Posted by Raikus at cas02.mkethn01.fl.comcast.net on August 27, 2002 at 15:47:46:
In Reply to: Do you classify only in genre or sub genre? posted by Duffless on August 27, 2002 at 15:14:34:
And I do classify by sub-genres. Hardly, if ever, do films fall into one genre (and if the do, they are usually bad). But in the case of American Beauty I would classify it as a drama closer than I would a comedy. And I completely disagree in categorizing it as a "dark comedy" because, first I don't think it was primarily a comedy, and secondly because I don't think it was dark at all. If anything it made you think of life. "Dark Comedies" are exactly like films like Very Bad Things and Fargo because they take bad and evil situations or actions and make light of them. That doesn't mean the actions aren't gruesome, but they happen in a reality where they aren't as bad as what they would be.
So yes, I can see American Beauty in the Dramedy classification, just not in the comedy or dark comedy classification.
My two cents plus a tip.
:)
: I mean do you only believe in Action, Horror, Romance, Drama and Comedy.... or do you go to subgenre's like Dramedy, Romantic Comedy, Period films, tear jerkers.....
: its tough to classify movies without several descriptions, like Much Ado About Nothing, is both a period film and comedy...
: I beleive in sub classifications to better explain the film, American Beauty had comedy in it, unlike a movie like Empire of the Sun or Shindler's List which were pure Drama's.....because of hte way I classify I think it is okay to say American Beauty is a dramatic comedy or dramedy, or a satirical drama...whatever...
: Basically at this point it is semantics, I'm not bustin your balls, I think it is interesting to talk about, how we talk about film....