Comments on: Emphasizing the Slap in Slapstick http://blog.spout.com/2008/03/21/emphasizing-the-slap-in-slapstick/ Daily coverage of what is truly interesting in the film world Fri, 05 Sep 2008 12:21:33 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Craig Kennedy http://blog.spout.com/2008/03/21/emphasizing-the-slap-in-slapstick/#comment-84558 Craig Kennedy Fri, 21 Mar 2008 22:31:34 +0000 http://blog.spout.com/2008/03/21/emphasizing-the-slap-in-slapstick/#comment-84558 That's exactly the reason I went to see it myself after watching the original on DVD the night before. Interestingly I don't think it was the reaction Haneke was expecting or hoping for. He seems to expect people will either be repulsed or outraged. Based on the tiny San Fernando Valley audience I saw it with, he missed the mark. That’s exactly the reason I went to see it myself after watching the original on DVD the night before. Interestingly I don’t think it was the reaction Haneke was expecting or hoping for.

He seems to expect people will either be repulsed or outraged. Based on the tiny San Fernando Valley audience I saw it with, he missed the mark.

]]> By: Christopher http://blog.spout.com/2008/03/21/emphasizing-the-slap-in-slapstick/#comment-84553 Christopher Fri, 21 Mar 2008 22:13:13 +0000 http://blog.spout.com/2008/03/21/emphasizing-the-slap-in-slapstick/#comment-84553 I came close to going to see Funny Games just to see how audiences would react. But then I got frightened of what I presumed I'd discover. From what you say, I presumed correctly. I came close to going to see Funny Games just to see how audiences would react. But then I got frightened of what I presumed I’d discover. From what you say, I presumed correctly.

]]> By: Craig Kennedy http://blog.spout.com/2008/03/21/emphasizing-the-slap-in-slapstick/#comment-84551 Craig Kennedy Fri, 21 Mar 2008 22:03:41 +0000 http://blog.spout.com/2008/03/21/emphasizing-the-slap-in-slapstick/#comment-84551 Something similar happened at a recent showing of Funny Games...not with slaps, but with violence in general. The audience seemed to have a real problem with shifting tones. The slaps in There Will Be Blood I'd argue are funny as more than just a tension release. They're a combination of payback for the slapping Plainview had earlier administered to Eli, but there's also the look on Plainview's face when it happens. It's shock, mixed with a slowly dawning sense of "you're going to pay for this, Eli" mixed further with a tinge of admiration that the little bastard actually had the nerve. So why is that funny? I don't know, I found myself laughing quietly at much of Plainview's behavior. Maybe it's the tension release you mention after all. Something similar happened at a recent showing of Funny Games…not with slaps, but with violence in general. The audience seemed to have a real problem with shifting tones.

The slaps in There Will Be Blood I’d argue are funny as more than just a tension release. They’re a combination of payback for the slapping Plainview had earlier administered to Eli, but there’s also the look on Plainview’s face when it happens. It’s shock, mixed with a slowly dawning sense of “you’re going to pay for this, Eli” mixed further with a tinge of admiration that the little bastard actually had the nerve.

So why is that funny? I don’t know, I found myself laughing quietly at much of Plainview’s behavior. Maybe it’s the tension release you mention after all.

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