Über kurz oder lang (2001)

Über kurz oder lang: Directed by Paddy Breathnach. With Alan Rickman, Natasha Richardson, Rachel Griffiths, Rachael Leigh Cook. In 2000, a small town hosts The British Hairdressing Championship, where a former 2-time winner, his son, his run-away wife and his runaway wife’s lady lover reside (not all on speaking terms).

“Blow Dry is one of those loopy, quirky British comedies that continue to scream to the deaf ears of Hollywood that humor doesnu0026#39;t have to be infantile, vulgar, sexual, physical, heavy-handed, or banal. It can be uplifting, complex, nuanced, unexpected and fresh.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eA small town in England hosts the National Hairdressing Championships, (Do you really think they have one?) and nobody seems too excited about it except a few ruthless competitors to whom winning means absolutely everything. Local boy Alan Rickman, a has been hair wizard now doing u0026quot;short back and sidesu0026quot; for 7.50 is convinced to enter the competition by his son, his ex-wife and her girlfriend.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eNatasha Richardson (daughter of the incomparable Vanessa Redgrave) is brilliant as the terminally ill lesbian mother trying to use the event as a way to reunite her family. Her comedy and her pathos are equally moving, and her beauty isnu0026#39;t spoiled by chemotherapy-induced hair loss. Rachel Griffiths, whom you may remember from the hilarious Australian comedy Murielu0026#39;s Wedding, is the model who left Rickman for his wife on the eve of his triumph in hairdressing, hence his present low state. Either of these ladies could have carried the movie. To have both of them is a treat of excess.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eRickman is more believable as a barber than a high style hairdresser. Still, he pulls it off because heu0026#39;s Rickman. Much has been made of Josh Hartnett and his murderous accent. In reality, itu0026#39;s hardly noticeable. Get over it.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eBill Nighy is fantastic as the unscrupulous London artiste pulling out all the stops to win the Championship for an unprecedented third time, using his daughter, the insanely beautiful Rachel Leigh Cook, as his model. Rosemary Harris, the perfectly cast Aunt Mae of Spider-man fame, is powerful as the elderly Daisy, confidante and model for Richardson and her team.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe unseen treasure of this movie, and the genius behind it, is writer Simon Beaufoy. Beaufoy grew up in Keighley, the setting of Blow Dry. Until more recently he was probably best known for also writing the hilarious and inspired The Full Monty. As he developed as a writer, he later gave us the Oscar nominated 127 Hours, and Oscar winning Slumdog Millionaire.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThere is a scene, at the very end, when Rickman reveals his ultimate creation, that has to be seen to be believed. I still gasp every time I see it, and it reinforces for me a notion of beauty that transcends everything from age to gender. And donu0026#39;t miss the end credit sequence. Itu0026#39;s hilarious.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eToo many movie viewers think being cynical makes them appear more intelligent or more profound, so they slam gems like this for their lighthearted humor. Nonsense. This is a funny 10 out of 10, and if you donu0026#39;t own it, log off right now and go get it. You wonu0026#39;t be sorry.”