In this weeks episode: Patrick takes on two films by silent film auteur Buster Keaton.
Summer means I have more time to watch stuff, but I also don't want to neglect my writing. To compromise I'm trying out this shortened format so that I can get in a lot of content but still get in some thoughts here about what I've watched.
Steamboat Bill Jr.
-Keaton has a wonderful ability to articulate everything he wants to say. Sure, a lot of this is sight gags, but its sight gags with underlying meaning. There's never a moment without a point to it and there's never a moment where it's unclear as to what or why is happening.
-At its heart, it's really a very sweet and funny story about starcrossed lovers as well as a father-son relationship.
-That final sequence with the storm is incredibly exciting. All the visuals of this are wonderful, especially the now infamous gag of the house falling on top of Keaton.
-There's some pretty questionable elements about masculinity, but it's more of a sign of the times then an outright offensive suggestion.
Sherlock Jr.
-Buster Keaton sure is an amazing physical comedian. The amount of near death experiences Keaton has due to collisions with cars and trains in this film is kind of astounding. Keaton put himself out there and his commitment to the performance and the gags sells them.
-The extended fantasy sequence that takes up most of the film is absolutely delightful. From the astral projection, to the constantly changing film stock that throws Keaton for a loop, and all the wry self-aware meta humor about the scenarios Keaton's character is thrown into. Just a fantastic film sequence that demonstrates the capabilities and magic of cinema.
-Keaton apparently has a weird obsession with trains and boats as clearly suggested by these two films. This one has nothing to do with trains and yet it features trains multiple times. On at least two occasions for physical, near-death experiences for comedic effect.
Consensus: Buster Keaton's films are very funny comedies from the silent film era. They're tinged with a great sincerity and earnestness to them. Keaton finds wonderful ways to get tremendous amounts of humor and pathos out of very little.
Grade:
Steam Boat Bill Jr.: A
Sherlock Jr.: A
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