The science of mind-reading; the brilliance of ELO; And the 10 funniest movies of all time
A few non-related topics for your reading and viewing pleasure
Hello. This is my latest Substack post. I hope you enjoy these regular files – the links, the comedians, the hockey, and so on and so forth. This is a carefully curated collection, so let’s be done with the small talk, and get to this latest file.
– This New Yorker column on the science of mind-reading is outstanding. It’s a very deep dive – more than 5,300-words long – into the world of neuroscience and thought-decoding. You will be smarter for having read it, but it’ll take you a good while to get through it.
– Song of the Day: ELO, “Telephone Line”. It seems everyone is (rightly) obsessed with the new Beatles footage, but sometimes I think people forget how equally brilliant ELO genius Jeff Lynne is.
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Some people think of Lynne as one of the Travelling Wilburys, and while he certainly is one, there’s so much more to his catalogue that showcases his superb melodic skills. Lynne is now 73 years old, but he has continued to produce new music – his latest record came in 2019 – and tour around the world. And speaking of The Beatles, we shouldn’t forget it was Lynne the surviving Beatles turned to when they released two “new” songs in 1995 and 1996. Lynne produced both songs, and you can tell it was him behind editing room glass, working with the material he had, to honor the greatest band ever. If you’re a young person who’s never gone down the ELO rabbit hole, you’re in for a real delight.
– I stumbled across the halfway point of “What About Bob?” the other day, and it delighted me as much now as it did when it was first released three decades ago. And now, the five (make it 10) funniest movies ever made:
In reverse order:
10. Kingpin. Not every comedy movie the Farrelly Brothers made has held up well over time. But this film, starring Bill Murray, Woody Harrelson and Randy Quaid, still makes me laugh 25 years after it was released. Murray in particular puts in an all-time tremendous performance:
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The famous reviewers Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert both enjoyed “Kingpin”, and so did audiences. There’s some crudeness to it, but that’s the mark of the Farrellys. There’s enough good stuff here to make you forget the grossness.
9. Slap Shot. It might be because of my line of work, but there’s something that’s still hilarious about “Slap Shot”, even after I’ve watched it approximately many thousands of times. Director George Roy Hill made bigger movies than this one – including “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid”, but I’d argue “Slap Shot” has a more passionate fan base than any film he put together. There are so many little things that make this film great. Here’s just one example.
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You needn’t be a hardcore hockey fan to appreciate “Slap Shot”. Hill has created characters that exist away from the ice, and that’s part of the joy. The other big part is Paul Newman being Paul Newman. One of the finest actors of modern times chose to participate in this movie, and he hit his role out of the park. My favorite role of Newman’s is the lead in “Nobody’s Fool”, a 1994 drama that let him shine in one of his later films. But his performance in “Slap Shot” was so smart and hilarious. If you don’t have all the good parts of the movie memorized by now, you should see it again.
8. “The Naked Gun: From the files of Police Squad!”. Leslie Nielsen was a known comedic quantity in Hollywood before he starred in 1988’s “Naked Gun”. However, his deadpan deliveries in this movie kept audiences in stitches. You can watch it again and know what’s coming, but Nielsen’s performance makes it worth giving it another look:
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Nielsen’s sense of comedic timing is perfect. We had him for 84 years, and he made many lastingly-good movies. This one is right up there with the very best work of his career. Speaking of Nielsen…
7. “Airplane”. Nielsen starred in this 1980 classic comedy, alongside Robert Stack, Robert Hayes, Julie Hagerty (who’ll pop up later in this list), Lloyd Bridges, Peter Graves, and NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabar. The comedic jabs are relentless, and the fact nearly everyone in the movie takes its plot seriously is what has made it last so long on lists like this one.
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Again, there are some scenes that are a little bit dated, but that’s probably to be expected of a 41-year-old picture. The best parts are some all-time incredible funny moments on film. “Have you ever been to a Turkish Prison?” is guaranteed to make me laugh at any point of any day. That’s just the beginning of amazing lines and performances here.
6. “A Fish Called Wanda”. Another movie that has a few scenes that don’t play as well today, “A Fish Called Wanda” is nevertheless an extremely funny film. Kevin Kline has never been better as a maniac degenerate. Monty Python star John Cleese is perfect in the lead role. Jamie Lee Curtis sparkles as a co-conspirator of a grand jewel heist. And Python co-star Michael Palin almost steals the whole show as a stuttering right-hand man to Kline. There’s fantastically funny psychological humor, but there’s also physical humor:
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This 1988 film is more or less a perfect ensemble piece. It has a Python feel to it, but it’s also a rocket strapped to the back of Kline, who gained even more respect in the acting world by showing he could dive deep into the comedic realm and come away with an unforgettable character like Otto West. You can put it on at any time, and I’ll stop what I’m doing to see this again. You never come away disappointed with it.
5. “Monty Python’s Life Of Brian”. A full-on Python production in 1979, “The Life Of Brian” is arguably the best religious satire ever made. With the late Graham Chapman in the title role, it joyously lampoons zealotry and dogma:
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As you’ll see below, this isn’t the final mention of a Python-related iconic film. But watching Chapman get knocked around by life proves to be terrifically funny. Python obsessives adore it, and they’re not the only ones.
4. “The Big Lebowski”. Made by brothers Joel and Ethan Coen in 1998, this psychedelic romp through a crime story of sorts picks you up in the opening scenes and makes you a witness to true genius. The Coens have made a slew of first-rate movies, but their funniest one isn’t really up for debate:
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Lebowski star Jeff Bridges couldn’t be more engaging in this, and he has a superb supporting cast that includes Steve Buscemi, Julianne Moore, John Goodman, John Turturro, the late Philip Seymour Hoffman and…Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea? That’s right, and that tells you how the Coens’ work can assimilate a new performer and make them work out just right. This is another film that has virtually zero flaws in it.
3. “What About Bob?”. Murray’s frantic antics in “What About Bob?” are letter-perfect in this 1991 slow-burn comedy, and perhaps the best use of Murray’s energy in any of Murray’s previous or subsequent films. Hagerty also stands out as a kind-but-clueless spouse. That said, it’s Richard Dreyfuss who really is the center of the plot, and Dreyfuss is marvellous as Bob.
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Dreyfuss and Murray did not get along in the making of the movie, but that adds to both of their performances. Dreyfuss’ gradual descent into loathing his patient, Murray, brings me to laughing tears. No matter where you are, you’ll never regret taking this film out for a whirl.
2. “Where’s Poppa?”. Okay, this is where I veer off from most “all-time funniest movies” lists go. “Where’s Poppa?” Is a cult classic, and I come by my love of it honestly. I know not many of you have seen “Where’s Poppa?”, and I feel sorry for you if you haven’t. It’s the product of legendary funnyman Carl Reiner, and it stars the late George Segal and late Hollywood legend Ruth Gordon.
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A darkly hilarious picture that also is a masterpiece of the slow burn, “Where’s Poppa?” is a hidden gem that deserves a wider audience than it’s received. Hopefully, future generations will appreciate it as the awesome exercise in psychological fun and games that it is.
1. “Monty Python And The Holy Grail”. The Pythons were back at it in this 1975 film, which has been lauded worldwide as arguably the greatest comedy movie of all time. It’s incredibly clever, fearlessly silly and expertly directed by Python members Terry Jones and Terry Gilliam. But each of the Python members get their chance to contribute something great, and they all deliver.
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The Pythons’ razor-sharp wits carry the film to astonishing comedic heights. There are slapstick moments, awesome non sequiturs, and flat-out hair-brained craziness. There’s something for everyone, essentially. The film is closing in on being 50 years old, and the fact it still holds up is a credit to the comedy troupe. They were/are the most informed, bold, crafty group of talents that ever have carved out a prime place in the history of good humor.
– And that’s all there is for today! Talk to you this weekend. Stay safe and happy out there. And feel free to share and subscribe at the links below.