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Comedian (2002)
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Reviews Counted:88
Fresh:67
Rotten:21
Average Rating:6.8/10
Consensus: Comedian is an insightful look at the hard work of creating comedy.
Theatrical Release:Oct 11, 2002 Limited
Box Office: $2,683,160
Synopsis: In this endearing documentary, Jerry Seinfeld shares the challenges and triumphs of returning to the stand-up stage after having made his fame with his eponymous television series. Starting out at... In this endearing documentary, Jerry Seinfeld shares the challenges and triumphs of returning to the stand-up stage after having made his fame with his eponymous television series. Starting out at gritty New York City venues like The Comedy Cellar, Gotham Comedy Club, and Caroline's, Seinfeld slowly readjusts to live performances. Backstage in between shows he chats with fellow comedians Colin Quinn and Chris Rock about writing and introducing new material, dealing with dead audiences, and getting comfortable on stage. These conversations convey a compassion and understanding about the struggles faced by all comedians, especially those who are much less established than Seinfeld. One such upstart, Orny Adams, is prominently featured in the film. A determined 29-year-old who wants fame and fortune more than anything else, Orny's journey takes him from the same small NYC venues where Seinfeld performs, to a signing with a manager, and tours to Montreal and L.A. This subplot casts Seinfeld's laid-back personality and more mature approach in a unique light. As Seinfeld graduates to bigger theaters and longer acts, working his way up to a 60-minute show, he finds inspiration in fellow comedians. The climax of the film is Seinfeld's meeting with Bill Cosby, a moment he calls one of the most important of his career. COMEDIAN, directed by Christian Charles and produced by Gary Streiner, is a gift to Seinfeld fans, while its positive tone and uplifting message will appeal to all audiences. [More]
Starring: Jerry Seinfeld, Colin Quinn, Chris Rock, Garry Shandling
Starring: Jerry Seinfeld, Colin Quinn, Chris Rock, Garry Shandling, Bill Cosby, Jay Leno, Orny Adams
Director: Christian Charles
Director: Christian Charles
Producer: Gary Streiner
Studio: Miramax Films
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Release:
May 13, 2003
Reviews for Comedian
Think sausage. It’s gristly, filled with fat, and even if you like standup comedy, you might not want to see it done.
Choppy editing and too many repetitive scenes spoil what could have been an important documentary about stand-up comedy.
Digital-video documentary about stand-up comedians is a great glimpse into a very different world.
Comedian never comes full circle with the intimate details surrounding the personal life of Jerry Seinfeld. The real romanticism is about a man and his love affair with one main dancing partner—the companion called comedy.
You might be shocked to discover that Seinfeld's real life is boring.
It doesn't have a narrative arc so much as it sips from the snifter of the life of a comedian, but that does not detract from its interest one bit.
Those with an interest in the art of stand-up will revel in this, and there's enough laughs to sustain it for those not looking to overintellectualize things.
Ultra-cheap and incorrigibly lo-fi, Comedian doesn't have much rhyme or reason, or a point.
What's missing most from Comedian is the stand-up act that Seinfeld is so carefully crafting.
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