THE BALLOONATIC

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This is one of Buster Keaton's last short films, made in 1923.  

Disappointingly, he doesn’t spend much time in a balloon.  Even more disappointingly, there’s not much of a story going on here, just a collection of sketches, mainly of Buster and the inevitable female character trying to get by in the wilds, which aren’t that funny or inventive.  And there’s a very unsettling moment where Buster seems to shoot dead a big grizzly bear. 

And in the viewing I attended, a heavy rock music soundtrack (by a Brazilian composer Amon Tobin) had been added which seemed inappropriate; I would have preferred something gentler and more pastoral, at least for the outdoor scenes.

'The Balloonatic' was supporting something entitled 'REM x Buster Keaton’s Sherlock Jr' which combined my favourite Buster Keaton film with a soundtrack comprising REM tracks from the 'Monster' and 'New Adventures in HiFi' albums.

Some thought had clearly gone into the sequencing of the tracks so that although I’m not convinced that the total was greater than the sum of the parts it made for a very enjoyable and different viewing experience.  Certainly a lot better than 'The Balloonatic'.  

RATING: x Curb Your Enthusiasm

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