Putney Swope
1969 Directed by Robert Downey Sr.
Synopsis
Don't Rock the boat... Sink it.
Swope is the only black man on the executive board of an advertising firm, and is accidentally put in charge after the death of the chairman of the board.
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Putney Swope is one of the most offensive comedies I've ever seen. It's jokes consist mainly of racist, sexist, and ableist humour, but since the movie is such an obvious satire it's content doesn't become problematic. The supporting characters are little more than stereotypes, and this helps the films interpretation of 1960s America and its many cultural problems.
Downey Sr. is being critical of both the radicals and the reactionaries, taking no side of his own and pointing towards a type of anarchism. None of Putney's behaviour makes any logical sense; he fires employees on a whim, protests against marketing certain items while using obscene methods of advertising his products, and he attempts to keep a code of ethics despite…
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PUTNEY SWOPE is an interesting flick. Directed by Robert Downey, Sr., it’s about the titular sole African American employee at an advertising agency who mistakenly gets promoted to the head of the company. That premise alone sounds like a Chris Rock or classic Eddie Murphy movie. But considering that this came out in 1969, it’s safe to say that this is a pioneering film.
Once Swope takes control of the agency, he immediately transforms it into a public outlet for his own political ideals, even going so far as to only keep one white employee. Of course the rest of the movie then becomes a study of his rise to power and the inflation of his ego. It’s all very…
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Robert Downey's "Putney Swope" hooks you even before the credits nonchalantly appear. A relentlessly funny opening sequence where advertisement executives confer, showcases the boldness of the humor the film offers. The film isn't afraid to beat a joke to submission or repeat an idea, gag, or phrase until the viewer finds it funny ("How many syllables Mario?" gets repeated to a dead man over and over again). This type of humor couldn't sustain a film this good, however. Filled with rich characters, imagery, that is in its own perverse way is "beautiful", and a moral compass not eager to comment on social movements and race but rather, very willing to lampoon them.
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A crazed, amazing satire directed by a prince (Robert Downey Sr.)
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Written and directed by Iron Man Sr. this is one of the strangest films I have ever seen.
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I laughed out loud at least three times in the first 15mins. I don't know what to say, if you are intrigued watch the whole thing, if you aren't intrigued watch the first 15mins. The grainy B&W was cool, the era, dwarfs, afros and guns; I thought it was just great.
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Perfect example of a movie I wanted and expected to love but the execution fell flat. Obviously I can't fully appreciate the film in its own time and cultural backdrop, but as a modern viewer it has some problems. The brilliant concept of a black man accidentally getting control of an advertising agency in the 60's - and exactly how that happens - is fantastic, but from there things get wonky. Random strangeness and poor pacing (some of the "commercials" which pepper the film are several minutes long) are key problems. For an 80 minute film it feels pretty long, even though little really happens. While I realize the film works in service to satire rather than a narrative, the narrative still matters - and it is lacking. Thankfully there are several moments of brilliance that ultimately keep things moving.
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The unquestionable highlight of Criterion's Robert Downey Sr. Eclipse set. Pretty fun, but kind of a mess.
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Putney Swope is one of the most offensive comedies I've ever seen. It's jokes consist mainly of racist, sexist, and ableist humour, but since the movie is such an obvious satire it's content doesn't become problematic. The supporting characters are little more than stereotypes, and this helps the films interpretation of 1960s America and its many cultural problems.
Downey Sr. is being critical of both the radicals and the reactionaries, taking no side of his own and pointing towards a type of anarchism. None of Putney's behaviour makes any logical sense; he fires employees on a whim, protests against marketing certain items while using obscene methods of advertising his products, and he attempts to keep a code of ethics despite…
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PUTNEY SWOPE is an interesting flick. Directed by Robert Downey, Sr., it’s about the titular sole African American employee at an advertising agency who mistakenly gets promoted to the head of the company. That premise alone sounds like a Chris Rock or classic Eddie Murphy movie. But considering that this came out in 1969, it’s safe to say that this is a pioneering film.
Once Swope takes control of the agency, he immediately transforms it into a public outlet for his own political ideals, even going so far as to only keep one white employee. Of course the rest of the movie then becomes a study of his rise to power and the inflation of his ego. It’s all very…
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A completely absurd comedy that follows absolutely no rules.
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There it's something appealing about it, but it's too angry for it to be truly effective. I'm glad it was made and I wish more things like it were made but there are things that just don't gel.
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Robert Downey's "Putney Swope" hooks you even before the credits nonchalantly appear. A relentlessly funny opening sequence where advertisement executives confer, showcases the boldness of the humor the film offers. The film isn't afraid to beat a joke to submission or repeat an idea, gag, or phrase until the viewer finds it funny ("How many syllables Mario?" gets repeated to a dead man over and over again). This type of humor couldn't sustain a film this good, however. Filled with rich characters, imagery, that is in its own perverse way is "beautiful", and a moral compass not eager to comment on social movements and race but rather, very willing to lampoon them.