Accidental Love [Nailed] (David O. Russell, 2015)

[flyonthewall2983]

Here's hoping that he gets some sort of response to that from them.

And he did.

[MoonlitKnight]

I think even if Russell HAD been able to finish this on his own terms, it was probably always going to be his weakest film (to date, at least). For once, Jessica Biel - whose acting chops have always been highly suspect - really isn't at fault here; she actually gives a fairly decent performance. The biggest problem here, as with most films that end up in this situation, is tone establishment.

[domino harvey]

I'm not much of a fan of Russell but I liked this a lot, probably second only to Flirting With Disaster in Russell's oeuvre. The film is so broad that I can't really fault anyone for hating it, but I admired its gusto and thought the direction and camera work were especially attuned to making the various scenarios seem funnier than they actually were-- whatever editing/producer choices were enacted on the film without Russell's involvement don't appear to have hurt anything. So many great Hollywood films from the studio era were butchered by producers after the fact and still praised as great films, so I don't think the pitchforks necessarily needed to be brought out in advance of this one anyways. And Biel is fantastic here, I suspect people who criticize her out of hand as an actress haven't actually seen her in anything.

[therewillbeblus]

Count me as another fan of this messy brew of genius. The gags range from layered visuals, absurdist social exchanges, and satires on human behavior, sexual politics, and... politics. Something about the rigidly-straight-laced delivery of certain lines made me laugh out loud just as much as when overly emotional, even when the content wasn't inherently funny without context, which reminded me of Howard Hawks' approach to comedy- a strong flavor in Russell and co's script (best exemplified by basically everything Marsden says in the first act). The bizarre sweeping and unfocused ideas worked for me, with Gyllenhaal and especially Biel selling their characters as worth building an irreverent, blurry vision around. Some of the jokes are blink-and-you-miss-them inserts, as physical comedy is spliced with a mini-setpiece, followed by abrasive sound effects and nonsensical interpersonal conversations, like Biel's first meeting with Gyllenhaal. Their evolving chemistry through the exaggerated mood swings reminded me of an inverted-Twentieth Century of confusion and dissonance by way of warped sensitivity rather than warped narcissism.

The movie is definitely not a smooth ride, but there are so many different shades of filmmaking and thematic ideas thrown at the screen continuously, so that when one didn't stick I hardly cared or noticed because several others did. The mix of high and low brow humor flaunts a range of intelligence, and so this becomes Russell's purest take on a screwball comedy, which is a strange thing to say considering it uses the platform and dynamics to explore eclectic designs, not to mention the characters slip around with such liberal flexibility that the narrative can't even retain its basic structural constants. And of course, like the best modern screwballs, the film wasn't well-received but is actually brilliant.

Even though I love I Heart Huckabees' surreal and existential-infused quasi-screwball, this is less weighed down and finds liberation in a different way of loose chaotic poise. Also, through all the light silliness comes a reinforcement of manipulation as a tool for empowerment and accomplishment in a social world, devoid of gender, and ultimately uses its labile tonal shifts (self-reflexively in the erratic form modeling the exhibition of Biel's condition, and the supporting characters', moods in content) to cleverly disguise a pronouncement for the most twisted humanism I've seen, in as long as I can remember. This may be Russell's best film, and if not it's close enough to deserve a fate beyond the silent burial it seems destined for, if it's not already too late.

[domino harvey]

Welcome to the world's smallest club! (Though Flirting with Disaster or Joy are his best film obv)

I just looked this up on Blu-ray and learned it was actually released under its correct title in Canada as Nailed! -- Somehow this cover is still actually better than the US one

[What A Disgrace]

That's the best worst cover art I've ever seen.

[therewillbeblus]

That cover suits the film perfectly, makes me wanna double dip

I’d agree on Flirting with Disaster as a runner up. Russell is actually a director I inadvertently followed from a young age, meaning I never expected him to emerge as a celebrated auteur. After seeing Three Kings in theaters I rented his first two features from the local video store and so FwD was a favorite in my early teenage years. I can’t say I’ve loved his post-Huckabees output consistently, but Nailed was one of those movies I desperately followed on IMDb for years (since it was announced in ‘05 I think?), thrilled at the premise, cast, and director tackling comedy after Huckabees only for no word or release. I only just realized it came out a little while ago, but put off a viewing because of the poor press and declared ‘compromised’ state, so finally seeing it- and more surprisingly loving it- after accepting its death, is beyond cathartic.

[knives]

Team American Hustle over here though I've yet to see a less then great film by him.

[knives]

Finally got off my butt and watched this. It’s pretty obvious it was worked over by some very untalented producers, record scratch heard, and to me is Russell’s weakest feature to date (albeit I still need to see Spank the Monkey), but the underlying material is so great I’m flabbergasted it doesn’t have some more vocal fans. The political satire is on point and engaging with the vicious play on Mr. Smith Goes to Washington right wing jingoism adding a lot of fun layers to the film. The script is just brilliant as is the camerawork and the performances. This is a hot screwball mess that I at least really loved.

[copen]

This is probably one of the most underrated 'screwball comedies' in film. i would check it out (again), if i were you.
the only other one i can think of in this category, post-1950's, is the raimi/coens 'crimewave', which is on firestick, probably in much better quality than my vhs dub. Brion James is absolutely hilarious in crimewave.

[swo17]

I'm hopeful that Squirrels to the Nuts would also qualify, if I ever get a chance to see it

[copen]

The entire Peter Bogdanovich catalogue is beyond me. i tried to check most of it out. could never understand the praise. last picture show was almost ok.
i remember watching They All Laughed (1981), and being stunned by how bad and awkward it was.