In his prime, there was nobody quite like Buster Keaton, deservedly considered one of the greats in silent comedy. Nobody back then and even now were as daring when it came to high-risk stunt work in physical comedy and he was an unparallelled master at making deadpan both funny and expressive. Something that one doesn't see an awful lot as many would struggle at doing one of those let alone both well.
There may be disaster after disaster happening in the story on the boat, but there is nothing at all disastrous about the quality of 1921's 'The Boat'. Like to love Keaton's short films, and 'The Boat' in my mind is one of his best. Any fan of Keaton absolutely must see this, it is really amazing to have a single confined setting and see 'The Boat' making the absolute most of it in a way that is variety-rich, visually appealing, always energetic and non-stop fun and charm.
Visually, 'The Boat' may not be ground-breaking but it is well shot and doesn't make the boat setting too restricted, so it never becomes stagebound-like. In fact, the boat setting and what is done with it is one of the short's most striking aspects.
A lot of funny and even hilarious moments, beautifully timed, deliciously wacky and it never feels too much. All of them work, when you watch 'The Boat' having just watched a good comedy albeit with a couple of misses in the humour department or a comedy that is not funny at all and not good in quality too that is great. There is enough variety to not make it all repetitive. Some of the more physical work is energetic, if not as daring as some of Keaton's other work, and in distinctive Keaton fashion, so expect a lot of dexterity. The measuring of the water temperature scene is priceless.
While a very slight one, the story is charming and never dull, actually having a breackneck energy and the family relationship has heart and doesn't become too sentimental. Sybil Seeley is charming and compassionate, but the short belongs to Keaton. In a huge number of roles executed simultaneously and handled expertly. Such great comic timing and he is worth rooting for as well (even with the character's treatment of his children), his unique quality of his deadpan delivery never faltering.
Summarising, wonderful. 10/10
There may be disaster after disaster happening in the story on the boat, but there is nothing at all disastrous about the quality of 1921's 'The Boat'. Like to love Keaton's short films, and 'The Boat' in my mind is one of his best. Any fan of Keaton absolutely must see this, it is really amazing to have a single confined setting and see 'The Boat' making the absolute most of it in a way that is variety-rich, visually appealing, always energetic and non-stop fun and charm.
Visually, 'The Boat' may not be ground-breaking but it is well shot and doesn't make the boat setting too restricted, so it never becomes stagebound-like. In fact, the boat setting and what is done with it is one of the short's most striking aspects.
A lot of funny and even hilarious moments, beautifully timed, deliciously wacky and it never feels too much. All of them work, when you watch 'The Boat' having just watched a good comedy albeit with a couple of misses in the humour department or a comedy that is not funny at all and not good in quality too that is great. There is enough variety to not make it all repetitive. Some of the more physical work is energetic, if not as daring as some of Keaton's other work, and in distinctive Keaton fashion, so expect a lot of dexterity. The measuring of the water temperature scene is priceless.
While a very slight one, the story is charming and never dull, actually having a breackneck energy and the family relationship has heart and doesn't become too sentimental. Sybil Seeley is charming and compassionate, but the short belongs to Keaton. In a huge number of roles executed simultaneously and handled expertly. Such great comic timing and he is worth rooting for as well (even with the character's treatment of his children), his unique quality of his deadpan delivery never faltering.
Summarising, wonderful. 10/10