# Your favorite dark comedies **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 30, 2008, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-dark-comedies/443223 "2008-03-30T00:38:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Trunk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/87869e/32.png) [@Trunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trunk)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2008, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-dark-comedies/443223/81 "2008-04-01T18:14:19Z")
[QUOTE=AlmondJoy] Raising Arizona [/QUOTE] Yeah. _Fargo_, _The Big Lebowski_, _Miller’s Crossing_, and _No Country For Old Men_ (some very funny stuff) all fall somewhere between “dark” and “comedy”. If I was forced to categorize the Coen Bros., I’d go with “dark comedy”. But, that’s a limiting way to describe their filmmaking. ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2008, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-dark-comedies/443223/82 "2008-04-01T19:58:14Z")
[QUOTE=Beware of Doug] That’s the test. It has to be deadpan and underplayed enough that if you don’t Get It, all you see is a kind of sarcasm - limp or depressing or just pointless. [/QUOTE] I think you’re confusing dark comedy with satire (which is often, but not always, dark humored). A dark comedy doesn’t always have to be dry and deadpan; it can have broadly comic laugh-out-loud moments as well. **Dr. Strangelove** , which was mentioned earlier in this thread as archetypal dark comedy has numerous goofy scenes like George C. Scott’s impersonating a B-52 and the title character’s constant battling with his arm. [QUOTE=Trunk] Fargo, The Big Lebowski, Miller’s Crossing, and No Country For Old Men (some very funny stuff) all fall somewhere between “dark” and “comedy”. [/QUOTE] **While No Country for Old Men** has some darkly comic moments, I wouldn’t call it a dark comedy. It’s by far the most serious movie the Coens have ever done. As for other dark comedies, I think **Get Shorty** could be categorized as one (but others may disagree). ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2008, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-dark-comedies/443223/83 "2008-04-01T20:04:57Z")
[QUOTE=FriarTed] Also, a sentimental old favorite- THE LOVED ONE. Aimee Thanatogenous and Mr. Joyboy were wonderful characters! [/QUOTE] One of my favorites. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2008, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-dark-comedies/443223/84 "2008-04-01T20:28:50Z")
Speaking of the Coens, how about their first, Blood Simple? ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2008, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-dark-comedies/443223/85 "2008-04-01T20:56:57Z")
[QUOTE=BrainGlutton] Is _Hamlet_ a black comedy? [/QUOTE] It’s been so long since I’ve read it or seen it, I don’t remember. But another general rule of thumb is, if several main characters die for really stupid reasons, then it’s a black comedy. ---
**Author:** ![ouryL](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ouryl/32/6067_2.png) [@ouryL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ouryL)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2008, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-dark-comedies/443223/86 "2008-04-01T22:02:18Z")
How does it go on? “Mother’s Little Georgie’s got lobster, lobster.” “Mother’s Little Georgie’s got lobster for Mother.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-dark-comedies/443223.md?page=4)