Burke and Hare
3.5/4
Starring: Simon Pegg, Andy Serkis, Isla Fisher, Tom Wilkinson, Tim Curry, Jessica Hynes, Ronnie Corbett
Rated R for Some Sexual Content, Disturbing Images and Language
There's nothing wrong with changing the facts to make it a better story. It happens all the time. In the case of "Burke and Hare," the story of two murderers in 1828 London, an entire genre. Admittedly, there's something creepy and sinister about making two serial killers into lovable rogues, but at least the film is honest about it. And with John Landis at the helm (who established long ago that he has an offbeat sense of humor), rest assured that it's going to be an unusual tale.
In 1828, there is a competition between two rival surgeons, Dr. Robert Knox (Wilkinson) and Dr. Alexander Monro (Curry). They're battling over a lot of research money and recognition, and both will do anything to get ahead. Meanwhile, two con men, William Burke (Pegg) and William Hare (Serkis), are looking for another way to make money. When they overhear a local gangster saying that before the militia guarded cemeteries, he used to make a pretty penny stealing bodies from graves and selling them to Knox. Burke and Hare think this is a brilliant idea, but after a disastrous attempt in the graveyard, they seek to make their own merchandise.
I have to admit, I had a lot of fun watching this movie. My sense of humor runs pretty dark, but Landis is a master of tone. It's impossible to take any of this movie seriously because it's so silly. There are a number of truly outrageous sequences, especially those featuring McClintock (Corbett), the captain of the militia. McClintock has to be the most incompetent investigator in the history of film, and Corbett gets huge laughs from the character's obliviousness to his stupidity (and as a very funny touch, one of his officers faints in just about every scene at the sight of blood or a body).
Simon Pegg and Andy Serkis make a good team. Pegg has proven himself time and time again that he is fully capable of getting laughs. But he's given the chance to show some dramatic chops (in small doses), and he does well there too. Andy Serkis, best known as Gollum from "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy, is also very good as Hare, who has no crisis of conscience about their new occupation. His remarks about the economics of it are funny because they are so true. Pegg and Serkis make a good team; it's a pleasure to spend 90 minutes with these two. Isla Fisher is decent as Ginny, the prostitute turned actress that Burke falls for, but Fisher has never had a great range (frankly, she's never particularly impressed me, period). Tom Wilkinson and Tim Curry are great in supporting roles.
The film isn't flawless; it takes a bit to establish the characters and find its groove. Also the editing is a little stiff at times, and one brief scene isn't as funny as it should be because the timing isn't as crisp as it should be. Still, this is one movie where the successes greatly outweigh the flaws.
John Landis has a bizarre sense of humor, and that suits him well. No one could make this movie without one. True, it could have made a good horror movie or thriller a la "From Hell," but then we wouldn't have this under the radar gem. It's a lot of fun, provided you are willing to see two murderers as lovable heroes. But then, we always sympathize with Arnold Schwarzenegger, right?
Starring: Simon Pegg, Andy Serkis, Isla Fisher, Tom Wilkinson, Tim Curry, Jessica Hynes, Ronnie Corbett
Rated R for Some Sexual Content, Disturbing Images and Language
There's nothing wrong with changing the facts to make it a better story. It happens all the time. In the case of "Burke and Hare," the story of two murderers in 1828 London, an entire genre. Admittedly, there's something creepy and sinister about making two serial killers into lovable rogues, but at least the film is honest about it. And with John Landis at the helm (who established long ago that he has an offbeat sense of humor), rest assured that it's going to be an unusual tale.
In 1828, there is a competition between two rival surgeons, Dr. Robert Knox (Wilkinson) and Dr. Alexander Monro (Curry). They're battling over a lot of research money and recognition, and both will do anything to get ahead. Meanwhile, two con men, William Burke (Pegg) and William Hare (Serkis), are looking for another way to make money. When they overhear a local gangster saying that before the militia guarded cemeteries, he used to make a pretty penny stealing bodies from graves and selling them to Knox. Burke and Hare think this is a brilliant idea, but after a disastrous attempt in the graveyard, they seek to make their own merchandise.
I have to admit, I had a lot of fun watching this movie. My sense of humor runs pretty dark, but Landis is a master of tone. It's impossible to take any of this movie seriously because it's so silly. There are a number of truly outrageous sequences, especially those featuring McClintock (Corbett), the captain of the militia. McClintock has to be the most incompetent investigator in the history of film, and Corbett gets huge laughs from the character's obliviousness to his stupidity (and as a very funny touch, one of his officers faints in just about every scene at the sight of blood or a body).
Simon Pegg and Andy Serkis make a good team. Pegg has proven himself time and time again that he is fully capable of getting laughs. But he's given the chance to show some dramatic chops (in small doses), and he does well there too. Andy Serkis, best known as Gollum from "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy, is also very good as Hare, who has no crisis of conscience about their new occupation. His remarks about the economics of it are funny because they are so true. Pegg and Serkis make a good team; it's a pleasure to spend 90 minutes with these two. Isla Fisher is decent as Ginny, the prostitute turned actress that Burke falls for, but Fisher has never had a great range (frankly, she's never particularly impressed me, period). Tom Wilkinson and Tim Curry are great in supporting roles.
The film isn't flawless; it takes a bit to establish the characters and find its groove. Also the editing is a little stiff at times, and one brief scene isn't as funny as it should be because the timing isn't as crisp as it should be. Still, this is one movie where the successes greatly outweigh the flaws.
John Landis has a bizarre sense of humor, and that suits him well. No one could make this movie without one. True, it could have made a good horror movie or thriller a la "From Hell," but then we wouldn't have this under the radar gem. It's a lot of fun, provided you are willing to see two murderers as lovable heroes. But then, we always sympathize with Arnold Schwarzenegger, right?
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