Me, My Blog and I
Me...
Full disclosure, I have no formal qualifications or employment experience in the entertainment industry. What I do have is hours and hours of time spent researching, watching and analysing stand-up and cinematic comedy, with a proven knack for analytical interpretation and evaluation.
My Blog...
So, how will this work? I will be posting reviews at the end of each month. Each post will contain two main features: a brief, spoiler-free review and rundown of the piece in question; and a much more in-depth analytical review and broken-down evaluation that will certainly not be spoiler-free.Each month I will endeavour to prioritise new releases that are highly anticipated and critically acclaimed. This isn't always easy, though, particularly with stand-up comedy. Whilst I will be attending a couple of shows live at the upcoming Melbourne Comedy Festival - for which I will provide a time least one analysis - stand-up specials are most accessible on streaming platforms like Netflix and Stan, where shows are rarely 'brand new'. Nevertheless, it doesn't hurt to sink one's teeth into a beloved - or despised - classic.
And I...
At university, I am currently studying astrophysics and mathematics in the suburbs of Melbourne and will be for some time. I'm from a small country town in North East Victoria and went to high school in a slightly larger country town - an original backstory, I know.Back to the more relevant information, here are some favourites:
Favourite Comedians...
- Joe Lycett: Fairly fresh on the high-end comedy market, his stand-up specials "That's the Way, A-Ha, A-Ha, Joe Lycett (2016)" and "I'm About to Lose Control and I Think Joe Lycett (2018)" have been released to critical acclaim. Tales of his internet misadventures have gone viral, and his appearances on Channel 4's "8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown" and "The Last Leg" are always fresh and hilarious.
- Katherine Ryan: Canadian-born, UK-based, she is a breath of fresh air to a comedy scene dominated by men. She brings a scathing sarcasm to familiar social issues that doesn't rely on its edginess to be funny but shocks us with its delightful contradiction. Recently, her Netflix special "In Trouble (2017)" and co-captain role on "The Fix" have each been tonnes of fun.
- Jimmy Carr: The wittiest one-liners on television. He's hosted panel shows such as "8 Out of 10 Cats", it's successor "8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown", Netflix's new release "The Fix" and more. His style of humour is comparable to the aforementioned Katherine Ryan, with whom he has worked several TV shows.
- Hannah Gadsby: More than a comedian, Gadsby is an artist. Her Netflix special "Nanette (2018)" is an absolute marvel of comedic art. In her scathing commentary on sexism and homophobia in her home state of Tasmania and worldwide, she manipulates the audience like no other comedian I know of. She is the very best of Australian comedy and arguably among the best in the world.
- Trevor Noah: A unique comedic voice and an excellent story-teller. His Netflix specials, "Afraid of the Dark (2017)" and "Son of Patricia (2018)" deliver American political commentary with an unusually fun flavour. His ability to draw hilarities from his youth in South Africa make him a master of story-telling.
Favourite Films...
- Forrest Gump (1994): Surely I needn't explain it, but this critically acclaimed, heart-wrenching dramedy, written by Eric Roth, cements director Robert Zemeckis and starring actor Tom Hanks as legends of the screen.
- Deadpool (2016): The Marvel Cinematic Universe has kept itself relevant by providing its audience with films that blend boundaries into non-action genres. Whilst the Deadpool character and story reside within the X-Men franchise rather than the mainstream MCU, it is not an exemption. Writers Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick - also writers of "Zombieland (2009)" - must have had a field day with this playfully postmodern piece.
- Avengers: Infinity War (2018): Not a comedy, but the Russo brothers - also executive producers of the sitcom, "Community" - don't deny the audience a laugh. A brilliantly composed script, great action with clear stakes, and stunning visuals. "The most ambitious crossover event in history" subverts expectations in the best ways possible (yes, that is a direct attack on "Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017)").
- Hot Fuzz (2007): From the dream-team that brought us "Shaun of the Dead (2004)", Simon Pegg and Nick Frost star in this decorated action-comedy. Pegg also co-wrote the film with director Edgar Wright, who is responsible for the interesting choices in cinematography. Wright and Pegg are a British action-comedy force akin to the Russo Brothers.
- The Office (US): Not a movie, but well worth the honourable mention. Adapted from the also brilliant UK series by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, "The Office (US)" had a rough start with the ratings, as its essentially scene-for-scene adaptation wasn't popular with the American audience. Once writers and producers, who often also had acting roles, shed their own light on the show, that all changed. After 9 seasons, every member of the fantastic cast brought to life some of the most iconic characters in sitcom television, including Michael Scott (Steve Carell) and Dwight Schrute (Rainn Wilson).
Other Interests...
- Astronomy and Mathematics
- Politics and Journalism
- Sci-Fi, Fantasy and Pop-Culture
- Philosophy
- Music
That's about all there is to say about myself and my blog, at least for now. I really look forward to sharing my analyses and reviews with you in the coming months and beyond. In the meantime, I would be thrilled if you could subscribe at the top of the screen and share this blog with your friends!
I'm on Twitter as "Jaymz Bright | Giggle Critic (@JaymzCritic)" and I would love it if you followed me. I'll definitely be taking requests for reviews and whatnot so stay up to date!
Until the end of January, thanks for reading!
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