

The time is three a.m. Do you know where your sanity is?


https://i.imgur.com/iwjZdCr.gif?1

Roger Ebert, January 14, 2009


"After Hours" approaches the notion of pure filmmaking; it's a nearly flawless example of -- itself. It lacks, as nearly as I can determine, a lesson or message, and is content to show the hero facing a series of interlocking challenges to his safety and sanity. It is "The Perils of Pauline" told boldly and well.
Critics have called it "Kafkaesque" almost as a reflex, but that is a descriptive term, not an explanatory one. Is the film a cautionary tale about life in the city? To what purpose? New York may offer a variety of strange people awake after midnight, but they seldom find themselves intertwined in a bizarre series of coincidences, all focused on the same individual. You're not paranoid if people really are plotting against you, but strangers do not plot against you to make you paranoid. The film has been described as dream logic, but it might as well be called screwball logic; apart from the nightmarish and bizarre nature of his experiences, what happens to Paul Hackett is like what happens to Buster Keaton: just one damned thing after another.
ADVERTISEMENT
The project was not personally developed by director Martin Scorsese, who was involved at the time in struggles over "The Last Temptation of Christ." Paramount's abrupt cancellation of that film four weeks before the start of production (the sets had been built, the costumes prepared) sent Scorsese into deep frustration. "My idea then was to pull back, and not to become hysterical and try to kill people," he told his friend Mary Pat Kelly. "So the trick then was to try to do something."
After rejecting piles of scripts, he received one from producers Amy Robinson and Griffin Dunne, who thought it could be made for $4 million. It had been written by Joseph Minion, then a graduate student at Columbia, and Scorsese was later to recall that Minion's teacher, the Yugoslavian director Dusan Makavejev, gave it an "A." He decided to make it: "I thought it would be interesting to see if I could go back and do something in a very fast way. All style. An exercise completely in style. And to show they hadn't killed my spirit."

It was the first film of his what would become his long collaboration with German cinematographer Michael Ballhaus, who had worked with Fassbinder and therefore knew all about low budgets, fast shooting schedules and passionate directors. It was shot entirely at night, sometimes with on-the-spot improvisation of camera movements, as in the famous shot where Paul Hackett (Dunne), the hero, rings the bell of Kiki Bridges (Linda Fiorentino) and she throws down her keys, and Scorsese uses a POV shot of the keys dropping toward Paul.

In pre-digital days, that really had to happen. They tried fastening the camera to a board and dropping it toward Paul with ropes to stop it at the last moment (Dunne was risking his life), but after that approach produced out-of-focus footage, Ballhaus came up with a terrifyingly fast crane move. Other shots, Scorsese said, were in the spirit of Hitchcock, fetishizing closeups of objects like light switches, keys, locks and especially faces. Because we believe a close-up underlines something of importance to a character, Scorsese exploited that knowledge with unmotivated closeups; Paul thought something critical had happened, but much of the time it had not. In an unconscious way, an audience raised on classic film grammar would share his expectation and disappointment. Pure filmmaking.

Another device was to offhandedly suggest alarming possibilities about characters, as when Kiki describes burns, and Paul finds a graphic medical textbook about burn victims in the bedroom of Marcy (Rosanna Arquette), the girl he has gone to meet at Kiki's apartment. Are the burns accidental or deliberate? The possibility is there, because Kiki is into sadomasochism. Trying to find a shared conversational topic, Paul tells Marcy the story of the time he was a little boy in the hospital and was left for a time in the burn unit, but blindfolded and warned not to remove the blindfold. He did, and what he saw horrified him. Strange, that entering the lives of two women obsessed with burns, he would have his own burn story, but coincidence and synchronicity are the engines of the plot.

"After Hours" could be called a "hypertext" film, in which disparate elements of the plot are associated in an occult way. In "After Hours," such elements as a suicide, a method of sculpture, a plaster of Paris bagel, a $20 bill and a string of burglaries all reveal connections that only exist because Paul's adventures link them. This generates the film's sinister undertone, as in a scene where he tries to explain all the things that have befallen him, and fails, perhaps because they sound too absurd even to him. One thing many viewers of the film have reported is the high (some say almost unpleasant) level of suspense in "After Hours," which is technically a comedy but plays like a satanic version of the classic Hitchcock plot formula, the Innocent Man Wrongly Accused.

With different filmmakers and other actors, the film might have played more safely, like "Adventures in Babysitting." But there is an intensity and drive in Scorsese's direction that gives it desperation; it really seems to matter that this devastated hero struggle on and survive. Scorsese has suggested that Paul's implacable run of bad luck reflected his own frustration during the "Last Temptation of Christ" experience.

Executives kept reassuring him that all was going well with that film, backers said they had the money, Paramount green-lighted it, agents promised it was a "go," everything was in place, and then time after time an unexpected development would threaten everything. In "After Hours," each new person Paul meets promises that they will take care of him, make him happy, lend him money, give him a place to stay, let him use the phone, trust him with their keys, drive him home - and every offer of mercy turns into an unanticipated danger. The film could be read as an emotional autobiography of that period in Scorsese's life. The director said he began filming without an ending. IMDb claims, "One idea that made it to the storyboard stage had Paul crawling into June's womb to hide from the angry mob, with June (Verna Bloom, the lonely woman in the bar) giving 'birth' to him on the West Side Highway." An ending Scorsese actually filmed had Paul still trapped inside the sculpture as the truck driven by the burglars (Cheech and Chong) roared away. Scorsese said he showed that version to his father, who was angry: "You can't let him die!"
That was the same message he had been hearing for weeks from Michael Powell, the great British director who had come on board as a consultant and was soon to marry Scorsese's editor, Thelma Schoonmaker. Powell kept repeating that Paul not only had to live at the end, but to end up back at his office. And so he does, although after Paul returns to the office, close examination of the very final credit shots show that he has disappeared from his desk.

"After Hours" is not routinely included in lists of Scorsese's masterpieces. Its appearance on DVD was long delayed. On IMDb's ranking of his films by user vote (a notoriously unreliable but sometimes interesting reflection of popular opinion), it ranks 16th. But I recall how I felt after the first time I saw it: wrung out. Yes, no matter that it was a satire, a black comedy, an exercise in style, it worked above all as a story that flew in the face of common sense, but it hooked me. I've seen it several times since, I know how it ends, and despite my suspicion of "happy endings," I agree that Paul could not have been left to die. I no longer feel the suspense, of course, because I know what will happen. But I feel the same admiration. "An exercise completely in style," Scorsese said. But he could not quite hold it to that. He had to make a great film because, perhaps, at that time in his life, with the collapse of "The Last Temptation," he was ready to, he needed to, and he could.

[Wooley]

How about some predictions while we wait for the ballot..


1. Which director will have the most films listed in the final 100?


2. Which actor/comedian will star in the most films represented in the final 100?.

1. Mel Brooks

2. Bill Murray

[John Dumbear]

1. Which director will have the most films listed in the final 100?

Billy Wilder


2. Which actor/comedian will star in the most films represented in the final 100?

Eddie Murphy

[Holden Pike]

How about some predictions while we wait for the ballot..

1. Which director will have the most films listed in the final 100?

2. Which actor/comedian will star in the most films represented in the final 100?.

Wishful Thinking Me:
1. Preston Sturges
2. Cary Grant

Realist Me:
1. Dennis Dugan
2. Adam Sandler

[Chypmunk]

Imma gonna go with Rob Reiner and Steve Martin

[MovieFan1988]

I'll be making up a list soon, I can't wait until this countdown starts. it's gonna be fun :)

[MovieFan1988]

How about some predictions while we wait for the ballot..


1. Which director will have the most films listed in the final 100?


2. Which actor/comedian will star in the most films represented in the final 100?.

1. Not really sure tbh

2. Adam Sandler or Jim Carrey

[Diehl40]

Does anybody know where I can purchase or stream for free a copy of Arsenic and Old Lace (Carey Grant)


I ended up buying a digital copy from Amazon

[Diehl40]

Most films by Director: Wishful Thinking Woody Allen or Ernst Lubitsch, Preston Sturgis

Actual: I'd say Woody but he is loosing, or rather lost, his star appeal along the way, I'm not really keeping up with the current comedy directors.



Wishful Thinking: Actors: Charlie Chaplin, Cary Grant, and Woody
Actual: Robin Williams or Owen Wilson

[John Dumbear]

Even though I don't really care for him, Owen Wilson is a good guess. Adam Sandler though...shudders

[Diehl40]

Another question

Which decade will have the most entries on the final list.

[John Dumbear]

Another question

Which decade will have the most entries on the final list.

1a. '80s
1b. '70s
3. '60s
4. '50s
5. '90s

[MovieFan1988]

Another question

Which decade will have the most entries on the final list.

The 80s or The 2000's

[SpelingError]

Another question

Which decade will have the most entries on the final list.

80's, maybe.

[Wyldesyde19]

Another question

Which decade will have the most entries on the final list.

1980’s I’d think

[Allaby]

How about some predictions while we wait for the ballot..


1. Which director will have the most films listed in the final 100?


2. Which actor/comedian will star in the most films represented in the final 100?.

1. Mel Brooks

2. Jim Carrey

[Allaby]

Another question

Which decade will have the most entries on the final list.

1980s

[Citizen Rules]

Originally Posted by Diehl40 (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=2286498#post2286498)
Another question

Which decade will have the most entries on the final list.
1980s...at least at lot of ballot will be made up of 80s.

[pahaK]

Another question

Which decade will have the most entries on the final list.

I'm in the 80s (or 70s) camp as well.

This is going to be so difficult ballot for me to make (assuming I even manage to do that). I don't watch many comedies, and I have massive difficulties even making a preliminary list.

[Diehl40]

Another question

Which decade will have the most entries on the final list.


I want to guess the 40's and the 70's


I think it will be the 80's and the 2010's

[rauldc14]

No way on the 2010s

[CosmicRunaway]

The Lord of the Rings is not generally considered a comedy
This makes me want to come up with an absurd reason as to why they should be included. :lol:

[ynwtf]

Well, well, well...
With so many nods to the 80's decade, I must start calculating my nom's to counter such arrogance!!!


https://thumbs.gfycat.com/GiantGraciousDuckbillplatypus-max-1mb.gif

[Chypmunk]

Is it ok to change my guess for most appearances on the list from Steve Martin to Kermit the Frog?

[rauldc14]

Is it ok to change my guess for most appearances on the list from Steve Martin to Kermit the Frog?

Yes

[Citizen Rules]

Steve Martin....thanks for reminding me of The Jerk and The Man With Two Brains. He was in a bunch of other funny comedies too like Plains, Tanks and Gyromobiles:D

[John Dumbear]

Steve Martin....thanks for reminding me of The Jerk and The Man With Two Brains. He was in a bunch of other funny comedies too like Plains, Tanks and Gyromobiles:D

"Roxanne" and "Father of the Bride" are both entertaining as well.

[Allaby]

Is it ok to change my guess for most appearances on the list from Steve Martin to Kermit the Frog?

I’ve always considered Kermit’s films as erotic thrillers and not comedies, but maybe that’s just me.

[Thursday Next]

A little mention for some British comedies...

Ealing Comedies
Such as Passport to Pimlico, The Ladykillers, The Man in the White Suit, Whisky Galore. My top pick would be Kind Hearts and Coronets - Alec Guinness plays multiple parts in this story of a man who tries to bump off a whole collection of distant relatives.

Richard Curtis Rom-coms
Four Weddings and a Funeral is probably the top pick here, although Notting Hill a close runner up. Love Actually and Bridget Jones's Diary are also available. The less said about The Boat that Rocked the better...

The Brit-com
Almost a genre in itself, in which a group of usually mismatched, usually working-class people band together to do a usually quirky activity and/or take on the bosses, in a mostly heart-warming (or unbearably cheesy, your mileage may vary) way, with some usually gentle comedy and probably a death just to balance things out. Brassed Off is probably the original, The Full Monty, in which a group of unemployed Sheffield steelworkers take to stripping probably the best example. There have been hordes over the year, from Calendar Girls to Kinky Boots to Lucky Break.

Post Modern Trips
Before The Trip there were 24 Hour Party People, a comedic tour through the Manchester music scene and Factory Records and A Cock and Bull Story, also starring Steve Coogan and directed by Michael Winterbottom, with plenty of fourth wall breaking. A Cock and Bull Story owes something I think to 1963’s Oscar-winning Tom Jones, also worth a watch. After the Trip there was Greed, a thinly veiled skewering of a certain fashion mogul.

King of Comedy
Before Paddington and its sequel took the world by storm, director Paul King (also the director of TV’s The Mighty Boosh) directed the joyfully odd Bunny and the Bull which fans of Paddington’s visual quirks might also enjoy.

Dark and Pointed
Chris Morris, Sam Bain, Jesse Armstrong and Armando Ianucci have between them created some dark, funny and at times boundary pushing TV including Peep Show, The Thick of It, Brass Eye and Succession. But they are variously responsible for a few films too: Four Lions is a comedy about hapless terrorists, In the Loop a satire about political manoeuvring. The Death of Stalin is so dark it almost goes through comedy and comes out the other side.

The Best of the Rest
Monty Python needs no introduction. Life of Brian is probably a more complete and consistent film, but I'm not sure I've ever laughed more than I laughed when I saw Holy Grail for the first time. I’m going to Carry On without an entire sub-genre of badly dated 60s and 70s sex comedies. I will mention Withnail & I in which drunk unemployed actors go on holiday by mistake, a cult classic. Lock Stock and 2 Smoking Barrels is pretty funny. Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz are pretty well loved on here. The World’s End is the Godfather Part III of the bunch. Some people consider Trainspotting a comedy, but it's more of a mixed genre to me.

[Citizen Rules]

"Roxanne" and "Father of the Bride" are both entertaining as well.It's been a long while since I seen those, but yeah I remember liking them. Time to watch me some Steve Martin comedies.

[John Dumbear]

A little mention for some British comedies...



Would also like to add:


"Four Lions"
"Waking Ned Devine"
"In Bruge"
"Bedazzled" ('67)
"Alfie"
"Shaun the Sheep Movie"

[Chypmunk]

I'll be brave and say the 1920s for the decade with the most entries.

Still waiting for the most important question though: How high up the countdown will The Titfield Thunderbolt appear?

[rauldc14]

Top 8 minimum.

[Holden Pike]

Another question
Which decade will have the most entries on the final list.

Comedies that made the previous decade lists…

Pre-‘30s (a Top 50)
The General (#2)
The Gold Rush (#4)
Sherlock Jr. (#8)
The Kid (#10)
Safety Last (#11)
Steamboat Bill, Jr. (#33)
The Circus (#37)
The Goat (#46)

1930s
It Happened One Night (#3)
City Lights (#5)
Modern Times (#7)/i
Bringing Up Baby (#8)
Duck Soup (#12)
Trouble in Paradise (#20)
The Thin Man (#25)
A Night at the Opera (#27)
My Man Godfrey (#31)
Make Way for Tomorrow (#32)
Ninotchka (#36)
You Can’t Take it with You (#39)
Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (#47)
Horse Feathers (#51)
The Awful Truth (#60)
Destry Rides Again (#72)
Sons of the Desert (#80)
Way Out West (#81)
Monkey Business (#91)

1940s
The Great Dictator (#11)
His Girl Friday (#14)
Arsenic & Old Lace (#18)
The Shop Around the Corner (#19)
Kind Hearts & Coronets (#26)
The Ghost & Mrs. Muir (#33)
The Philadelphia Story (#37)
Miracle on 34th Street (#53)
Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein (#65)
Sullivan’s Travels (#68)
To Be or Not To Be (#83)
Blithe Spirit (#90)

1950s
Singin’ in the Rain (#10)
Some Like it Hot (#11)
All About Eve (#12)
Harvey (#31)
Mon Oncle (#67)
The Seven Year Itch (#74)
Duck Amuck (#89)
Roman Holiday (#92)

1960s
Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (#4)
The Graduate (#6)
The Apartment (#8)
Playtime (#31)
A Hard Day’s Night (#53)
Charade (#57)
Barefoot in the Park (#91)

1970s
Monty Python and the Holy Grail (#13)
Young Frankenstein (#15)
Harold & Maude (#27)
Annie Hall (#30)
Blazing Saddles (#33)
Monty Python’s Life of Brian (#41)
The Rocky Horror Picture Show (#46)
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (#47)
Manhattan (#52)
The Jerk (#54)
The Sting (#57)
Animal House (#66)
The Muppet Movie (#69)
Paper Moon (#74)
MASH (#78)
Being There (#98)

1980s
Back to the Future (#3)
The Breakfast Club (#13)
Ghostbusters (#20)
Brazil (#21)
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (#23)
The Princess Bride (#27)
An American Werewolf in London (#28)
Who Framed Roger Rabbit (#31)
This Is Spın̈al Tap (#33)
After Hours (#35)
Raising Arizona (#40)
Airplane! (#43)
Gremlins (#46)
The Blues Brothers (#50)
The Purple Rose of Cairo (#53)
Tootsie (#62)
Planes, Trains, and Automobiles (#71)
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (#80)
Diner (#81)
Heathers (#85)
Beetlejuice (#87)
A Christmas Story (#90)
Modern Romance (#98)
Hannah & Her Sisters (#100)

1990s
The Big Lebowski (#6)
Groundhog Day (#25)
Clerks (#45)
Dazed & Confused (#48)
Ed Wood (#49)
Dumb and Dumber (#59)
As Good as it Gets (#62)
Rushmore (#87)

2000s
Amélie (#16)
Shaun of the Dead (#20)
Lost in Translation (#32)
The Royal Tenenbaums (#35)
Sideways (#39)
In Bruges (#56)
A Serious Man (#66)
Fantastic Mr. Fox (#70)
Snatch (#71)
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (#76)
Juno (#89)
The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (#100)

Millennium (not included in 2000s list)
Wonder Boys (#39)
Ghost World (#45)
Lars and the Real Girl (#84)
The Artist (#88)
Black Dynamite (#97)

Westerns (not included in a decade list)
City Slickers (#62)
The Frisco Kid (#70)
¡Three Amigos! (#82)
Support Your Local Sheriff! (#89)

Sci-Fi (not included in a decade list)
Men in Black (#61)
Galaxy Quest (#88)


The '80s had the most, with twenty-four. There are over a hundred and twenty movies listed there. But if I were a betting man (which I am not) I would wager less than half of those listed above will make it. We shall see.

[mrblond]

Richard Curtis Rom-coms
Four Weddings and a Funeral is probably the top pick here, although Notting Hill a close runner up. Love Actually and Bridget Jones's Diary are also available. The less said about The Boat that Rocked the better...


This group is within the top tier on my consideration list especially the first three titles you mention here. Hope to find place for more than one of these.
:yup:

[Wooley]

For what it's worth, L.A. Story is my favorite Steve Martin movie and will be high on my overall list.

[Holden Pike]

Same here.

[Diehl40]

We Have a ballot.
You can now cast a ballot. The link is in the OP. Please report issues to Yoda or myself.

[edarsenal]

A little mention for some British comedies...

Ealing Comedies
Such as Passport to Pimlico, The Ladykillers, The Man in the White Suit, Whisky Galore. My top pick would be Kind Hearts and Coronets - Alec Guinness plays multiple parts in this story of a man who tries to bump off a whole collection of distant relatives.

Richard Curtis Rom-coms
Four Weddings and a Funeral is probably the top pick here, although Notting Hill a close runner up. Love Actually and Bridget Jones's Diary are also available. The less said about The Boat that Rocked the better...

The Brit-com
Almost a genre in itself, in which a group of usually mismatched, usually working-class people band together to do a usually quirky activity and/or take on the bosses, in a mostly heart-warming (or unbearably cheesy, your mileage may vary) way, with some usually gentle comedy and probably a death just to balance things out. Brassed Off is probably the original, The Full Monty, in which a group of unemployed Sheffield steelworkers take to stripping probably the best example. There have been hordes over the year, from Calendar Girls to Kinky Boots to Lucky Break.

Post Modern Trips
Before The Trip there were 24 Hour Party People, a comedic tour through the Manchester music scene and Factory Records and A Cock and Bull Story, also starring Steve Coogan and directed by Michael Winterbottom, with plenty of fourth wall breaking. A Cock and Bull Story owes something I think to 1963’s Oscar-winning Tom Jones, also worth a watch. After the Trip there was Greed, a thinly veiled skewering of a certain fashion mogul.

King of Comedy
Before Paddington and its sequel took the world by storm, director Paul King (also the director of TV’s The Mighty Boosh) directed the joyfully odd Bunny and the Bull which fans of Paddington’s visual quirks might also enjoy.

Dark and Pointed
Chris Morris, Sam Bain, Jesse Armstrong and Armando Ianucci have between them created some dark, funny and at times boundary pushing TV including Peep Show, The Thick of It, Brass Eye and Succession. But they are variously responsible for a few films too: Four Lions is a comedy about hapless terrorists, In the Loop a satire about political manoeuvring. The Death of Stalin is so dark it almost goes through comedy and comes out the other side.

The Best of the Rest
Monty Python needs no introduction. Life of Brian is probably a more complete and consistent film, but I'm not sure I've ever laughed more than I laughed when I saw Holy Grail for the first time. I’m going to Carry On without an entire sub-genre of badly dated 60s and 70s sex comedies. I will mention Withnail & I in which drunk unemployed actors go on holiday by mistake, a cult classic. Lock Stock and 2 Smoking Barrels is pretty funny. Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz are pretty well loved on here. The World’s End is the Godfather Part III of the bunch. Some people consider Trainspotting a comedy, but it's more of a mixed genre to me.
Excellent listing. I have Guinness films on my watchlist and already love Kind Hearts and need to see white suit abd whiskey galore is on my radar.

I'd add the original 2007 Death at a Funeral to the list. NOT the American remake.

[Holden Pike]

We Have a ballot.

Submitted.

[Yoda]

Oh noooooo I made a really rough preliminary list and it's almost 40 titles and it's not even done heeellllpppp

[Chypmunk]

Oh noooooo I made a really rough preliminary list and it's almost 40 titles and it's not even done heeellllpppp
Simply remove the first fifteen or so and replace them with The Titfield Thunderbolt - jobsagood'un ..... oh wait, that'll probably mean it appears on your list twice then though which I don't think is allowed. Sorry, I tried to help :(

[Diehl40]

We have two ballots so far with 46 titles. I think Yoda is right, there are going to be a lot of unique film entries. It will be interesting when we have 20 or so ballots to see if we can get some consensus.

[Kaplan]

Ooh, how exciting. I just noticed this. I suspect whittling a list down to 25 will pose quite the challenge, but this will be fun. I have no idea what my #1 will be but I do know it will be a painful choice.

[Mr Minio]

Finally! I can place Zombie Ass: Toilet of the Dead as #1 instead of #25 to get it to the one-pointers category!!!

[Citizen Rules]

We have two ballots so far with 46 titles. I think Yoda is right, there are going to be a lot of unique film entries. It will be interesting when we have 20 or so ballots to see if we can get some consensus.Wow, out of 50 comedies on 2 ballots...there's only 4 movies that were repeated, cool. Everyone who complained that the last few countdowns had a lot of repeat movies on them should be pleasantly surprised with the diversity of this countdown.

[Holden Pike]

Wow, out of 50 comedies on 2 ballots...there's only 4 movies that were repeated, wow again. Everyone who complained that the last few countdowns have had a lot of repeat movies on them should be pleasantly surprised with the diversity of this countdown.
What you call a potential pleasant surprise in diversity I call a nightmare in gaining consensus. If that kind of ratio continues, in order to get a Top 100, which the majority seems to insist upon whether the numbers support it or not, that means titles at the bottom may well make it with only one or two high placed votes. That to me is not a group list.

But this is still nothing but speculation, either way. We shall see.

[Yoda]

If we get to the point where two ballots can get you on the list, we usually reduce to a Top 50. I can't speak for the host(s) but that's pretty standard, and pretty intuitive given the idea of each entry representing the community as a whole.

[Chypmunk]

Yeah, came close to getting enough movies that were on more than one list with a minimum of 25 points for a Top 75 but didn't quite make it which is why it was only a Top 50 in the end.

[Citizen Rules]

The MoFo Horror Countdown list is by far the most unrepresentative of the MoFo community. That one was complied by only a handful of people without the chance of the entire community having a hand in it. That to me is not a group list.

[John Dumbear]

And the winner is !

At 31 pts, on 3 ballots... "Paul Blart: Mall Cop"!

[Diehl40]

If we get to the point where two ballots can get you on the list, we usually reduce to a Top 50. I can't speak for the host(s) but that's pretty standard, and pretty intuitive given the idea of each entry representing the community as a whole.


Top 50 would be better than movies with two or three votes.

[mrblond]

Actually, are we allowed to post here recommendations, a movie-reminders, etc.?

[Yoda]

Actually, are we allowed to post here recommendations, a movie-reminders, etc.?
Not just allowed, but encouraged!

[mrblond]

Barefoot in the Park (1967)

A real witty and entertaining comedy. Stylish, valuable, collectable, sexy...
Superb screenplay, great cast...

85914

[gbgoodies]

We have two ballots so far with 46 titles. I think Yoda is right, there are going to be a lot of unique film entries. It will be interesting when we have 20 or so ballots to see if we can get some consensus.

Wow, out of 50 comedies on 2 ballots...there's only 4 movies that were repeated, cool. Everyone who complained that the last few countdowns had a lot of repeat movies on them should be pleasantly surprised with the diversity of this countdown.

What you call a potential pleasant surprise in diversity I call a nightmare in gaining consensus. If that kind of ratio continues, in order to get a Top 100, which the majority seems to insist upon whether the numbers support it or not, that means titles at the bottom may well make it with only one or two high placed votes. That to me is not a group list.

But this is still nothing but speculation, either way. We shall see.

If we get to the point where two ballots can get you on the list, we usually reduce to a Top 50. I can't speak for the host(s) but that's pretty standard, and pretty intuitive given the idea of each entry representing the community as a whole.


Since everyone seems to be having a hard time narrowing their lists down to only 25 movies, and there's concern that we might have so much diversity that we might end up with only a Top 50 countdown, maybe we should each submit a list of 50 movies so that we can get a good Top 100?

[gbgoodies]

I started making a tentative list, and it's already at over 100 movies before I even watch any new movies for this countdown. It's going to be very hard to narrow down my list, but I think the first thing I'm going to do is remove the movies that I don't really think of as comedies, even though they're listed as a comedy on IMDB and Wikipedia.

Some of my favorite movies are considered comedies, but I love them more as romance than rom-com, or more as a musical than a comedy, etc. I think if I gear my list more towards movies that make me laugh rather than just smile, I should be able to narrow it down to about 75 movies. It's not enough, but at least it's a starting point.

[rauldc14]

If Directed by Women could have a top 100, then comedies can too. Goes without saying but a lot of surprise picks would miss the cut on a top 50. I've always been more intrigued by 51-100.

[Citizen Rules]

If Directed by Women could have a top 100, then comedies can too. Goes without saying but a lot of surprise picks would miss the cut on a top 50. I've always been more intrigued by 51-100.Quoted for truth.

[Iroquois]

That just puts even more work onto the organisers, but I guess that's the price to pay for loosening the criteria from "any film explicitly classified as a comedy" to "any film that a user thinks is funny".

[Iroquois]

If Directed by Women could have a top 100, then comedies can too. Goes without saying but a lot of surprise picks would miss the cut on a top 50. I've always been more intrigued by 51-100.

I'd have to dig up my old spreadsheet to check just how many titles received votes at all, but I think that had the opposite problem of a hyper-specific set of criteria that involved users putting in the work to figure out which favourites qualified because knowing if a woman directed a film is harder to determine/retain than which decade or genre a film belongs to (even I made a mistake or two in compiling my list) so it had maybe the lowest voter turn-out of any countdown (and those that did vote had a tendency to favour the most high-profile directors like Coppola or Bigelow or Meyers).. Looking at it now, there are a few films towards the bottom that only had two votes (and would be deemed ineligible by these current standards) but I wasn't about to knock the whole list down to 50 just because there were a handful that don't reach an acceptable minimum number of votes (also it's the first countdown I ran so I didn't know what the hell I was doing anyway).

[MovieFan1988]

Ballot Submitted, that was sort of a tough list to put together. all I gotta say is it was not like my 2000's list where I had that ready to go when the put the ballot link up

[Holden Pike]

Since everyone seems to be having a hard time narrowing their lists down to only 25 movies, and there's concern that we might have so much diversity that we might end up with only a Top 50 countdown, maybe we should each submit a list of 50 movies so that we can get a good Top 100?
That is multiplying the problem, not solving it. The point disparity is too big there. You giving one point to your fiftieth choice will never matter against somebody's number three choice getting forty-seven.

[mrblond]

Another reminder...

The Gods Must Be Crazy (1980)

A pure comedy at its best. Non stop laugh.

85917

[Yoda]

Since everyone seems to be having a hard time narrowing their lists down to only 25 movies, and there's concern that we might have so much diversity that we might end up with only a Top 50 countdown, maybe we should each submit a list of 50 movies so that we can get a good Top 100?
As noted this might make it worse. Regardless of the merits, it's not something I can feasibly switch up after we've started accepting ballots.

[matt72582]

I'm doing my list, and by the second one, I see there are duplicates of the same exact movie. Please pick the original? I saw one, "________ ___ _________" (19**), then another option popped up, but this time, with the director's name in front of the title, but a more recent date, despite not being any difference. It's not a director's cut, etc..


I just think splitting a movie into two options would distort the results.

[matt72582]

List submitted.. See you all in June! :)

[Yoda]

I'm doing my list, and by the second one, I see there are duplicates of the same exact movie. Please pick the original? I saw one, "________ ___ _________" (19**), then another option popped up, but this time, with the director's name in front of the title, but a more recent date, despite not being any difference. It's not a director's cut, etc..


I just think splitting a movie into two options would distort the results.
I don't really follow what you mean. Please PM me the details.

We don't split anything in two results, so whatever you're seeing is from TMDB, our data source. That said, sometimes they have alternate versions which are technically (though correctly) classified as distinct versions, if they vary enough. They also sometimes have things that are basically souped up director commentaries.

[Deschain]

My top two are a lock. I have a good handful of others I know are gonna make it. The other countdowns on this forum I participated in was the all time refresh and the best of the 2000s and there’s at least two that I put on both those lists that are gonna be here too. :O

[mrblond]

One, Two, Three (1961)

The funniest comedy by Billy Wilder. Great cast led by James Cagney.
A true feast of the laugh.

85932

[Diehl40]

https://artwisher.com/files/products/800x1423_1832.800x800.jpg?96bdd22965d94911af0a5f70f3eea5ef




Brazil - Terry Gilliam 1985

[crumbsroom]

It won't make my list, but Ben Wheatley's "Down Terrace" is pretty ****ing funny.

[mrblond]

The Englishman Who Went Up a Hill But Came Down a Mountain (1995)

One of the funniest stories one can imagine.
Very stylish and witty. Superb cast: Hugh Grant, Colm Meaney, Ian McNeice ...

85954
85956

[Diehl40]

I'm still adding to my watch list. I have nearly thirty films I want re-watch or watch for the first time.

[Diehl40]

https://i0.wp.com/non-productive.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/walk-hard-dewey-cox.jpg?fit=1102%2C620&ssl=1


Walk Hard

[gbgoodies]

Analyze This (1999)
Directed by Harold Ramis, and starring Robert De Niro and Billy Crystal

86010

[gbgoodies]

My Cousin Vinny (1992)
Starring Joe Pesci and Marisa Tomei

86011

[mrblond]

I think some coordination between the users that generally support a certain director/actor with many top level films in the field should be applied. So that all to shoot in one direction.
I list some of these with the movies I'd consider for my list. Hope other fans will join this coordination to help choosing the right title.

I like almost all the titles by the following directors but going to choose for the comedy list some of this selection:

Charlie Chaplin
The Gold Rush (1925)
City Lights (1931)
The Kid (1921)
Modern Times (1936)

Woody Allen
Annie Hall (1977)
Deconstructing Harry (1997)
Whatever Works (2009)
Take the Money and Run (1969)

Wes Anderson
The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)
The French Dispatch (2021)
Moonrise Kingdom (2012)

What do you think?
---
86015

[Kaplan]

Woody Allen
Annie Hall (1977)
Deconstructing Harry (1997)
Whatever Works (2009)
Take the Money and Run (1969)

What do you think?



I think Annie Hall is fine, but Midnight in Paris, Hannah and Her Sisters, and Crimes and Misdemeanors are far better films than those others.

[Holden Pike]

Rushmore, The Grand Budapest Hotel, and Fantastic Mr. Fox are my top Wes Andersons. There is an EXISTING THREAD (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?t=63111) for his favorites, but you'll see the MoFo support is pretty evenly distributed.

[mrblond]

I think Annie Hall is fine, but Midnight in Paris, Hannah and Her Sisters, and Crimes and Misdemeanors are far better films than those others.

Yes, Hannah and the Crimes are superb but the comedy is not the primary genre for these that's why I've excluded them.

[mark f]

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51SNWMTSMXL._AC_.jpg

[rauldc14]

Gold Rush, Take the Money and Run and Moonrise Kingdom are probably contenders for my list.

[gbgoodies]

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51SNWMTSMXL._AC_.jpg


Are stand-up comedy movies eligible?

If so, I'd like to recommend Carrie Fisher: Wishful Drinking (2010)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcTvmIEG4Xw

[mark f]

I think everything is eligible.

[mrblond]

The Mask (1994)

Hope you didn't forget how Jim Carrey came into existence...

Very entertaining movie.

86058

[Yoda]

Yeah, everything is eligible, though comedy is so naturally stratified that I think everyone would do well to think a little bit strategically (without outright colluding, of course) about what other people might have on their lists (one pointer strategy aside, of course), otherwise a lot of these favorites are going to be lost to the ether anyway.

[John Dumbear]

This is how I'm approaching this countdown, decades be damned. Hoping I didn't omit a sub-genre, if so, please comment.

#1 slapstick
#1 rom-com
#1 horror parody
#1 ensemble
#1 mocumentary
#1 dark theme
#1 gender resistance
#1 futuristic endeavors
#1 superhero parody
#1 dysfunctional family
#1 bad romance

Repeat these eleven, then add three you love.

[mrblond]

Some French classics...

La Grande Vadrouille (1966)

Louis De Funès and Bourvil are outstanding here.
The screenplay is superb - witty dialogues, non-stop entertaining.

80671

[Harry Lime]

If I vote for a Wes Anderson it will be Bottle Rocket. Yeah, that's right.

So far I've got a few rewatches lined up - After Hours, Sleeper, Young Frankenstein, Some Like it Hot - but am watching here looking for more ideas. Just comedies that are over due for another viewing. Also open to ideas for comedies I haven't seen but my 25 will be tough to crack. It's currently 50+ and it's a challenge.

[Diehl40]

If I vote for a Wes Anderson it will be Bottle Rocket. Yeah, that's right.

So far I've got a few rewatches lined up - After Hours, Sleeper, Young Frankenstein, Some Like it Hot - but am watching here looking for more ideas. Just comedies that are over due for another viewing. Also open to ideas for comedies I haven't seen but my 25 will be tough to crack. It's currently 50+ and it's a challenge.




Woody Allen
Hannah and Her Sisters
Purple Rose of Cairo
Play it Again Sam


Older Comedies
To Be or Not to Be
Lady Eve
Some Like it Hot


Terry Gilliam
Brazil
Time Bandits
Twelve Monkeys

[mrblond]

Do you remember this

Crocodile Dundee (1986)

Classic 80's comedy, a lot of fun.

86160

[donniedarko]

Submitted early so I don't forget, think 12 of mine may make it. Who knows, some of them have topped other lists but maybe others on the forum don't view them as much of a comedy as I do. I'm really excited to see what shows up in this list

[mrblond]

Deconstructing Harry (1997)

I think, this probably topped Woody creative works in terms of a comedy.
Witty humor. Very entertaining!

86204

[Citizen Rules]

Some great older comedies (and a few newer ones) that needs your vote to make the countdown list!

American Graffiti (1973)
Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
Auntie Mame (1958)
Back to the Future (1985)
Ball of Fire (1941)
Barton Fink (1991)
Being There (1979)
Best in Show (2000)
Born Yesterday (George Cukor, 1950)
Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961)
Bringing Up Baby (1938)
Buffalo '66 (1998)
Calamity Jane (1953)
Christmas in Connecticut (1945)
Clue (1985)
Destry Rides Again (1939)
Dumb & Dumber (1994)
Ed Wood (1994)
Elf (2003)
Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982)
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986)
Funny Girl (1968))
Gold Diggers of 1933 (1933)
Heathers (1989)
His Girl Friday (1940)
Holiday (1938)
Irma la Douce (1963)
It Happened One Night (1934)
Kiss Me, Stupid (1964)
Life of Brian (1979)
Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
Lord Love a Duck (1966)
Mars Attacks! (1996)
Meet John Doe (1941)
Modern Times (1936)
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)
Muriel's Wedding (1994)
My Fair Lady (1964)
My Favorite Wife (1940)
My Man Godfrey (1936)
Mystery Train (1989)
Night at the Museum (2006)
Nothing Sacred (1937)
One, Two, Three (1961)
Paper Moon (1973)
Pee-wee's Big Adventure (1985)
Planes, Trains & Automobiles (1987)
Radio Days (1987)
Roman Holiday (1953)
Romy and Michele's High School Reunion (1997)
Sabrina (1954)
School of Rock (2003)
Shallow Hal (2001)
Sherlock, Jr. (1924)
Singin' in the Rain (1952)
Sixteen Candles (1984)
Some Like It Hot (1959)
Sullivan's Travels (1941)
The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension (1984)
The Apartment (1960)
The Awful Truth (1937)
The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer (1947)
The Breakfast Club (1985)
The Cable Guy (1996)
The General (1926)
The Jerk (1979)
The King of Comedy (1982)
The Lady Eve (1941)
The Major and the Minor (1942)
The Miracle of Morgan's Creek (1944)
The Philadelphia Story (1940)
The Player (1992)
The School of Rock (2003)
The Shop Around the Corner (1940)
The Silencers (1966)
The Wedding Singer (1998)
The Women (1939)
To Be or Not to Be (1942)
Uncle Buck (1989)
What's Up, Doc? (1972)
Zelig (1983)

[Diehl40]

https://s3.amazonaws.com/criterion-production/films/d04b9f2a62025304c77d823ca89cba24/Qtb4y6uTAjYaHTQuk7FvUP1CjNbLxp_original.jpg

[mrblond]

Notting Hill (1999)

Full of great funny characters and cult scenes.

86378

[John Dumbear]

Some great older comedies (and a few newer ones) that needs your vote to make the countdown list!

American Graffiti (1973)
Back to the Future (1985
Being There (1979)
Best in Show (2000)
Buffalo '66 (1998)
Clue (1985)
Dumb & Dumber (1994)
Ed Wood (1994)
Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982)
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986)
Life of Brian (1979)
Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
Mars Attacks! (1996)
Paper Moon (1973)
Planes, Trains & Automobiles (1985)
The Breakfast Club (1985)
The General (1926)
The Jerk (1979)
Uncle Buck (1989)


Yes, to these.

[John Dumbear]

This most likely will not garnish any votes (like myself), yet it is one of my final cuts. I think the casting works here, plus damn funny.


https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51fMv3qvaTL._SY445_.jpg

[Yoda]

86422

[Captain Terror]

86423

"I'm going to, ok?"

[ueno_station54]

boring, obvious statement but this is the only film that has to make the countdown.

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BN2YyYjUzYmMtZDNmMy00ODRmLWExOTYtMzg5NzQ5NzZhNjA1L2ltYWdlL2ltYWdlXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyNjc1NTYyMjg@._V1 _.jpg

[xSookieStackhouse]

The Mask (1994)

Hope you didn't forget how Jim Carrey came into existence...

Very entertaining movie.

https://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=86058
jim carrey is like one of the best comedians ;)

[Diehl40]

We are nearing the end of the first month of this countdown. Two months to go. Share if you like a comedy that many on the site might have missed.

[mark f]

https://www.kroger.com/product/images/large/front/0078693624425
https://media4.giphy.com/media/KxAIVkIOfiJG/giphy.gif

[John-Connor]

Made a rough preliminary list and I've narrowed it down to a 150 comedies..

[mark f]

https://cloudcdn.monster/images/p/w500/60c1583dd10e8f1b0dd6bc14b49d6d75.jpg
https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/715uleSJI7L._AC_SX522_.jpg

[John-Connor]

https://c.tenor.com/7Wco4A-WeNUAAAAC/eddie-murphy-coming-to-america.gif

[mrblond]

Is there someone who consider this as a comedy?

Midnight Run (1988)

Highly entertaining movie. Great cast, Superb characters...

86542

[mark f]

Yes.

[Holden Pike]

Is there someone who consider this as a comedy?
86542
Dude, it's on the poster. Twice. Of course.

[Holden Pike]

For your consideration (and enjoyment)...

86584
This was a movie that was rather unceremoniously dumped into theaters at the end of August in 1989. That was the summer of Tim Burton's Batman, Indiana Jones at the Last Crusade, Lethal Weapon 2, Back to the Future Part II, Ghostbusters 2, Twins, Parenthood, Honey I Shrunk the Kids, When Harry Met Sally..., Dead Poets Society, and on and on. Nobody went to see Let it Ride. Its opening weekend take was less than $2-million at the domestic box office and it wouldn't break the $5-million mark. It also got mostly lousy reviews. Gene Siskel was one of the few positive voices, though it was not even reviewed on the Siskel & Ebert program (he praised it a few years later on a "guilty pleasures" episode and Roger confessed he had never seen it). I saw it. I loved it. And by the time it hit VHS and cable I was kind of obsessed with it. One of those movies I have completely memorized. Its reputation did rise a bit over the years with those who discovered it long past its brief theatrical run, though it still sits at only 27% on Rotten Tomatoes with professional critics.

But that is all just background of why you may have never heard of Let it Ride, much less seen it. I love this movie. Richard Dreyfus is perfectly cast as Jay Trotter, an unlucky gambler who has promised his wife (Teri Garr, twelve years after playing husband & wife in Close Encounters of the Third Kind) to give up betting on horses to try and save their marriage...when he finds himself with a tip on a race that can't lose. He takes $50 he had squirreled away and heads to the track for one last bet and before you know it he is promptly having the luckiest day of his life. A sunny, silly, funny comedy packed with Runyonesque characters and a wonderful supporting cast that includes David Johansen, Jennifer Tilly, Allen Garfield, Robbie Coltrane, Michelle Phillips, Richard Edson, David Schramm, Tony Longo, Mary Woronov, Ralph Seymour, and Cynthia Nixon.

Whether or not it makes many or any of your ballots I hope some of you see it just because I think it is wonderful and like to share that joy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9Pru9km4N8
*coincidentally the trailer uses Danny Elfman's score from Midnight Run

[TheUsualSuspect]

And the winner is !

At 31 pts, on 3 ballots... "Paul Blart: Mall Cop"!

Who's going to make this a one-pointer? :p

[Holden Pike]

Who's going to make this a one-pointer? :p
So many that it will not make the one-pointers list. I predict it misses the Top 100 (gawd, I HOPE it misses the list) but gets upwards of seven or eight points.

[Diehl40]

10 Ballots so far with 187 different movies

[rauldc14]

So 63 "repeat" votes. That's not too bad.

[Citizen Rules]

So 63 "repeat" votes. That's not too bad.If I read correctly, I think it's going to take repeat votes for movies just to get them on the countdown. There was some mention of movies on single list not being eligible for making the countdown?

@Diehl40 (http://www.movieforums.com/community/member.php?u=88140) have you decided on any of that yet?

[mrblond]

Avanti! (1972)

Often overlooked, this Billy Wilder's work is absolute gem to discover.

86606

[Holden Pike]

If I read correctly, I think it's going to take repeat votes for movies just to get them on the countdown. There was some mention of movies on single list not being eligible for making the countdown?

@Diehl40 (http://www.movieforums.com/community/member.php?u=88140) have you decided on any of that yet?

The 100 films with the most points make the countdown. Your top choice on your ballot gets 25 points, your second 24, all the way down to 1 point for your twenty-fifth choice. For the MoFo Westerns list the top choice, The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, had 948 points from 50 ballots (out of 67 total ballots). The 100th place film, The Sons of Katie Elder, had only 35 points from two ballots. Which is why I was against making it a Top 100 and would have preferred a Top 75 or 50, but that covered wagon left the barn ages ago.

If a single vote, even a first-placer, gets anything on one of the countdowns it's not a very good countdown.

[Citizen Rules]

The 100 films with the most points make the countdown. Your top choice on your ballot gets 25 points, your second 24, all the way down to 1 point for your twenty-fifth choice. For the MoFo Westerns list the top choice, The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, had 948 points from 50 ballots (out of 67 total ballots). The 100th place film, The Sons of Katie Elder, had only 35 points from two ballots. Which is why I was against making it a Top 100 and would have preferred a Top 75 or 50, but that covered wagon left the barn ages ago.

If a single vote, even a first-placer, gets anything on one of the countdowns it's not a very good countdown.Obviously;)...and of course I knew that, I hosted the 1930s Top 100 countdown.

BUT there was a previous mention of this countdown having a criteria of a film needing to be on at least 2 ballots and/or having x amount of points before qualifying.

BTW a Top 75 or 50 Western Countdown would've been disappointing.

[mrblond]

You didn't forget these guys, right?

Beverly Hills Cop (1984)

86617
86618

[John W Constantine]

The ol' banana in the tailpipe gag

[rauldc14]

Has a shot at my list

[mrblond]

The Meaning of Life (1983)

How many of you sit on this bench?

86625

[Holden Pike]

The Meaning of Life (1983)
By any objective criteria I think pretty clearly the third best of the Monty Python films, but surely better than every Adam Sandler movie.

[John Dumbear]

By any objective criteria I think pretty clearly the third best of the Monty Python films, but surely better than every Adam Sandler movie.

Agree with this post. Adam who?

[SpelingError]

The Meaning of Life was a mixed bag for me. It has some segments I enjoy quite a bit and some others that I don't care for. Not sure if I even liked it, to be honest, but it's certainly something.

[Holden Pike]

Another for your consideration and viewing pleasure...

86645
Much like Let it Ride from the year before, I find Quick Change to be unfairly maligned critically, ignored commercially, and a brilliant gem to be discovered. It too was released in the summer, mid July. 1990's summer blockbusters included the likes of Ghost, Total Recall, Die Hard 2, Back to the Future Part III, Dick Tracy, Days of Thunder, Arachnophobia, Presumed Innocent, and Pretty Woman. Critics were split on Quick Change (Ebert mildly recommended it, Siskel mildly gave it a thumbs down, Peter Travers in Rolling Stone found it humorless, Owen Gleiberman graded it a C+ in Entertainment Weekly, etc.). Despite Murray's star power it made only $15-million, versus Ghost's eventual $215-million - the two films opened the same weekend. In Murray's career it is wedged between Scrooged and Ghostbusters II on one side and What About Bob? and Groundhog Day on the other, so Bill was still in his peak drawing days. But for whetever reason Quick Change was lost in the shuffle.

Again, Quick Change found an audience later on video and cable and its critical reputation has been reassessed by a couple generations worth of new critical blood, but it still remains one of Bill Murray's most underrated comedies. I saw it twice in that original 1990 run and likely would have gone back for more but it disappeared too quickly. By the time I could re-spin the LaserDisc over and over and over again I watched it countless times. Another film where I have every single line memorized.

Murray - who co-directed with Howard Franklin, still the only directing duties of Bill's career - opens the film riding the NYC subway in full clown getup carrying a bunch of balloons, seemingly on the way to a birthday party. His actual destination is a midtown Manhattan bank. He calmly enters and announces this is a hold up. He takes the staff and customers by gunpoint to a vault and returns to deal with the police. The set up seems like we are in for a comedic riff on Dog Day Afternoon, which coincidentally was done by another movie earlier in the summer of 1990 to not especially good effect: Cadillac Man starring Robin Williams. Where Quick Change deviates from the set up is Murray and his two accomplices (Geena Davis and Randy Quaid) have a plan that very cleverly works! Despite the efforts of Jason Robards' police chief the three fugitives get out of the bank with a whole lot of cash. That turns out to be the easy part. What they can't seem to do is get to JFK airport for their flight out of the country.

No matter how they try they are blocked by the strange denizens of the boroughs of New York be they apathetic construction workers, a car thief, a cab driver who speaks no English, an incredibly strict bus driver, and even a local mob boss. All of which gives the police time to pick up the trail. Murray is at his deadpan, sarcastic best, Robards is always wonderful, Davis & Quaid are well cast as his partners in crime, and then that amazing supporting cast fills up the screen with roadblocks and laughs including Stanley Tucci, Tony Shalhoub, Phil Hartman, Jamey Sheridan, Philip Bosco, Victor Argo, Bob Elliott, Gary Howard Klar, and Kurtwood Smith. So many quoteable lines ("They're on a blufftone!", "You could have given us help, but you've given us so much more", "You have exact change?", "It's bad luck just seeing a thing like that", "That ain't my dick in your back", " Flores para los muertes!", "He doesn't even understand colors!", and on and on), every time I watch it (which is at least a couple times a year) I can't understand why it wasn't a hit.

Maybe you'll discover it now? And truly, whether it makes your ballot or not I hope you simply enjoy the movie. I always do.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mcap30hydUY

Coincidentally both Quick Change and Let it Ride were adapted from novels by Jay Cronley. His book Funny Farm was also adapted into a film, directed by George Roy Hill and starring Chevy Chase. Quick Change was previously adapted once before, a French-Canadian movie called Hold-Up (1985) starring international icon Jean-Paul Belmondo and a young Kim Cattrall (post-Porky's and Police Acadmey/pre-Big Trouble in Little China and Mannequin).

[TheUsualSuspect]

I really like Quick Change but my wife has Coulrophobia so I don't have many opportunities to revisit it.

[ynwtf]

I complete forgot about Quick Change.

In dry clown fashion, I'm going to track down a copy of Shakes the Clown to see how it holds up now. "The Citizen Kane of alcoholic clown movies." If memory serves, it gets quite serious in the end, so it may not hold against an already too long list of options.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7KOt3Hugd4

[Kaplan]

I like Quick Change a lot.

So many quoteable lines ... "You could have given us help, but you've given us so much more"

One of my favorite lines.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cM8ir5NBsc0

[Wooley]

The Meaning of Life (1983)

How many of you sit on this bench?

86625

I actually consider this movie to be a kind of Stoner Comedy Masterpiece.
I agree with Holden that it is the 3rd Best Monty Python Movie, but that is only because the other two are all-time classics.

[John Dumbear]

"Afghanistan Banana Stand"



https://thewestlakereview.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/968full-the-hot-rock-screenshot.jpg


Oh yes, this is on my ballot! My favorite comedy, with criminals. And all the elements in between.

http://torontofilmsociety.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Hot-Rock-2-620x307.jpg

[John Dumbear]

Just made my first swag at a top twenty five. Then looked at my second twenty five. Think my second batch will get more votes.

I am soooo lost...

[rauldc14]

My three recommendations now are Hausu, Brave Little Toaster, and Life. Hope they get some votes!

[Torgo]

I recommend this classic, which I sadly forgot to put on my ballot:

https://i.imgur.com/BMLp5c2.jpeg

I am ashamed I didn't include it. I'm...

https://i.imgur.com/pGrUbje.jpg

"A man beaten. The once great champ, now, a study in mopishness."

[rauldc14]

It's quite insane the possibilities of how this list of 100 will turn out. By far the most up in the air list we have had so far.

[ScarletLion]

This is very difficult. Some films I've laughed hard at, are films that I probably shouldn't be laughing at.

[beelzebubble]

I might have to make a list just to get The Virgin Machine on there. Funniest lesbian strip club scene in a movie. Actually rolled into the aisle when I saw it.

[mrblond]

OK, more or less, I've decided which movies are going to be my top 15.
Now, I have about 22 remaining top level favorites to pack in the last ten slots to form a list of 25.
22>10 :shrug:
86650

[Diehl40]

If I read correctly, I think it's going to take repeat votes for movies just to get them on the countdown. There was some mention of movies on single list not being eligible for making the countdown?

@Diehl40 (http://www.movieforums.com/community/member.php?u=88140) have you decided on any of that yet?


I said earlier in the thread that i would rather go to a top 50 rather than have a movie with just one vote making it to the final. I'm still hoping for more ballots coming in. we still have six weeks

[Diehl40]

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/img_0809_1.JPG


Still Crazy
Those who like Spinal Tap, might be interested in this movie.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SJTrFYLQKE

[rauldc14]

I'm finding it hard to believe if like 50 ballots are submitted that there won't be at least 100 with 2 votes.

[Holden Pike]

I'm finding it hard to believe if like 50 ballots are submitted that there won't be at least 100 with 2 votes.

Yes, but if those two votes only total five points....so what?

[rauldc14]

Yes, but if those two votes only total five points....so what?

Would #100 really be that low? That's pretty doubtful. I'd bet at least 40 points. I guess we shall see.

[Citizen Rules]

I personally think this should be done as a Top 100, that's what we do at MoFo...I mean it's about the community and people want to see their favorites make the comedy list. It's not like this is being submitted to AFI.

Image if the Western countdown had only been a Top 50, then all of these great westerns would've been left off, which I think would've been sad as that was a fun countdown.

100. The Sons of Katie Elder (1965)
99. Geronimo: An American Legend (1993)
98. Two Mules for Sister Sara (1970)
97. Warlock (1959)
96. North to Alaska (1960)
95. Slow West (2015)
94. The Unforgiven (1960)
93. The Misfits (1961)
92. The Dark Valley (2014)
91. Oklahoma! (1955)
90. Duck, You Sucker! (1971)
89. Support Your Local Sheriff! (1969)
88. Hombre (1967)
87. The Hanging Tree (1959)
86. The Naked Spur (1953)
85. The Big Gundown (1966)
84. The Furies (1950)
83. The Ballad of Cable Hogue (1970)
82. ¡Three Amigos! (1986)
81. The Bravados (1958)
80. The Mercenary (1968)
79. My Name is Nobody (1973)
78. The Gold Rush (1925)
77. Day of the Outlaw (1959)
76. The Life & Times of Judge Roy Bean (1972)
75. Pale Rider (1985)
74. Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia (1974)
73. Pursued (1947)
72. Maverick (1994)
71. The Shooting (1966)
70. The Frisco Kid (1979)
69. Westworld (1973)
68. Bad Day at Black Rock (1955)
67. Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid (1973)
66. The Grey Fox (1982)
65. El Topo (1970)
64. Django (1966)
63. Ride the High Country (1962)
62. City Slickers (1991)
61. Young Guns (1988)
60. The Great Train Robbery (1903)
59. She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (1949)
58. Meek's Cutoff (2010)
57. The Shootist (1976)
56. Red River (1948)
55. Back to the Future Part III (1990)
54. Bone Tomahawk (2015)
53. Winchester '73 (1950)
52. The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada (2005)
51. Giant (1956)

[John W Constantine]

Don't Be A Menace to South Central while Drinking your juice in the hood is one vote I didn't cast and wish I could have back.

[ynwtf]

75. Pale Rider (1985)



Pale Rider is, without a doubt, the most unfunniest comedy. Ever.

[John-Connor]

https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2017-11/1/12/asset/buzzfeed-prod-fastlane-03/anigif_sub-buzz-22263-1509554697-3.gif


https://i.makeagif.com/media/8-15-2017/sZEjaJ.gif

[John-Connor]

Also highly recommended;

The Wrong Trousers 1993
86737

[MovieFan1988]

This is very difficult. Some films I've laughed hard at, are films that I probably shouldn't be laughing at.

Wait until we get this list started, we'll get movies that we thought were funny and the ones that weren't some will crucify the movie because it's not a comedy movie lol

[Citizen Rules]

Wait until we get this list started, we'll get movies that we thought were funny and the ones that weren't some will crucify the movie because it's not a comedy movie lol

86829

[Thursday Next]

I'm finding it hard to compile a list for this one. It's not just deciding how good a film is, it's also deciding how much it is a comedy.

My preliminary list is sadly lacking in foreign comedies so recommendations welcome.

[John Dumbear]

Done procrastinating....Ballot sent.

[Allaby]

Submitted my ballot. I'm surprised at how many dirty movies made my list. ;)

[gbgoodies]

I'm finding it hard to compile a list for this one. It's not just deciding how good a film is, it's also deciding how much it is a comedy.

I'm having the same problem, so as I watch movies, I've been keeping two separate lists. One list is movies that are listed as comedies and that I liked enough that they could make my list of favorite movies, and the other is movies that are the funniest that I've watched.

I'm hoping to somehow merge these two lists when I narrow it down to my top 25.

[ynwtf]

Oh wow. I finally get to watch my copy of Howard the Duck i completely forgot i had!! Jeffrey Jones in Transylvania 6-5000 reminded me.

OMG, Kramer lol.
o. O

https://youtu.be/oZ2DIILfDPY

[ScarletLion]

Wait until we get this list started, we'll get movies that we thought were funny and the ones that weren't some will crucify the movie because it's not a comedy movie lol

'Come and See' (1985) is a comedy right?

[ueno_station54]

having a lot of trouble with this. movies aren't really funny so its hard to determine what a comedy is.

[Citizen Rules]

It's hard for me to find movies that actually make me laugh out loud, maybe a chuckle here and there. So I think, I'll go with movies that seemed mentally funny aka witty or irrelevant...stuff like that.

[John W Constantine]

'Come and See' (1985) is a comedy right?

On a technical level, yes.

[John Dumbear]

'Come and See' (1985) is a comedy right?

Close, but not as funny as “Pan’s Labyrinth”.

[John W Constantine]

Let's be honest, comedies just aren't that funny.

[John-Connor]

https://thumbs.gfycat.com/SociableLawfulHawaiianmonkseal-size_restricted.gif


https://i.giphy.com/media/l2YSDYQbXeo9M3Ize/giphy.webp


https://64.media.tumblr.com/1f7606b233934e61a8051f2030cca614/tumblr_oikr6esULG1s9a9yjo1_500.gifv

https://media2.giphy.com/media/8imCN8hrKrQ9q/200.gif

http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/60272/sexual_chocolate.gif

[kgaard]

Wait until we get this list started, we'll get movies that we thought were funny and the ones that weren't some will crucify the movie because it's not a comedy movie lol


86872

[TheUsualSuspect]

Hoping to see some horror comedies makes the list:

https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/8shwLEDzajJGSfLgbpac8x8xn1U.jpghttps://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/lN3HYEnnKgHyun8ldUizTtPIjuB.jpghttps://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/pDKJFVofjfQj0cUa7z4NAXZavW.jpghttps://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/mOsWtjRGABrPrqqtm0U6WQp4GVw.jpg

I'd throw up one more, but I'm probably making it my 1-pointer.

[John Dumbear]

Hoping to see some horror comedies makes the list:

https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/8shwLEDzajJGSfLgbpac8x8xn1U.jpghttps://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/lN3HYEnnKgHyun8ldUizTtPIjuB.jpghttps://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/pDKJFVofjfQj0cUa7z4NAXZavW.jpghttps://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/mOsWtjRGABrPrqqtm0U6WQp4GVw.jpg

I'd throw up one more, but I'm probably making it my 1-pointer.

...or "Tremors", "Lake Placid", "Slither" or "Eight Legged Freaks".

[TheUsualSuspect]

...or "Tremors", "Lake Placid", "Slither" or "Eight Legged Freaks".

Tremors for sure.

[MovieFan1988]

'Come and See' (1985) is a comedy right?

idk I have never seen that movie before

[Yoda]

Little over a month left! We've got a baker's dozen ballots in and so far the results are pretty interesting and, without giving too much away, especially this early, probably not as insane as a lot of people feared. Plenty of time for that, though. ;)

[Citizen Rules]

It's probably a good time for PM reminders to be sent out to all the MoFos and let them know that we need their ballots!

[John Dumbear]

After participated in three of these events, shocked at the small number of ballots submitted so far. The last one had over eighty if I recall correctly.

I mean, who doesn't love comedy?

[Diehl40]

Steve Martin....thanks for reminding me of The Jerk and The Man With Two Brains. He was in a bunch of other funny comedies too like Plains, Tanks and Gyromobiles:D


Leap of Faith

[ynwtf]

No pm for me, plz. Still watching movies to cull the list. I mean, worry if we're down to the last hour or so but even that is par for my normal procrastinating self.

[ynwtf]

...or "Tremors", "Lake Placid", "Slither" or "Eight Legged Freaks".


I forgot about Slither!!!!!

I did rule out Bubble Boy last night. While it may be Jake Jiggywiddit's best performance to date, the humor was a bit dated overall. I think I'd rather give a nod to something like Joe Dirt or Saving Silverman for this type of goof movie.

Re: Steve Martin, I need to rewatch Parenthood still.

[Diehl40]

Anybody want to take a shot at a movie that will make it to the top 3

[Allaby]

Anybody want to take a shot at a movie that will make it to the top 3

Airplane maybe? Blazing Saddles? The Hangover?

[rauldc14]

Anybody want to take a shot at a movie that will make it to the top 3

2 movies that I won't see as funny at all and one that I have never seen and will still bash anyways.

[rauldc14]

It's probably a good time for PM reminders to be sent out to all the MoFos and let them know that we need their ballots!

Too early for hassling.

[John W Constantine]

Waynes World
Waynes World 2
Some Fred Astaire movie from the 1930's

[John Dumbear]

Anybody want to take a shot at a movie that will make it to the top 3

It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
Young Frankenstein
Monty Python & the Holy Grail

[Iroquois]

idk I have never seen that movie before

Definitely check it out. It's a real barn-burner.

[PHOENIX74]

There should be more than one entry in the countdown for Mel Brooks, Monty Python, the Zuckers and Jim Abrahams, Edgar Wright, Taika Waititi, the Coen bros, Robert Zemeckis, Harold Ramis, Charles Chaplin, Buster Keaton, Carl Reiner and Robert Altman. I'd say Bobcat Goldthwait too, but that might be hoping for too much.

There should be at least one entry for Ivan Reitman, Rob Reiner, Arthur Hiller, Frank Oz and Larry Charles.

My safe "sure thing" predictions.

[Iroquois]

Should there?

[ScarletLion]

There should be more than one entry in the countdown for Mel Brooks, Monty Python, the Zuckers and Jim Abrahams, Edgar Wright, Taika Waititi, the Coen bros, Robert Zemeckis, Harold Ramis, Charles Chaplin, Buster Keaton, Carl Reiner and Robert Altman. I'd say Bobcat Goldthwait too, but that might be hoping for too much.

There should be at least one entry for Ivan Reitman, Rob Reiner, Arthur Hiller, Frank Oz and Larry Charles.



Why? I don't think I could name a film by Bobcat Goldthwait. I'm constantly bemused at the high praise Taika Waititi gets. Some solid amusing films in his portfolio especially 'Boy' and 'Eagle v Shark' but really? Lumping him in with the likes of Buster Keaton? I don't see it.

Also Larry Charles? The guy who produces the Sasha Baron Cohen films? Wow. I guess its all just like, opinions, man.

[Chypmunk]

Diehl40 - will partial ballots be being accepted?
Really haven't been in the humour for watching comedies so I'm gonna be working primarily from memory and I doubt I'll be able to dredge up 25 that I don't mind giving a vote to, especially as I don't tend to include shorts on my ballots.

[Iroquois]

Why? I don't think I could name a film by Bobcat Goldthwait. I'm constantly bemused at the high praise Taika Waititi gets. Some solid amusing films in his portfolio especially 'Boy' and 'Eagle v Shark' but really? Lumping him in with the likes of Buster Keaton? I don't see it.

Also Larry Charles? The guy who produces the Sasha Baron Cohen films? Wow. I guess its all just like, opinions, man.

Eh, I wouldn't be too surprised. With the horror countdown, I broke it down by number of films per decade:

Broken down by decade...

2010s - 18
2000s - 16
1990s - 10
1980s - 20
1970s - 16
1960s - 11
1950s - 2
1940s - 1
1930s - 5
1920s - 2

I daresay that a certain degree of recency bias is going to set in on any list that isn't limited to a specific period of time - we'll definitely get the obligatory nods to Chaplin or Keaton or the Marx Brothers but the odds are good that the list will invoke a wide range of comparatively newer films. Part of me thinks Waititi might not make the list because I'm not entirely sure he has an out-and-out representative "masterpiece" and any votes for him might be split between a good handful of his movies, but I think Borat still has enough staying power that I wouldn't rule it out completely when it comes to this list.

[Diehl40]

@Diehl40 (http://www.movieforums.com/community/member.php?u=88140) - will partial ballots be being accepted?
Really haven't been in the humour for watching comedies so I'm gonna be working primarily from memory and I doubt I'll be able to dredge up 25 that I don't mind giving a vote to, especially as I don't tend to include shorts on my ballots.


Let me get back to you on that

[Chypmunk]

Let me get back to you on that
Thanks for the response, if I can somehow drag my list to a full ballot I will but failing that I'll remit a partial one.

[John W Constantine]

Should there?

Speak it into existence

[Diehl40]

This is how partial ballots will be handled:
From Yoda

Yes, we decided a minimum of 10, but the "penalty" for it is that your top choice doesn't get the full 25 points, your points are prorated based on ballot size.

IE: however many films you have on your list between 10 and 25, that's where the points start. 1st gets 10th, 2nd gets 9. If you submit 20, 1st gets 20, 2nd gets 19, etc.

[Yoda]

The above is what we did for the last countdown as well, just in case anyone was wondering. Nice compromise, I think.

[PHOENIX74]

Why? I don't think I could name a film by Bobcat Goldthwait. I'm constantly bemused at the high praise Taika Waititi gets. Some solid amusing films in his portfolio especially 'Boy' and 'Eagle v Shark' but really? Lumping him in with the likes of Buster Keaton? I don't see it.

Also Larry Charles? The guy who produces the Sasha Baron Cohen films? Wow. I guess its all just like, opinions, man.

I was just basing that on certain films I was pretty sure were going to make the 100. I differ with your thoughts on Taika Waititi, and think he certainly belongs in a category which includes past masters with respect to comedy, rising above the two films you even mentioned, but agree with Bobcat Goldthwait - that was purely personal affection, and I very much doubt any of his films will make it (World's Greatest Dad an outside chance.) As I thought Borat would probably make the 100, Larry Charles gets into the list - it's not a comment on Charles and his ability as a filmmaker - simply an acknowledgment that he'll have a film in the 100, pure and simple.