Today we lost an important comedic icon who has held their place in making people laugh at the movies the last 40 years. Harold Ramis passed away at age 69 in Chicago today, which shocked just about everyone who didn't know about his life-threatening condition. What's more sad is that most people know him just as 'that guy from Ghostbusters'. Well, he was more than that...as he co-wrote several films such as Caddyshack, Groundhog Day and the one I'm about to review.
I am from the St. Louis area, and it is very cool to share the same city as some famous people who have resided here at some point. Mr. Ramis attended Washington University outside St. Louis. While he was there, he was in a fraternity. Today I drove on Forsyth Blvd in Clayton (a St. L suburb), and according to legend, Ramis was inspired to write Animal House after being part of a fraternity house located on that road. While he made Chicago mostly his home, Ramis was recognized for his short efforts in St. Louis and was awarded a star on the St. Louis Walk of Fame (located on Delmar Blvd, also known as the Delmar Loop).
Alright....on with the review! Most of you know this has become an American classic. Set in the innocent-era 60s, this movie made college fraternities more popular than ever. Plus, it made stars of Stephen Furst, Kevin Bacon, and perhaps the most important, John Belushi. And of course, let's not forget Ramis. The whole movie is revolved around the Faber College's most hated, underachieving Greek group, Delta Tau Chi. We do see typical pranks among the other fraternities, but it turns into a brutal war becoming Delta vs. Faber. And of course, we see the girls! Basically, its what every college kid that goes away from home, a life that he dreams of.
Some of my favorite moments in the film: John Belushi ('Bluto') singing 'Louie, Louie'; the horse and the gunshot; the food fight along with 'I'm a zit!', and the 'speech' Bluto gives to his hopeless frat brothers before the parade.
My most favorite types of movies are 'coming-of-age' films, and this definitely belongs in that category. I always find the movie fun and worth watching over and over. However, I have never taken interest in joining a Greek fraternity, as I always had weird thoughts about those groups. This movie, without doubt, earned its share of criticism for being one of those college movies which showed the stereotypes among frat boys. I'd still watch it, no matter how old you are. Or at least until your senior year of high school.
R.I.P. Harold Ramis (1944-2014)
My rating: 8 out of 10
Showing posts with label harold ramis. Show all posts
Showing posts with label harold ramis. Show all posts
Monday, February 24, 2014
Sunday, February 2, 2014
02/02: Groundhog Day
Yes, it was intended to be that way. Groundhog Day is one of the worst times of the year for people who live in winter-suffered areas such as the Midwest (where I live). Most cases it is predictable if the groundhog has seen its shadow. This time around though, yeah I think we will be seeing 6 more weeks of winter weather. It's gonna be a long trip.....
Getting to the movie, this was brilliantly well acted by Bill Murray and well written by Harold Ramis. Where do I start? Bill Murray plays a TV weatherman Phil Connors who is arrogant, self-centered and grumpy (sometimes on-camera!) who seems to have the worst day of his life....on Groundhog Day! Him and his technical crew head to the weather capital of the world, Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania to cover the annual celebration of the groundhog. Just about everything that goes wrong that day does. Whether it be running into people he dislikes or arguing with his crew, the ultimate icing on the cake is being trapped in that town (which Phil despises) by a fast-moving blizzard. He goes to bed in anger.
The next day, he wakes up and it is February 2 again. He suddenly realizes he is re-living his day as the same events happen as they did previously. And the next day, and so on, he re-lives February 2. Phil doesn't have a clue why this is happening, but he does catch on that he has the opportunity to take advantage of the situation. Suicide attempts? Done. Overeating? Done. Stealing money? Done. But no matter what, he wakes up to Sonny and Cher every morning. But Phil eventually realizes this is probably happening for a reason. Wake-up call! Its his time to re-think his life situation.
This was named one of the Top 10 movies in the 'Fantasy' category by AFI, and for good reason. No matter what day it is, wouldn't you want to re-live it? You would at least know you'd be living forever if you did. Until its time for you to go to the next day, I guess. I have read some of the behind-the-scenes drama for this movie and apparently Ramis and Murray would never want to work again after this production. They never did.
I totally recommend this movie. As pointed out above, only Ramis would write such a great story like this and put together a movie so brilliantly.
My rating: 9 out of 10
Getting to the movie, this was brilliantly well acted by Bill Murray and well written by Harold Ramis. Where do I start? Bill Murray plays a TV weatherman Phil Connors who is arrogant, self-centered and grumpy (sometimes on-camera!) who seems to have the worst day of his life....on Groundhog Day! Him and his technical crew head to the weather capital of the world, Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania to cover the annual celebration of the groundhog. Just about everything that goes wrong that day does. Whether it be running into people he dislikes or arguing with his crew, the ultimate icing on the cake is being trapped in that town (which Phil despises) by a fast-moving blizzard. He goes to bed in anger.
The next day, he wakes up and it is February 2 again. He suddenly realizes he is re-living his day as the same events happen as they did previously. And the next day, and so on, he re-lives February 2. Phil doesn't have a clue why this is happening, but he does catch on that he has the opportunity to take advantage of the situation. Suicide attempts? Done. Overeating? Done. Stealing money? Done. But no matter what, he wakes up to Sonny and Cher every morning. But Phil eventually realizes this is probably happening for a reason. Wake-up call! Its his time to re-think his life situation.
This was named one of the Top 10 movies in the 'Fantasy' category by AFI, and for good reason. No matter what day it is, wouldn't you want to re-live it? You would at least know you'd be living forever if you did. Until its time for you to go to the next day, I guess. I have read some of the behind-the-scenes drama for this movie and apparently Ramis and Murray would never want to work again after this production. They never did.
I totally recommend this movie. As pointed out above, only Ramis would write such a great story like this and put together a movie so brilliantly.
My rating: 9 out of 10
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