Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead - 10/10
brilliant film/play/play in a play in a play in a film. The verbal acrobatics match the physical acrobatics of the best of Jackie Chan. A slew of humour rolled out in less than half a minute. I'm sure I missed many on the way, though some I didnt miss the first time I saw it, which was when I missed some I didnt miss now. If only I could be that clever.
An example of the wordplay:
Rosencrantz: Is that southerly?
Guildenstern: We came from roughly south.
Rosencrantz: Which way is that?
Guildenstern: In the morning, the sun would be easterly. I think we can assume that.
Rosencrantz: That it's morning?
Guildenstern: If it is, and the sun is over there for instance, that would be northerly. On the other hand, if it's not morning and the sun is over there, that would still be northerly. To put it another way, if we came from down there, and it's morning, the sun would be up there, but if it's actually over there and it's still morning, we must have come from back there, and if that's southerly, and the sun is really over there, then it's the afternoon. However, if none of these are the case...
Rosencrantz: Why don't you go and have a look?
Guildenstern: Pragmatism. Is that all you have to offer?
Rosencrantz: I merely suggest that the position of the sun, if it is out, would give you a rough idea of the time. Alternatively, a clock, if it is going, would give you a rough idea of the position of the sun. I forget which you are trying to establish.
Guildenstern: I'm trying to establish the direction of the wind.
Rosencrantz: There isn't any wind.
[the shutters blow open and a paper windmill which Rosenkrantz is holding starts spinning]
Rosencrantz: Draughts, yes!