A barrel of laughs
-
lolarites — 15 years ago(October 28, 2010 01:35 PM)
Your post was a barrel of laughs to many on this forum I'm sure. It saddens me to know such ignorance is so bold. You are obviously not educated nor traveled and maybe ignorance is bliss, but to those of us who know the history and culture of this country and unashamedly admit to being Anglophiles, your braying brings only pity from me. The dance the English played with the Nazi's pre WWII almost came to pass if it has not been for the abdication of HRH Prince of Wales on 12/11/36. He was a Nazi sympathizer and was his future wife and had he not stepped aside, England would be Germany today. This film to me is first and foremost about unrequited love. I still can't understand why Mr. Stevens didn't drive Ms. Kenton back home instead of letting her stand in the rain. Also, her striking out at him for not asking her to marry her was so painful to me. It was so cruel to tell him she and her boyfriend make fun of him. I am sorry you aren't evolved enough to enjoy this love story because set against the backdrop of the world's ever escalating crisis, was so beautifully told. What you don't know or maybe incapable of understanding that these people who are "in service" were very proud of their positions because it was a well respected profession at the time. The most important your employer was, the more important you were. It gave one a sense of great satisfaction that in some small way, they helped their employer with his position in worldly affairs. I should stop here, because I know it will all be lost on the flat wasteland of your ever shrinking base of knowledge.
-
megacalamares — 14 years ago(November 24, 2011 12:19 PM)
well I completely agree, I think Ivory Merchant production are pompous , they just take themselves seriously but are not as deep as they think they are. Hence they are often involuntarily hilarious, as pompous people often are! Also I was shocked to realize that James Ivory is not british at all but desperately tries to be. Guess it is pretty easy to make fun of him too, he probably wouldn't notice!
-
agnieszka01 — 14 years ago(December 22, 2011 08:04 PM)
OP, the whole thing really seemed a commentary on the whole "I was only following orders" mentality. While Stevens seemed good-natured, he had an ignorance about him that we now know can be a very dangerous and insidious thing. The character devoted his life to being a sycophant; what a way to live. So, it is not exactly meant to be a joke. And of course you are supposed to disapprove of Lord Darlington, and Stevens' blind devotion to him. Some of the other moments you point to are obviously intended as levity. Also, I don't think Stevens Sr. was "practicing his tray service delivery." He was trying to prove to himself that his fall was caused by a paving stone that was sticking out; rather than any nervous problems he may have had. You could see how he was kicking at the stones, trying to find a loose one that may have caused the fall. You seem to have a bit of a dull, black-and-white way of looking at things. Not all movies feature characters that are clear heroes or villains; I thought those in this one showed complexity and, at times, sympathetic qualities.
Showtime, Synergy! -
chilone — 11 years ago(November 19, 2014 03:03 PM)
Either a) You're a jealous, third world living, hovel dwelling
idiot
Or b) You're an illiterate, jealous, third world living, hovel dwelling
idiot
= You are irrelevant either way.
I don't love her.. She kicked me in the face!! -
cyninbend-149-610489 — 10 years ago(January 23, 2016 04:11 AM)
There are plenty of very intelligent Americans. And lots of idiots around the world. Try watching Big Brother on British TVan English girl a couple of seasons back did not know who Hitler was or who the Nazis were. And another kid did not know where countries were to the point of placing Canada in China, the U.S. in Canada, and Africa over in Mongolia or Siberia. Neither American nor British kids knew what the Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea were, where they were located, or what the difference between a sea and an ocean is.
Stupidity and ignorance are not geographical, they are educational. Kids who don't pay attention in school, don't aspire to go to college or become a professional person, so they never study anything. They can look up anything and everything online, so they never bother to internalize any knowledgebecoming the most vapid creatures seen for hundreds of years. They have never read a non-fiction book, don't ask questions, and announce they "hate" just about every subject that used to be what people discussed with each other sociallypolitics, religion, weather, literaturenow it's all too controversial, so they stick to reciting lines from movies. But they all do it. And they watch other vapid idiots on reality TV shows like the Kardasshians. Geordie Shore. There are as many in Britain as America, and we have 318 million people and a dedicated group of billionaires and Creationist home schoolers trying to destroy the public education system here.
What's your excuse? -
Pgeen — 11 years ago(April 17, 2014 10:24 AM)
There's no accounting for taste, and your inability to grasp the somewhat simple concepts of this movie is disheartening.
You and your sister should probably stick to reality TV. Perhaps you will have a better comprehension of the situation. -
Gwasgray — 9 years ago(May 29, 2016 04:01 PM)
OP is a clown but I have to admit one bit I almost found funny was where Emma Thompson is crying and Stevens ends up prattling on about some task that needs doing because it reminded me of that bit in Peep Show where Mark Corrigan is leaving a message on Sophie's answering machine.
Uh, I just called up to say hi and then [sings awkwardly] Then I go and spoil it all by saying something stupid like I like you. [pause] I mean, not that. But anyway, I noticed that the paper in the photocopier is running a bit low so, I know it's not really your job but, you know, so see you tomorrow. [puts the phone down] F%@k, f@%k, f@%k, f@%k!