The Writers Guild of America, West, just released a list of the 101 funniest screenplays of all time, naming Woody Allen’s Annie Hall, co-written with Marshall Brickman, as the funniest. Now, lists are extremely subjective things that become the target of Internet outrage (almost as a rule), but as an Officially Official Authority on Film, the WGA might know a thing or two about movies. And to their credit, it’s a varied list, not limiting itself to a time period or country. But there will always be detractors because for every person who has ever seen a movie, there has been an opinion to go with it. But here are some honorable mentions:
In addition to Annie Hall, Woody Allen had six other screenplays make the list: Sleeper, Bananas, Take the Money and Run, Love and Death, Manhattan, and Broadway Danny Rose.
The late Harold Ramis has five screenplays: Ghostbusters, Caddyshack, Stripes, as well as Groundhog Day and Animal House, which were in the top 10 (at No. 3 and No. 10, respectively).
Mel Brooks has two scripts in the top 10: Young Frankenstein (No. 6) and Blazing Saddles (No. 8).
Also up near the top are contemporary comedies (Bridesmaids at No. 16, The Hangover at No. 30, The 40-Year-Old Virgin at No. 31) and vintage ones (Some Like It Hot at No. 2, Duck Soup at No. 17, and Bringing Up Baby at No. 24).
Maybe this should have been a list of 102 since Anchorman and Dumb and Dumber tied for No. 54.
But looking at the list, it’s kind of hard to disagree that these are the funniest movies ever made, even if you disagree with the rankings. Unless you like Billy Madison, which, criminally, did not make the list.
How dare they deny that line is funny. How dare they.
(via Rolling Stone)
