The Culture Club (Film: Funny People) April 10, 2011

This is the next study session in a series of culture studies where something from the media (e.g. a book, a film, a music album) is discussed from a Christian perspective but the session is for people of all faiths and people of no faith at all who want to explore the message behind the media.

The session will start at 5:30pm when we will watch the film on the big screen in Madisons Cafe and then discuss the film from 8pm.

There is no charge for this event and is open to those 15 years old or older.

FILM INFO
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Trailer:



The following summary is taken from the Damaris study guide @ http://www.damaris.org/content/culturewatcharticles/content.php?type=1&id=462

Funny People tells the story of two stand-up comics: seasoned success George Simmons (Adam Sandler) and aspiring newbie Ira Wright (Seth Rogen). The film opens with real footage of Sandler and Judd Apatow making a prank phone call. The second scene shifts tone, as George is diagnosed with a rare form of leukaemia. This collision of laughter and sadness comes up again and again as the film progresses.

We glimpse George’s career as he nostalgically looks back at home-movies and film posters. He deals with his frustration and sadness by returning to the stages of his old stand-up haunts. Meanwhile, Ira’s life and career are still ahead of him. When, at his local comedy club, he is forced to follow George’s set, he ends up making jokes at the senior comedian’s expense. Much to Ira’s amazement, George hires him to write material for his upcoming sets.

George has isolated himself from his family and friends. He ends up confiding in Ira, who looks after him as he undergoes an experimental treatment. Ira genuinely cares about his employer and he tries to help him come to terms with his prognosis and share it with other people. George accepts Ira’s friendship and values his company, but he repeatedly reminds him that he is being paid for jokes, not advice.

Sadly, Ira’s friendships with housemates Mark Taylor Jackson (Jason Schwartzman) and Leo Koenig (Jonah Hill) aren’t so strong. Mark continually boasts about his role in television series Yo Teach!, Leo believes he’s more talented than Ira, and Ira cheats Leo out of a chance to write jokes for George.

The imminence of George’s death causes both him and Ira to re-examine their lives. When George’s ex-girlfriend Laura (Leslie Mann) appears – now with a family of her own – he realises how empty his life has become. As soon as Ira finds himself in a difficult position, he discovers the shallowness of his friendships. They must learn to change if they are ever to salvage their relationships, but will George have enough time?

Previous Sessions
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Previous evenings have looked at "Bride and Prejudice" (film), "The Hurt Locker" (film), "The Road" (film), "Last Chance Harvey" (film), "Sherrybaby" (film), "The Visitor" (film), "One Day" (book), "LIe To Me" (TV), "Crash" (film), "Helvetica" (film), Athlete's "Black Swan" (music album), Man Dancin' (film), "Looking For Eric" (film), "Rachel Getting Married" (film), "Vantage Point" (film), "Slam" (book), "Black Gold" (fim), "Heima" (Sigur Rós) (film/music), "The Squid and the Whale" (film), "The Bourne Supremacy" (film), "Culture Making: Recovering Our Creative Calling" (book), "Into The Wild" (film), "Atonement" (film), "Iron Man" (film), "The Lives of Others" (film), "Pan's Labyrinth" (film), "Utopian Dreams" (book), "Breaking and Entering" (film), "Little Miss Sunshine" (film), "Evan Almighty" (film), "Babel" (film), "The Zahir" (book), "Paradise Now" (film), "Life on Mars" (TV series), "Collateral" (film), "Arthur and George" (book), "Moulin Rouge" (film), the Robbie Williams album "Intensive Care", "Lost in Translation" (film), "Whale Rider" (film), "The Incredibles" (film), "The Da Vinci Code" (book), the U2 album "How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb" and "Chocolat" (film).