Year: 2018

10 Quirky Comedies: ‘Kitchen Stories’

Jeff Mitchell

“Kitchen Stories” (2003) – Director Bent Hamer’s oddball, playful import is as fresh as a breath of crisp Scandinavian air.  Just after WWII, Sweden’s Home Research Institute – a technological leader in improving home efficiencies – wishes to understand the kitchen habits of single Norwegian men. Who knows how they tick, right? This pits an elderly hermit named Isak (Joachim Calmeyer) against Folke (Tomas Norstrom), who has been assigned as his observer during a frigid winter in an isolated, snowy village.  The weather plays the role of a third character…

10 Quirky Comedies: ‘Quick Change’

Jeff Mitchell

“Quick Change” (1990) – Before lawmakers cleaned up New York City, crime ran high, some areas resembled third world countries and seedy peep shows in Times Square were commonplace.  Grimm (Bill Murray) works as a frustrated city planner, doesn’t like what he sees and longs to live somewhere else. “God, I hate this town,” he says…repeatedly. So why not rob a bank for $1,000,000 and leave the city for good? Due to the U.S. Federal Government properly insuring bank customers’ deposits up to a certain limit, no one “really” gets hurt…

10 Quirky Comedies: ‘The Great Buck Howard’

Jeff Mitchell

Halloween is in our rear-view mirror, and November is here!  That means the holidays are almost upon us, and while we are busy with year-end work schedules, planning Thanksgiving dinner with all the fixins and buying presents for December festivities, we could also use a good laugh! Art House Film Wire has you covered.  Over the next 10 workdays, we’ll feature 10 quirky comedies and each one is just about guaranteed to bring you a smile during a most stressful month.   Ready, set…let’s get started! “The Great Buck Howard” (2008)…