Where are the great comediennes?

http://www.filmforum.org/films/madcapmanhattan.html = this started me thinking (other than another reason to hate NYC). No, besides being envious of New Yorkers it makes me wonder where the great film comediennes are. Are there actresses on a level with Irene Dunne, Carole Lombard, Myrna Loy or Jean Arthur working in comedy today? Really, Kirsten Dunst? Really, where are the great comic actresses today?

But, there is Clooney (and Dunst, sure)!

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Poor world.

Sexism is more prevalent today than it was in classic Hollywood. Obviously the comediennes were the first to go.

There are plenty of comediennes. They just don’t have the material. And I don’t think it is because men run the industry. Women writers are finally getting some opportunities to write and direct and they are demonstrating that women writers and directors can be hacks too, just like men.
I think it takes artists with an appreciation of women to give that luster to comediennes. The reason that there (seems to be) fewer comediennes is that there is no Lubitsch or Sturges or Pietro Germi or Gregory La Cava or Ben Hecht or Robert Hamer. Everything is broader now. The audiences seem to need a more blatant humor.

Lisa Kudrow is teriffic, and so is Catherine Keener. But few people are writing sophsiticated comedy anymore.

Tina Fey is lovely.

I’m looking forward to that new movie she is in with Steve Carell.

Let’s look at the woman who many consider the funniest current comediene, Tina Fey. Even with creative control, her film work pales to her television work. In fact, when I think of funny women (Sarah Silverman), they are generally working in television.

Then again, where are the funny men? Is Seth Rogan a major comedic talent or does he happen to be the go to guy for Judd Apitow? The Hangover is a funny movie, but is that due to the cast or the filmmakers? There seems no one at the level of a Bill Murray (in his prime) who can instictively make material funny.

There are plenty of comediennes. They just don’t have the material.

That’s my thought also.

Kristen Wiig? Though I’m basing her talent on SNL and not movies.

I have always liked Amy Poehler, but she hasn’t had the break she deserves.

i vote for Carmen Maura…

it doesn’t always have to be fuckin’ Americana all the fuckin’ time dammit…

but of course it is by the likes of Ehrenstein and Gringo Tex on a board (at the same time time),it always is about Americana….

Jane Lynch
Catherine O’Hara
Lisa Kudrow (at least in The Opposite of Sex)
Amy Adams (who else could pull off Enchanted?)
Diane Keaton
Molly Shannon

but of course it is by the likes of Ehrenstein and Gringo Tex on a board (at the same time time)

Dimitrius, were you drunk when you wrote this this?

Marion Davies
Carole Lombard
Myrna Loy
Jean Arthur
Lily Tomlin

“Dimitrius,were you drunk when you wrote this this?”

of course not,only people who misspell my name are ;)

Tina Fey is the best on tv. Sarah Silverman is very funny too.

I nominate a japanese actress called Satomi Kobayashi. Her role in Kamome Diner is one of the best understated comedic roles I’ve seen in a long time.