Our Hospitality Reviews

girl by locker says:

"They" say that the three big actors of the 1920’s are Charlie Chaplin, Lillian Gish and Buster Keaton so it was with great anticipation that I awaited my first Keaton movie.  Our Hospitality is the story of a feud between two Southern families that has gone one so long no one quite remembers how it started. The entire movie was spent with the Canfield brothers trying to kill their dinner guest, the son of their sworn enemy. The movie was obviously well-made, good cinematography and overall I enjoyed the story. However, I didn’t love it and, to be quite honest, got bored at times with all the chase scenes.

We had a bit of a bonus movie this week since the DVD came with Our Hospitality and Sherlock Jr. This is the story of a young man who works in the movie theater but is studying to be a detective. I believe that he could be the first James Bond! The young man drifts off to sleep and fantasizes about being a debonair detective in a tux, solving crime and saving the ladies while also including a car chase with 007-like music playing in the background. To me, the music actually made the movie – very bluesy/jazzy.

I don’t think I am as impressed with Keaton as I have been with Chaplin and Gish, but he is still good. I give Our Hospitality 3 out of 5 stars and Sherlock Jr. 4 out of 5.   

Juror #3 says:

I have heard people say that Buster Keaton was a better entertainer than Charlie Chaplin.  After watching the double-feature Our Hospitality and Sherlock Jr., I would say that Buster Keaton was possibly a better director than Chaplin, or a better editor, or even a more daring entertainer, but not a better entertainer.  Overall I found Our Hospitality a technically sound movie (well choreographed edited and directed) but mostly boring.  The story was much simpler than any Chaplain movies I've seen.  It seemed like each joke was run over and over until it died on screen and a new joke rose from the ashes only to die a similar death.  The stunts and choreography in the final scene were exceptional but, in my opinion, wasn't enough to make up for the rest of the film.  AlthoughOur Hospitality is the widely recognized classic, I enjoyed Sherlock Jr. much better.  I don't know the history of surreal film but I'll assume that Sherlock Jr. was an inspiration for those to come after him (Fellini? Bergman?).  A majority of the film takes place in a dream with exceptional camera tricks, dream-like music and a wonderful grasp of the subconscious at work.  I really liked this film and don't think it could be created any better if done today.  I'd rate Sherlock Jr. 4/5 stars and Our Hospitality 2/5 but seeing as though this is a double-feature and I need to rate them together, I'll split the difference - 3/5 stars.