Four Lions
2010 Directed by Christopher Morris
Synopsis
We are 4 Lions.
Four Lions tells the story of a group of British jihadists who push their abstract dreams of glory to the breaking point. As the wheels fly off, and their competing ideologies clash, what emerges is an emotionally engaging (and entirely plausible) farce. In a storm of razor-sharp verbal jousting and large-scale set pieces, Four Lions is a comic tour de force; it shows that-while terrorism is about ideology-it can also be about idiots.
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30 Countries, 30 Days.
Day 14, Film 14Country: England
Time Period: present
Theme: Satire of terrorism
Style of Subtitle: Pretty thin yellow font, typically two lines at a time on screen
Funniest / Oddest Subtitle: James Fuck Bond
What did I learn about the country:
Coincidental relation to last country I watched: Canada's Muslim population increased by 82% in last decade.
I heard there's an American remake planned: Starring Aasif Mandvi, Ahmed Ahmed, Dev Patel, Stanley Tucci. Directed by Armano Iannucci.Why the hell did I wait so long to watch this?
I knew I would like it, thinking it would be something like methadone to get me through in between the comedy highs of The Thick of It…
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"What are we going to blow up, Waj?
The Internet! We will blow up the Internet for brother Faisal!"
Oh gosh... Four Lions is one of the most hilarious/disturbing movies I have ever seen. I never in my life thought I would be watching a buddy comedy about radical terrorists. I wasn't sure about what I was getting myself into upon starting this movie, but by the end I loved the film. It's darkly comedic, and bitingly satirical. It takes a subject like terrorism and somehow makes it humorous and human. It definitely makes you feel guilty for liking the film.
This movie is gut bustingly funny but also very intense with its subject matter. It's funny, yes, but you…
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Once Four Lions gets into a rhythm, it's off the charts hilarious. It's also supposed to be a satire, but I don't think this aspect of the film was as well-done. I'm not really sure what point they were trying to make about terrorists or terrorism in general. There are hints of great commentary and satire, but overall it just comes off as a comedy of errors and a fun adventure with a bunch of lovable dumb-asses. I'd watch this many more times for the one-liners alone.
This is only my second Riz Ahmed film and it certainly won't be my last. He plays Omar, the straight man/head idiot in a group of idiot wannabe terrorists. Whenever he's on screen,…
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Four Lions is that rare thing - a comedy made in the last 10 years that actually made me want to watch it. Mostly by virtue of the fact that it didn't involve incredibly dislikeable blokes making complete tits of themselves, as tends to be the fashion for mainstream comedies these days.
Obviously, to describe Four Lions as, instead, some likeable blokes making tits of themselves would be simplifying things a bit - but only a bit. The satirical elements of this film are not exactly of the most subtle and Private Eye level kind, after all, and are basic enough that even I, a comparative thicko, could fully grasp what was being said throughout this film.
So back to…
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A brave way to treat this subject - and to make it accessible. There are at least two very good reasons to make fun of the topics that scare us: 1/ laughing about something makes it less intimidating 2/ inappropriateness is, in itself, funny. With its interesting characters and a steady stream of hilarious jokes, this comedy made me laugh and care.
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Yes, I am THAT kind of asshole. Seeing the recent events that unfolded at Boston marathon I immediately thought of this movie and had to schedule a rewatch.
Though I have to admit that my impressions from last time haven't changed much. It starts very slowly but once it hits a certain speed it is way up there at the top of the list of dark comedies. And the ending is still absolutely mesmerizing. Especially because back in 2010 I didn't know a certain British Actor that just suddenly cameos in this and had me howling at the screen this time around!
"You're an arse man, aren't you, Waj? I knew you were, bro. You're an arse man. You're a massive arse man."
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chris morris doesn't judge the politics, which is both why it's so funny and why it's a little lacking
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30 Countries, 30 Days.
Day 14, Film 14Country: England
Time Period: present
Theme: Satire of terrorism
Style of Subtitle: Pretty thin yellow font, typically two lines at a time on screen
Funniest / Oddest Subtitle: James Fuck Bond
What did I learn about the country:
Coincidental relation to last country I watched: Canada's Muslim population increased by 82% in last decade.
I heard there's an American remake planned: Starring Aasif Mandvi, Ahmed Ahmed, Dev Patel, Stanley Tucci. Directed by Armano Iannucci.Why the hell did I wait so long to watch this?
I knew I would like it, thinking it would be something like methadone to get me through in between the comedy highs of The Thick of It…
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I was surprised by this, it wasn't as funny or as dark as I thought it would be. Interesting tone.
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It's a comedy about four jihadists and their goal to blow something up. If you can't deal with this premise don't even bother watching! Sadly there is only one guy with a brain, the others are plain stupid - a fact that makes it rather hard for me to watch.
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I remember hearing a lot about it the year it was released. It even made the '1001 Movies' list that year but I guess it lost the steam pretty quick and was left out the very next year. I don't know what the exact reactions were that year but I imagine it must have offended a lot of people. There is a lot of material that is indeed extremely offensive but what can I say, I loved it!! It's ridiculous but is extremely well played, hilarious and more often than not very to the point. It's like I feel bad for laughing on these jokes but can't help myself laughing.
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Only Chris Morris would have the balls to pull off a terrorist comedy, and only Chris Morris would have the talent to do it this well. On one hand, it's hilariously funny with four oafish protagonists whose stupidity and simplemindedness are laugh-out-loud funny. On the other, the film is chilling in its portrait of the planning and execution of mass murder. The balance Morris strikes between both is extraordinary, capturing the face of terrorism in a way that's human but never empathetic and condemns without ever vilifying.
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Fucking fantastic. Funny and dark at times, it's a movie that should be watched carefully or things will be missed.
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Yes, I am THAT kind of asshole. Seeing the recent events that unfolded at Boston marathon I immediately thought of this movie and had to schedule a rewatch.
Though I have to admit that my impressions from last time haven't changed much. It starts very slowly but once it hits a certain speed it is way up there at the top of the list of dark comedies. And the ending is still absolutely mesmerizing. Especially because back in 2010 I didn't know a certain British Actor that just suddenly cameos in this and had me howling at the screen this time around!
"You're an arse man, aren't you, Waj? I knew you were, bro. You're an arse man. You're a massive arse man."