Ah, funerals. Endless sources of farcical comedy… At least, they are in film land.
Frank Oz is the latest director to make death funny – or at least try – with Death At A Funeral.
Dean Craig’s script will focus on a dysfunctional British family who are gathering to pay final respects to their father. But when a mystery man threatens to expose secrets about the dearly departed unless he’s paid off, the sons of the family must make sure it doesn’t leak out. Which equals comedy madness.
On hand to play the brothers are Ewan Bremner (last seen in Match Point) and Pride & Prejudice’s own Mr Darcy, Matthew Macfayden. Peter Dinklage has also joined the cast, which means that the movie is now 73% better.
The film marks Oz’s switch to low-budget indie filmmaking after the disappointing likes of The Stepford Wives. "In the low-budget world, there is more pressure on speed but less pressure on the amount of money, meaning when you don't have enough money, you have to shoot faster," Oz tells The Hollywood Reporter. "When you do have a lot of money, you don't have to shoot as fast, but the pressure is being responsible for the tremendous amount of money at your disposal."