What more is there to say about Ghostbusters? It's 30 years old and has aged remarkably well. This could easily just be a long list of great quotes and moments and nothing else. It's not a controversial statement to say it's the funniest movie of all time. It also is probably Harold Ramis' best movie which is a high bar to clear.
The three scientists are drawn remarkably well, remarkably fast. Venkman's introduction using a pseudo-science to hit on a young co-ed is pitch perfect. He's later called "more of a game show host than a scientist", which is another really great description. The first bumbling ghost encounter is such a great set piece that lets the three leads really shine. Egon's "that would have worked if you hadn't stopped me" line is a great way to show his confidence and stubbornness. Ray's positively giddy at everything in the library until his master plan of yelling "AHHH" falls through. And of course, Venkman has several great moments of sarcastic detachment, even in the face of seeing his seeming crackpot friends proven right when they see the first ghost. "What now?" he asks his dumbfounded colleagues.
So, what now? The theme of Ghostbusters gets a lot of respect and attention. But there's another great song in the periphery as well that stands out. The Busboys' "Cleanin Up The Town" plays three times during the movie. The first is the slapstick shot of the trio running out of the haunted museum after their first encounter. Then again during a full-fledged ghostbusting montage later. Finally, during the ending and credits. The song has a really great, jaunty piano hook (the only part heard during the first playing), and is a song about the movie and made for the movie. Sad to say that trend of movies having really on the point theme songs mostly died out around Will Smith's first Oscar nomination. Ghostbusters had two! The theme is great and rightfully gets all the credit, but this song is also great, too.
There are a ton of laughs, but something slightly overlooked is how scary Ghostbusters is in some parts. The most famous ghost, Slimer, is a joke and mostly kid-friendly. And of course the marshmallow man is the biggest (ahem) joke in the movie. A lot of the rest are not played for laughs at all. The wonderfully-animated dogs working for Zuul chase Louis down and eat him while he screams in terror. When they come for Dana, hands burst out of her chair and hold her down roughly before she's dragged struggling into the dog's clutches. Murray does a good job undercutting the scene with his usual funny self, but the possessed Dana is pretty chilling while booming "There is no Dana, only Zuul". And of course, the ending showdown with Zuul has the lives of billions in the balance and nothing short of world destruction.
There's something sexual going on during the climax (ahem) as well. Gozer first assumes a form that appears to be a woman, and is at least androgynous. Later, the god eggs on the Ghostbusters to "choose their destroyer". Had they already chosen the female form earlier, being afraid of all women? Egon rejects Janine's very forward advances, and earlier during the montage, Ray gets a blowjob from a ghost woman. The proton pack shooters are undeniably phallic as well. The way they're held during the climax also makes it look like a giant dick. Finally, crossing the streams can easily be read as gay panic. They defeat the Stay Puft man by crossing all four streams and circle-jerking in to the portal (vagina) that birthed Gozer, leaving everyone covered in white marshmallow goo. Come on.
Part of the greatness of Ghostbusters is being able to see a little more each time. Laugh a little more. Every viewing brings some little funny part to the forefront, or some little angle never seen before. That quality is one of the main reasons this movie will probably keep getting re watched for the next 30 years as well.
No comments:
Post a Comment