57) The Hudsucker Proxy
Director: Joel Coen and Ethan Coen
Year: 1994
Plot Summary: When Waring Hudsucker, head of hugely successful Hudsucker Industries, commits suicide, his board of directors, led by Sidney Mussberger, comes up with a brilliant plan to make a lot of money: appoint a moron to run the company. When the stock falls low enough, Sidney and friends can buy it up for pennies on the dollar, take over the company, and restore its fortunes. They choose idealistic Norville Barnes, who just started in the mail room. Norville is wacky enough to drive any company to ruin, but soon, tough reporter Amy Archer smells a rat and begins an undercover investigation of Hudsucker Industries.
This is usually considered to be one of the weaker films from the Coen Brothers' catalogue of work, but I feel that it's, in fact, one of their most entertaining, most creative and most watchable productions to date. Moving at the speed of a bullet and boasting a comic, over-the-top, cartoony style, The Hudsucker Proxy is two hours of pure comedic joy that will leave you with a constant smile on your face.
Their unique sense of humour is at their most brilliant in this satire of Wall Street during the 1950s. The sharp, intelligent script perfectly combines both black comedy and irony with the kind of slapstick situations you'd find in a 1930s silent film. The mail room parody of Cool Hand Luke and Amy Archer's statement of "You said it'd unite people!... Even if it kept them apart spatially" are some of the funniest moments in the film.
However, it's not just the scriptwriting that makes The Hudsucker Proxy such an amusing piece of work. The entire cast also has a huge role in this too. Every single person who appears on screen, no matter how large or small their role is, plays their parts marvellously, from the frantic mail room employees to the furious stock holders. Especially good is Tim Robbins who gives the performance of his career as Norville Barnes. Yep, that's right, in my opinion it's even better than Andy Dufrane in The Shawshank Redemption. I can already see you getting your pitchforks ready.
But, as you would expect with these two incredibly talented brothers, there's far more to The Hudsucker Proxy than just an intelligent, witty script and some brilliant performances. I mean, let's face it, how many comedies have ever used such playful and imaginative symbolism and metaphor as they do here? And how many other comedies have you seen with such an observant eye for period detail and history? The answer is very few.
Moreover, although it's something I rarely notice, the art direction on The Hudsucker Proxy, frankly, is something to die for. The New York sets with their foggy, wintery tint are reminiscent of something right out of the golden era of cinema. And Roger Deakins, who is pretty much a God behind the lens, once again delivers another beautifully shot movie that perfectly complements the narrative, the tone and the directors' intentions. Even if it is on a far smaller scale than the likes of The Assassination Of Jesse James, The Shawshank Redemption and No Country For Old Men, every shot is perfectly composed and adds another layer to The Hudsucker Proxy.
Visually arresting, wildly funny and as creative as ever, this is Joel and Ethan Coen's most underrated film.
4/5
7 comments:
Bah. Didn't really like this film. At least its so forgettable I forgive them. Their most underrated is The Ladykillers which I actually enjoyed, but still hesitate in calling good.
Haven't quite brought myself to seeing The Ladykillers based on the terrible things I've heard.
Yeah, I don't know ANYONE who likes this film, but I can't see how people dislike it! Haha. I guess everyone has something like that though. :)
Any movies that you love which no-one else likes? :P
Haha, I don't really think so. I looked through my top 100 and could always think of another fan. I updated it last night, including Heat and Waterfront bumps: http://www.imdb.com/user/ur11148131/boards/profile/
Just looked through your Top 100. Still a great read as always. :) Heat is one of those guilty pleasures I have. It's not exactly a work of art and there's nothing strikingly original about it, but technically and it terms of storytelling, it's almost faultless. :)
*in terms
Really? I think it's the absolute epitome of the existential crime drama with some gorgeous imagery and profound symbolism.
Well. Besides Se7en of course.
I guess another watch is on the cards! :)
Some of the shots of LA in that film are absolutely beautiful. There's one, especially, of Robert De Niro stood on the balcony of his home in the hills that knocks the breathe from my lungs every time. But I've never noticed to symbolism or existentialism. Could you give me a few examples while it's fresh in your mind?
It's very likely that I get so involved in the editing, direction and cinematography in the film that I totally miss the symbolism. I actually wrote an essay on the technical features in opening heist scene for Film Studies in college and it made me realise just how perfectly crafted that entire film is. Never has an essay gone so far over the word count! And it was only about a 5 minute sequence!
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