I'm not saying Nashville is a comedy by any means, but there are some particular moments that make me laugh so so hard. Lily Tomlin's dancing in the beginning, "Wanda Wanda," "My children are deaf," Opal's schoolbus monologue, "Cut your hair," the Tennessee twirlers, etc etc.
Anyone else agree? The first hour is pure genius in terms of comedy.
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I think Nashville is an ironic comedy. Very funny indeed. Especially some of the songs. Just love the sarcasm.
- This comment is most likely authentic and fairly close to what I intended to say -
I found the character of Haven Hamilton to be very funny.
Henry Gibson was perfect in this.
"He plays like a frog."
Human Beings...Wowshare
I also forgot, after Connie White sings two or three genuinely great songs, the next one starts with...
"You said you'd love me always [blah blah blah], but will you still love me, when the baby makes you get up one more time?"
I always bust out hard after that.
I liked Gibson as Haven Hamilton. Pompous, sanctimonious creep that Haven is, he is the first to rush to Barbara Jean, even after being wounded himself.
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Interesting that you find it funny when Wade finally tells Sueleen that she can't sing and that they'll rip her heart out whereas I find that whole sequence almost unbearable to watch. That's what's so great about the film, it really doesn't tell you what to think, it just presents an elaborate portrait.
Great Nashville discussion going on here!
Of course! Funny and sad and everything in between. The best American movie ever made? I would say so.
To lose one parent may be regarded as a misfortune; to lose both seems like carelessness!
Connie White, to a group of children standing close to the stage: "I want you to study real hard because just remember - any one of you can grow up to be the President."
Such hilarious words spoken right after Nixon resigned from office...
I just noticed something while watching this on TCM last evening that went way over my head the first couple of times I watched the movie:
Bud Hamilton looks a lot like a blond JFK (and nothing like Haven Hamilton)--for me, it suddenly transformed his mother's wistful remembrance of her days with the "Kennedy boys" from sad obsession to comedic irony.
btw, it's interesting how different people can come away with different takes on this--when I pointed out the resemblance to my wife, who was watching the film last night for the first time, she just gave me a pitying, "well, duh" look. Guess I'm a little slow, sometimes....
...and then there are those of us who have never noticed that and say: well spotted! That's really great actually!
To lose one parent may be regarded as a misfortune; to lose both seems like carelessness!
"I just noticed something while watching this on TCM last evening that went way over my head the first couple of times I watched the movie:
Bud Hamilton looks a lot like a blond JFK (and nothing like Haven Hamilton)--for me, it suddenly transformed his mother's wistful remembrance of her days with the "Kennedy boys" from sad obsession to comedic irony.
btw, it's interesting how different people can come away with different takes on this--when I pointed out the resemblance to my wife, who was watching the film last night for the first time, she just gave me a pitying, "well, duh" look. Guess I'm a little slow, sometimes...."
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This is a good observation except for the fact that Lady Pearl is not Bud's mother. She is Haven's mistress. Remember, Bud tells Opal that his mother is in Europe.
This is a good observation except for the fact that Lady Pearl is not Bud's mother. She is Haven's mistress. Remember, Bud tells Opal that his mother is in Europe.I just assumed that Haven Hamilton divorced Bud's mother and remarried. Maybe the script states it explicitly, but in the film I don't see evidence that particularly points to her being a mistress. In fact, most scenes suggest otherwise. If she were a mistress, it seems odd that she would be so conspicuous at Haven's side during public appearances, or that she would co-host a party at his home, or that she would be at the recording studio and have such a managerial role in his music empire.
How could we forget that country music singer who performed before Keith Carradine's character at the Exit/In? The lyrics to his song demonstrate how less talented songwriters can stretch country music's tendency toward metaphor to new heights of corniness:
The pilot light of our love has flickered out
What I used to get from a warm, warm heart
Now comes from a cold, cold can
Since my baby's been cooking in another man's pan
But then it gets better (or worse, if you will) ...
If margarine were like making love
Then she sure is a high-priced spread
How poetic!
Opal, after Norman offers to give her the inside story on what goes on behind the scenes in Nashville: "I'm sorry -- what is your name? -- Norman. I make it a point never to gossip with the servants."
Tom, when he meets L.A. Joan for the first time: "You better get off that diet before you ruin yourself."
Hal Philip Walker, over his loudspeaker: "Did you ever ask a lawyer the time of day? He told you how to make a watch, didn't he? Ever ask a lawyer how to get to Mr. Jones' house in the country? You got lost, didn't you?"
Kenny's mother over the phone, after he tells her that he rented a room from Mr. Green: "A man owns the rooming house? Then it can't be very clean." And later she tells him, "I want you to come home as soon as you can. You can pick up this parasite... You can get this parasite fungus in the South and it's very difficult to get rid of."
Barnett, arguing with Triplette and Reese over the political signs at the Parthenon: "What are you shouting for, you trying to embarrass me?" After he's been shouting at them for the last five minutes.
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Henry Gibson as Haven Hamilton: "I was just mentioning The New Christie Minstrels the other day, and now here's Julie Christie".
Brilliant!
Haven Hamilton's pomposity is a constant source of sublte amusement: eg. When he says to Opal "I will not tolerate rudeness in the presence of a star" then looks over at Elliot Gould and adds "two stars." And of course the Christy Minstrals line mentioned above, recall that got a good laugh in the theatre.
Personally my favorite and oft-quoted line belongs to Barnett: "Don't tell me how to run your life, I've been doin' pretty good with it."
Yes, and let's not forget Opal! "Buses! Yellow dragons! Speak to me!"
shareWhen Connie White doesn't believe Julie Christie is a famous movie star: "She can't even comb her hair!"
I don't care for modern films - all crashing cars and close-ups of people's feet. - Lillian Gish
Yes, and let's not forget Opal! "Buses! Yellow dragons! Speak to me!"
and "Yellow is the color of warning. No! Yellow is the color of cowardice."
"I'm not the press. I'm from the BBC"
I think Opal is just hysterical, or maybe it's just because I'm British.
Opal is wonderfully funny- especially the way she always nearly finds an interesting idea about Nashville but doesn't quite get the point.
shareYes it is a comedy........well its a mix of comedy and drama. Some hilarious moments in this movie: Henry Gibson getting pissed off at frog, the keyboard player and telling him to get his haircut coz he's in Nashville not california. Or even the part where that guy is trying to sing his song to the lady repoeter in an attempt to put the moves on her and she screams in the middle of his song "Oh my God its Elliot Gould!!!!" Comedy Genius
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