Stan & Ollie

      One of the best films of the year sneaks in just under the wire. This is the wonderful backstory of one of the greatest comedy duos in history, Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy.

       They were at the peak of their careers in the late 1930's and that's where this film starts but then jumps ahead 16 years, slowly filling in the backstory and following the comedy legends as the embark on a theatrical comeback tour.

        Steve Coogan plays Stan Laurel and John C. Reilly plays Oliver Hardy. They are both absolutely remarkable. With incredible makeup, especially for Mr. Reilly, you would swear you are watching the real Laurel and Hardy. Their performances are that good.

         The film recreates some of their best bits but make no mistake, this is not a comedy. The real story here is what went on behind the scenes, with all the show business drama you can imagine. This is a loving tribute to the genius of these comedy legends but pulls no punches to the failures, resentments, and many other problems that faced the duo when the cameras stopped rolling.

               Co-stars Nina Arianda as Ida Laurel and Shirley Henderson as Lucille Hardy are both wonderful as the wives behind the men with some terrific scenes of their own. Also co-starring is Danny Huston as Hal Roach, the director who introduced the pair and made their greatest films and as the most subtly manipulative tour promoter you've ever seen, Rufus Jones as Bernard Delfont.  Mr. Jones steals every scene he's in which is not easy since Mr. Coogan and Mr. Reilly are both at the top of their game.

                The names Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy may not be recognizable to a younger generation but they were a vital piece of entertainment history and this film could not be a better tribute. It is simply terrific.