Tags
2010's, Biopic, Drama, John C. Reilly, Jon S. Baird, Laurel and Hardy, Nina Arianda, Shirley Henderson, Stan & Ollie, Steve Coogan
Director
Jon S. Baird
Starring
- Steve Coogan as Stan Laurel
- John C. Reilly as Oliver Hardy
- Shirley Henderson as Lucille Hardy
- Nina Arianda as Ida Kitaeva Laurel
A warmly bittersweet film about the last hurrah of legendary comedy duo Laurel and Hardy, Stan & Ollie is a film that invests you with the double act with just how involving, funny and poignant it is.
We begin in 1937 when Laurel and Hardy are at their peak, but even here they are still paid less than the other stars. Stan wants to get out of his contract with producer Hal Roach, as he doesn’t feel appreciated by him. Oliver wants to keep things as they are and not rock the boat anymore than it needs to be. This instance will be one that plays an important part later in the film. Fast forward to the 1950’s, neither man is at their height of fame anymore. But each has been persuaded to go on a music hall tour in the United Kingdom. Stan, who is the one behind the jokes and material of the routines, hopes what they ear in money can be used to finance a picture Stan wants to do. Oliver is in bad shape and not really a well man, but agrees to reform again. As they soon discover, it’s hard getting back out there because new talent has come along and captured the imagination of the public. The shows begin with not many people showing up in the audience, which doesn’t go unnoticed. Plus, various issues that have long remained dormant threaten to overshadow the tour and tear apart a friendship. But over time, the old magic comes back and the road looks set for a return to form, aided by the support of two sparring wives . Though spanners are thrown in the works, like Oliver’s failing health and with the history of the two, it could just be one last hurrah for the legends of comedy that are Laurel and Hardy.
Jon S.Baird is clearly crafting an affectionate but also revealing portrait of the legends and boy does he ever deliver. Along with the clever script that deftly mixes humour and pathos from Jeff Pope, Baird really dazzles with his warm-hearted but still bittersweet approach to behind the scenes of the lives of the beloved team. Of particular note is the virtuoso opening sequence in one shot of the team in their prime walking through the backlog of a studio, while they deliberate their contract with the slimy Hal Roach . Once the cameras roll, they are the Laurel and Hardy of legend, but there’s more going on behind the stage. The balance between the two elements of emotion and laughs is held neatly and makes the film flow amazingly. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the public argument between the duo which is filled with personal feelings of anger, but mistaken by onlookers as just part of their humorous act. In fact there are many instances of Stan and Ollie slipping into the public image that everyone knows in order to save face or escape from the harshness of life. The humour mingles with the melancholy and has you glued as Stan and Ollie realise that they need the other, despite buried grievances from the past. Credit must go to the staging, editing and make up, that make both lead actors the image of the great comedic duo. The recreation scenes from the movies of the stars is also a stroke of genius and is so precise and well realised. It leaves you smiling and with a lot of feeling, like all good movies should. A music score that is by turns deep and by others light, perfectly embodies what Stan & Ollie is going for in terms of audience feeling. I must admit in finding any fault with this movie as it was the definition of a fantastic cinema experience.
What really makes this movie soar is the lead work from Steve Coogan and John C. Reilly as Laurel and Hardy. Both get all the public mannerisms just right, like Hardy’s exasperated facial expressions and Laurel’s passive simpleton tics. It’s really uncanny as Coogan and Reilly have really done their homework and put their all into it. But it’s watching them reveal the behind the scenes nature of each. Coogan splendidly dives into the brains of Stan Laurel( which ironically go against the role of lovable idiot that he was in the public image) and the underlying sadness of someone wanting to succeed, but is also bitter by events of the past. It’s the fantastic mix of humour and emotion that also transfers to John C. Reilly, whose his equal as Oliver Hardy. Reilly has this sunny disposition that’s set against the alternating feeling of fatigue and hope. The chemistry between the two works beautifully, much like the men they are portraying and paying tribute to. You never doubt for a minute that you’re witnessing two stellar performances that have great nuance. Sometimes with just a look, they say everything they need to. And while they form the centrepiece of Stan & Ollie, two other supporting members of the cast show they are no slouches either. They are Shirley Henderson and Nina Arianda. Both spark off the other as the spouses of the title characters, leading one person to say ‘two double acts for the price of one’. Both ladies are forceful, funny and entertaining in their own ways and they two contribute largely to the film as the supportive but firm wives. It’s excellent casting all around for Stan & Ollie.
A wonderfully entertaining biopic that manages to sidestep the usual histrionics and over the top nature of the genre, Stan & Ollie weaves a warm picture that is bolstered by the spot on performances of Steve Coogan and John C. Reilly.
beetleypete said:
Nice review mate. This film has had a lot of positive criticism, and been praised by many. Still, I am left wondering if it wouldn’t be more entertaining to just watch a Laurel and Hardy film. 🙂
Cheers, Pete.
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vinnieh said:
It’s an excellent tribute to both men. Both Coogan and Reilly get so into part.
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beetleypete said:
I saw them interviewed, and they discussed how they performed their routines in front of the original film shot at the time. It looks to be very well done.
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vinnieh said:
I saw that interview too. Both must have studied footage of the originals for a long time.
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thebookwormdrinketh said:
I can’t wait to see this movie. I’ve been in a Laurel & Hardy fan club for many years (Sons of the Desert. Derby’s off to all the wonderful folk at the “Leave ‘Em Laughing” tent!!) and I think that Steve Coogan and John C Reilly look amazing. After your review I feel even more like they won’t let me down! 💖💖
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vinnieh said:
A fan club eh? That’s pretty ace. My Grandpa loved Laurel and Hardy a lot. He was the one who introduced me to them.
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fragglerocking said:
Never was keen on them, but will have to see this for the acting chops.
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vinnieh said:
The acting is of a very high standard.
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alexraphael said:
Poignant is the word a vinnie used and it’s the perfect use of it. Even if you aren’t fans of them you should enjoy it as you can see why they were popular, the tensions within the pair and how talent is always up against the business side.
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fragglerocking said:
I’m sold.
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vinnieh said:
I’m in total agreement Alex.
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
I was going to skip this but you’ve changed my mind Vinnie.
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vinnieh said:
Oh you should see it Kim. Just out of curiosity, why did you want to skip it?
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
It’s not really the type of movie that I would usually gravitate toward, but it really sounds too good to miss.
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vinnieh said:
Oh you just have to see it. I think you’d really love it.
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alexraphael said:
I hope you see it. Dawn it the other day and was really
Moved by it.
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
It’s at the top of my must see list Alex.☺️
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Elizabeth said:
I loved the original Laurel and Hardy and would rather keep their images in my mind. My favorite line that my husband and I share regularly is “A fine mess you got us into Ollie.”( modified a little to fit our joint messes)
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vinnieh said:
I can understand. And what a line that is.
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ManInBlack said:
Nice write up.
I do have to correct the “slimey Hal Roach” line though. The way Roach was portrayed here was unfair and inaccurate, but done so to suit the narrative of this film. It is true he and Stan had a falling out but Roach wasn’t the unreasonable tyrant he is made out to be and didn’t hold Ollie to ransom in the way depicted here.
If anything Stan was the instigator of their dispute, dating back to 1934 and it was HE who sued Roach over the contract issue but it came to nothing and they ended up working together again until 1940.
Actually the whole storyline of Stan being angry at Ollie for making Zenobia is complete fiction, like many other incidents in the film while others are either exaggerated or a conflation of separate events.
But is is a very well acted film and captured the spirit of Stan and Ollie and can be enjoyed as an affectionate tribute despite the dramatic licence. 🙂
Sorry for the rant!
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vinnieh said:
Thanks for the well thought out comment. I was referring to Roach in the way the movie portrays him. He was probably different in real life. I appreciate you commenting here.
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ManInBlack said:
No worries. It’s just a shame that people might think that is how Roach was if this film is their only point of reference, as well as the other dramatised aspects of the plot.
The truth is, if it wasn’t for Roach there would never be a Laurel & Hardy. 🙂
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vinnieh said:
Thanks for the info. I’m always happy to learn.
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Keith said:
I’m jealous! I want to see this sooo much but still isn’t showing here. I’ve grown up a huge fan of L&H. Talk about comic masters.
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vinnieh said:
I think you’ll find much to admire here.
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alexraphael said:
I saw this the other day. The casting was perfect. And I loved the wives in the movie. The scene where they hold hands is so well done. And the bit where they explain about the movie (on the boat) and the argument were very well done. And that train station scene cracked me up.
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vinnieh said:
It was a movie that had humour but a lot of pathos to it too. Reilly and Coogan worked marvellously with one another. And the wives were a real hoot and support.
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alexraphael said:
The line where the woman said about how great they still do such old jokes showed how some people will never get it. Really enjoyed it. I saw Creed 2 which I also liked. God write up as always Vinnie.
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vinnieh said:
Thanks for your continued support.
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keepsmealive said:
My loevely wife was just talking about this existing, and here it is in the blogs! Am bookmarking for if/when I see this one!
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vinnieh said:
Well your wife has fine taste. You have to see it.
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keepsmealive said:
She has very fine taste – she married me! OK I’ll add this to the list of To See Eventually. Not because I don’t prioritize recommends like this, but the key word here is eventually. I don’t watch all that much, and the time to sit and watch a whole movie start to finish is rare.
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vinnieh said:
Haha, that’s why she’s got great taste. You’ll get around to movies sometime. I’ve got so many I’ve yet to see.
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keepsmealive said:
Yeah, I always think I should watch more movies, but then there are all these albums I wanna hear, and books I wanna read, and then there’s the zillion things I need to do to keep this ship we call life floating properly and sitting still for two hours, watching a movie, kinda goes by the wayside first victim…
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vinnieh said:
I totally get that.
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Eddie said:
So looking forward to this one mate! Coogan and Reilly seem like a match made in heaven.
E
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vinnieh said:
They are exactly that.
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