Amazon.com

To know the origin of "Snoochie-Boochies," you must spend AnEvening with Kevin Smith. The Jersey-bred auteur of low-budget comedyproves equally adept as an uncensored raconteur, regaling five collegeaudiences--his most devoted demographic--in this two-disc compilation of livelyQ&A. Sporting his trademark slacker garb, Smith occasionally bites the loyal,sometimes moronic hands that feed him (as a result, audience participation isdrop-dead hilarious), but he's arguably the most publicly and personally honestfilmmaker to survive the insanity of Hollywood. His best stories lift the veilof show-biz decorum, describing absurd meetings with studio executives over hisill-fated screenplay Superman Lives; razzing the artsy pretensions ofdirector Tim Burton; or exposing Prince (who hired him to direct anever-completed documentary) as a self-absorbed Jesus freak. These attacks aren'tbaseless; Smith's too smartly good-natured to provoke without purpose, and withan onstage visit by Jason Mewes ("Jay" to Smith's "Silent Bob"), this ribald,sharply assembled Evening compares favorably to Richard Pryor with itsoutrageous blend of comedy and candor. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (50)

A Film OF Kevin Smith, not BY him - but just as entertaining
As soon as I popped An Evening With Kevin Smith into my DVD player, I felt right at home. Kevin appears on the menu screen immediately and starts acting (silently) about how long you're taking to choose something. So, before even starting the movie, I saw a character just like Silent Bob on the screen, and felt like this was familiar ground.
But then Kevin starts speaking. And speaking. And speaking. The movie, is essentially pieced together footage from a college tour Smith did, where he basically hosts a Q and A session. And, while it can't truly be considered stand up comedy, it's funnier than most comdeians will ever be.
So, the movie is about three hours of Smith answering fans questions, and topics switch from Jason Mewes' (Jay in the five Jersey flicks) sex life, to Kevin's involvement with a new Superman script, to his first sexual encounter with his wife, to Prince, (yes, the musician.) And I can gurantee that if you are in the least bit interested in Kevin's films, you'll be laughing so hard the three hours will blow by faster than you could possibly imagine.
Luckily, there's more to do once you've finished the movie. While the two-disc set isn't loaded with extra features, it does feature a number of hidden easter eggs, mostly of footage cut from the final film, and they're equally as entertaining as the rest of the movie.
So, once you've gotten over the initial shock of hearing "Silent Bob" speak at length, you should have a great deal of fun with this movie, and I believe it warrants at the nvery least a rental, if not a purchase.

An Evening Well-Spent
This peek into the View Askewniverse and mind of Kevin Smith is one wild ride. If you find Smith's movies funny, you'll find yourself with side pains during this. Sure, there are few bonus features on the 2-disc set, but that's because all the bonus features were already included in the program itself. Whatever happened to the Superman script Kevin was working on? What's up with Magnolia Fan? Does Kevin think he's going to go to Hell for writing Dogma? Is Jason Mewes gay? All these questions and more (much more) are answered in this candid look at Q&A sessions from several different colleges with the master himself. Any Kevin Smith fan will thrill to the hilarious back stories shared about the creation of the five movies that have reshaped modern cinema. Also, be sure to watch the fun Kevin has with people who leave the Main Menu on for a prolonged period of time. It's nearly four hours of the best look into an artist's mind since Stephen King wrote "On Writing." Kevin, if you see this, thanks for the fun and for five of the best movies I've ever seen. Oh, and I need some money....you know what you can get for $5!

The Greatest dvd entertainer of all time.
For people who tell it like it is. Kevin Smith is one of the greatest speakers of our time. There is no P.C. babble restrictions here. An Evening with Kevin Smith is a fantastic stand-up, door opener that allows people to get a taste of Kevin as he tells some stories and answers questions to the history of his movies, family, friends, likes and dislikes. A must see, non-bubblegum ride into the View Askew world.

He was not fit to write Superman....
I have read the draft of the Superman script that he wrote and oh, he was so wrong to do it. He treated Superman like some horney teenager, even Tim Burton who later passed on the project and can be strange as well, even he said "No, I am not doing this." All Smith does is insult people who do not agree with him. He has no class, he has no room for patience for other people's viewpoints, and he's just a sleeze. As for me, I'm going to watch a Tim Burton movie now.

Funy Funny Funny
I liked this spotlight on Kevin Smith. There are some things that I didn't like about it. Lets start with the positive first ....... This is a very open and far spread interview (from his fans)with Kevin Smith which made a very funny and personal film. This also had some very witty views on his films (coming from Kevin and the fans that ask the questions). Everything that would be expected from Kevin and everything that wouldn't be expected. The story telling was simply great. I could not stop laughing !!!!!!!
The negative is the editing job on this was horrid. It drove me nuts!!!! They skipped from college to college with no segways.The audio and camera work was even kind of shotty in places but not enough to kill the mood. I think that Sony/Columbia could have found a better team to put this together. It seemed that J.M. Kenny was way over his head with this project or just didn't know what what to do as far as directing. The last thing is that they left the ending of the first DVD open. What happened after being asked to leave the stage? They never go back to that on the second DVD.

It is worth the money but you may want to watch a few of his films first to understand what is being talked about(in some places). It is truely a must have for a View Askew fan. ... Read more

Description

They're loud, proud and outrageously funny - they're The Queens of Comedy, captured live onstage in Memphis during their triumphant comedy tour! Miss Laura Hayes (Def Comedy Jam), Adele Givens (The Tracey Ullman Show), Sommore (The Hughleys) and Mo'Nique (The Parkers) lauch a full-scale laugh attack that's not afraid to go over the top - or below the belt. No one is safe from their merciless wit, as they take on such topics as skinny women, marriage, children and, most importantly, men. And you'll also go behind-the-scenes with The Queens, as they display the magical chemistry that made them a top-drawing concert act. ... Read more

Reviews (42)

HILARIOUS!!!!
I've watched this video multiple times both alone and with friends. I've loaned it out to friends, all of whom LOVED it!! If you don't find humor about sex funny, or find skinny women sacred, then this just isn't the video for you. There's no reason to compare it to "The Original Kings of Comedy," too bad the titles are so similar. The humor is totally different. If you're tired of the stale "black people do this" vs. "white people do that" format that's so prominent in the "Kings," try out the "Queens" and get ready for something else instead. Oops, I jumped on the bandwagon and compared the two...but just to say THEY'RE TOTALLY DIFFERENT! Check out the Queens! There's a combination of styles that runs from dry humor to more blatant humor, and from subtle to crude. Enjoy it!

Funny At Times
The "Queens" was a pretty good show. Each of the featured comediennes had her moments...I especially enjoyed Monique's stand-up section. She was funnnnyy! She probably best represented the whole "Royalty of Comedy" idea and complimented the "Kings of Comedy" well because she just got up there and let loose. Adele also gave a good show. The others basically stood up and told some jokes. Adele did a great job of handling herself in those video clips of the three ladies hanging out in Memphis. True, Monique was loud and overbearring -- but it seems like the film editors gave her the most screen shots because she really did give the strongest performance. Truthfully, they could've done without the little video clips -- it kind of reminded me of BET's "Comic View" where they used to (and still do at times) insert little non-necessary skits just to fill out the time slot. But, all in all it was a pretty good show. Worth the money to rent it from the video store, but not worth the late fee if you don't turn it in on time :-).

Too much cussing takes away from the comedy
Loud is right, loud with the cussing!!!
I had been wanting to see this DVD for a while. I really enjoy Sommore and Mo'Nique, but this DVD was a let down. These ladies have no problems discussing just about any topic from spending 5 days in jail, sex, black men, sex, children, sex, marriage, and sex. You also got some behind the scenes footage, which to me was really not necessary. I knew better then to compare this to the Kings of Comedy. I mean why even bother? I knew it would be different, but the titles were similar so I guess that's why people made the comparison. I have no problem with cussing. It just seemed extremely excessive, and it was not funny. That's part of the problem I have with some comics, the use of cussing as a filler to help expand their act. You don't have to cuss to be funny. When I could laugh, I enjoyed some of the jokes, but aside of that, it's not gut busting funny. It's not hysterical. This was a major, major let down. You do not need to use excessive foul language to be funny!!!

Trash
Do yourself a favor and stick with the Kings because this mess is a waste of money. The majority of the jokes are sex related & full of cursing. These things could be excused if they were funny! But this is far cry from it.

The F bomb used too much, FAILURE
seriously. I didn't understand this. This show sucked. It really, really sucked. Every other word was an F bomb and the fat one kept talking about sex and going into detail and it made me shudder. I'd rather staple gun myself in the forehead then see this piece of crap again. I'd give it 0 stars if I could. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Originally produced for the Independent Film Channel, John Lurie's idiosyncratic take on the classical fishing program places the genre in entirely alien terrain--and that doesn't just refer to the strange and exotic locations. Best known to filmgoers for roles in Stranger Than Paradise and The Last Temptation of Christ, Lurie is also a composer, a saxophonist, the leader of the jazz group the Lounge Lizards, and a painter. Fisherman, however, is nowhere to be seen on his résumé, so this city-bred hipster's foray into rod and reel country is obviously another kettle of fish. Reeling in buddies Tom Waits, Matt Dillon, Willem Dafoe, Dennis Hopper, and director Jim Jarmusch to join him on his fishing trips to such faraway locales as Jamaica, Costa Rica, and Thailand, Lurie takes his show completely out of the "how to" realm: imagine a talk show defined by its contemplative silences. Fishing with John teaches nothing about fishing. Instead, John simply enjoys the company of his buddies as they venture out into unfamiliar territory and drop a line in the water, tossing in a current of absurdist commentary (dryly intoned by Roy Webb) and surreal speculation for good measure. This is the ultimate fishing show for people who could not care less about fishing. --Sean Axmaker ... Read more

Reviews (31)

a new perspective on fish, life, and everything in between
Awkward, and at times uncomfortable, John Lurie invites the viewer to accompony him and some rather amazing film and music stars on his extreme fishing trips. While going completely off target, and abandoning all sense of reality, Lurie manages to leave everthing behind except what is fundimentally important in life (whether you're Dennis Hopper, Tom Waits, or nobody in particular), and that is: well, i'm still not quite sure. Whatever it is, John Lurie has somehow caputered in these episodes...
Brilliant work...

But what about fishing with John 2: Peanut Butter on Cheese
I can't believe that it's been ten years since John Lurie made this series and it still holds up. Great comedy fishing show that isn't over-the-top. Its more crack a smile humor most of the time but certain episodes are clearly made just to make us laugh - the episode with John and Jarmusch comes to mind (every time they show a school of fish they use the sound effect of a bunch of children playing) - and other episodes - such as the one with Tom Waits - are more thought provoking. The locations that are used - Montauk, Vietnam, Canada - are all gorgeous and are far and above any run of the mill fishing show. Even if you aren't into fishing at all - this is the show for you. Its a fishing show that isn't about fishing at all - just a guy hanging out with his celebrity friends and occasionally catching some fish. That is, until he and Willem Dafoe find themselves snowed in and unable to catch anything and they go insane and die. There aren't any fish in that episode.

Fishing with bad movie.
Fishing, in general, is dull, which makes it a bad premise for anything. Nowhere in the Amazon.com review do the words funny, laugh, amusing, or good appear. The review describes it excellently, "imagine a talk show defined by its contemplative silences." What does that mean? It means don't watch this.

Life is beautiful,for some more than others.
This DVD is the next best thing to fishing.

an odd comedy and mockumentary
This review is for the Criterion Collection DVD edition.

This is the first non movie released through the Criterion Collection. It is a short lived TV series, which is a satire of the saturday morning fishing shows which used to be popular.

Im this show, experimental musician John Lurie goes fishing with movie stars. There are 3 half hour episodes and one two-part hour long episode.

The special features are audio commentary by John Lurie and a music video of his band, the Lounge Lizards.

This show is one of the oddest comedies I have ever seen and completly out of the mainstream. Fishermen and comedians will both like this show. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

Struggling filmmaker Mark Borchardt is the subject of American Movie, and he may also be the most determined man you'll ever meet. The straggly haired, fast-talking, Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, native lists his greatest influences as Dawn of the Dead, Night of the Living Dead, and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. He began making horror movies as a gangly adolescent, and is now set on finishing Coven (which he pronounces like "woven"), the "35-minute direct market thriller" he has worked on for two years. In the process, he steadfastly battles immense debt, the threat of losing his kids, and birds chirping gleefully through scenes set in the dead of winter. His mother would rather do her shopping than be an extra, his brother contends he's best suited for factory work, and his father just wants him to "watch the language."

Standing by him through it all is Mark's childhood buddy, Mike Schank, who is the strongest weapon against drug use a task force could ever hope for, and Uncle Bill, begrudging financier of Coven, who appears to be wasting away before our very eyes. In less perceptive hands these two could easily become caricatures--the burnt-out stoner and the crotchety old coot--but through director Chris Smith's lens we see why Mark loves them, why they love Mark, and why each of these stories is uniquely compelling.

Winner of the Grand Jury Prize at the 1999 Sundance Film Festival, the film has been compared to Spinal Tap and Waiting for Guffman--two unquestionably hilarious mock-documentaries--and, indeed, American Movie has plenty of laugh-out-loud moments. But in the spoofs, we feel encouraged to point and giggle at the poor slobs trying to get a piece of the action. Smith, however, offers us a funny and overwhelmingly affectionate portrait; you may sit down expecting to laugh at Mark's pie-in-the-sky hopes, but you soon find yourself bursting with admiration. "The American dream stays with me each and every day," Mark says, and by the end, we want nothing more than for it to come true. (The DVD version includes the complete short film "Coven.") --Brangien Davis ... Read more

Reviews (99)

You won't believe you're watching a documentary...
Becoming a filmmaker takes much more than just passion. It takes hard work, supportive friends and family, borrowed money, headaches, lottery tickets, and a lot of beer.

American Movie: The Making of Northwestern is an indie film about indie films. Director Chris Smith's documentary follows aspiring Milwaukee filmmaker Mark Borchardt as he pursues his life's dream - to produce a feature film called Northwestern. Unfortunately, this film isn't really about the making of Northwestern - because early in the film, Mark realizes that he doesn't have enough money to produce it. Instead, he decides to finish his short film, Coven, so he can sell copies (at least 3,000, he calculates) and earn the money to produce his feature film.

American Movie is a hilarious look at the life of an independent filmmaker - beginning with the first movies he made as a kid (The More the Scarier 1- 3). Smith follows Borchardt as he tries to get funding from his reluctant Uncle Bill, talks his mom into doing camera work, bails his friend (and associate producer) out of jail, and drags his kids along (sleeping bags in hand) to the editing studio - always with his laid-back drinking buddy, Mike Schank, at his side.

American Movie is surreal. You'll never believe that it's a true story about real people making a real movie - but it really is. I promise.

If you've ever wondered what it would be like to make a movie, head to the nearest video store and pick up American Movie. It's a humorously educational film about making an independent film. It's about the hard work and the hardships that go into it - and if that doesn't scare you away from trying to create one of your own, nothing will.

Funny, touching, brilliant
This documentary about a small town movie-mogul wannabe is simultaneously hilarious and touching. You are witness to the struggle of a 30 year old paperboy living with his parents who's dreams of becoming a movie maker are constantly dashed by both his lack of funds as well as his own fear of failing and thus, completing his film.

You are witness to a genuine, multi-faceted individual who is at times caring, other times self focused and selfish who drags his willing friends, neighbors and family along for the ride to stardom - all of whom are inspired by his vision of greatness.

The second star of this film is Mark's Borchardt's longtime friend Mike Shank who's near-fatal LSD overdose years before has rendered him a warm, friendly albeit sometimes light-headed sidekick to his angst-driven friend. Mark's love for his boyhood friend is apparent in Mark's affectionate smile that greets many of Mike's simple and spacey reflections.

This movie was a great surprise that I have since fervently recommended to many of my friends. A true slice of the American Dream served up on cold, hard platter in the blue collar suburb of Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin.

Need help people
I was just about to buy this DVD, based on the recommendations here, but I noticed that the DVD is in Full Screen format.

What's up with that?

Was the film shot in TV aspect ratio? I'm not going to buy a widescreen film in Full Screen format.

Mandatory
American Movie is an absolutely enjoyable and strangely fascinating documentary by the filmmaking team of director CHRIS SMITH and producer SARAH PRICE. It's a story about following your dream. The subject of the film is a young, fiercely dedicated, self-defined filmmaker Mark Borchardt. Borchardt, who was born and lives in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin and who has, since the age of 14, been trying to fulfill his dream of becoming a successful Hollywood feature film director . . . in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, is one of the most genuine and interesting documentary subjects you could imagine. "But I've never heard of him," you say. I know. He's not yet famous but he's still fascinating. In this delightful and thoroughly honest film, you'll see how this young man, now 30-something, continues to pursue his "impossible dream" despite his parents' wishes that he get a job in a factory, his lack of any serious financial backing, and many years of dreaming and drinking when, as he says himself, he should've been working on his films.

In this very intimate film you'll see some of his work and follow very closely as he pursues capital investment ($3,000) from his very tight-fisted and colorful uncle, enlists his mother to be an extra as she explains that she really needs to go shopping instead, and shoots and edits his film with the constant and loyal support of his long-time friend, Mike Schank. Mike has been his friend since childhood. He's a musician, a guitarist, and admitted drug abuser (though he's been clean for the last four years.) He's a kind of real-life "Reverend Jim" from TV's Taxi. He has definitely been affected by all the various drugs and alcohol he's drunk, sniffed, swallowed, and whatever over the years. But he's a kind and loyal friend--someone we can't help but like.

The characters are very interesting and well worth watching. I found this non-fictional documentary more interesting to watch than many fictional films I've sat through. CHRIS SMITH has captured his subject with affection, respect, and honesty. He has been able to get so close and intimate that it seems as if no one is even aware that there's a documentary being made. This is a really insightful look at the American Dream as it's experienced at the grassroots level. I think this is going to become a documentary classic and that the two main characters, Mark and Mike are going to become cult and cultural icons.

I can't believe it.
I can't believe I'm the first to review this film. I watched it on DVD three times in two days. The first time I thought I was watching a mockudrama, like Best in Show, for example. Seen that way it was wonderful, but a bit dark at times. Second time through I understood I was watching a strange documentary, filled with wonderful people I'd like to know, but not too closely. Third time through I included the commentary and heard the odd background story. Now I want to find someone doing what Mark is doing so I can get involved. Humm. Maybe not Mark, though. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The tribulations of Tommy and Dick Smothers and their popular late-'60s television show are detailed in Maureen Muldaur's interesting 92-minute documentary. Viewing the clips from The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, one might find it hard to imagine that they were considered controversial at the time; indeed, the jabs at censorship, gun ownership, the Vietnam war, and more seem mild by today's raunchy standards. But controversial they were, especially to CBS, who aired (and eventually canceled) the Smothers' show. Turns out that Tommy, the "dumb" one, was in fact a gadfly who turned the program into a cause célèbre somewhat beyond its actual significance; and in the end, as one of the talking heads featured here points out, it was the Smothers' decreasing sense of fun that really doomed it. Both brothers are interviewed, as are writers Rob Reiner and Steve Martin and others. DVD extra features include bios and an excerpt from a book on the subject. --Sam Graham ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Very well done
I am among those who remember the Smother Brothers Comedy Hour. And I remember one of the things that a commentator said during this show, that they had some out-of-the-ordinary guests, "Not just Steve Lawrence and Edie Gormet, or Wayne Newton," as the guy said. The Who. Arlo Guthrie. Pete Seeger. These were guests they had.

But, as Rob Reiner, one of the writers, and others commented, they were so...ordinary! The blazers, the short hair (earlier, anyway). They were so American that people couldn't resist. It was also "wholesome" humor, not, say, George Carlin, or Lenny Bruce. That's how they got on, to compete with the select hour which "Bonanza" had dominated for years.

Then they did a bit--Tommy and Elaine Maye did--spoofing censors. That's where the censorship began. The whole bit was removed from the show!

In fact, the documentary shows that they were politicized by the censorship. The more they tried to say, the more they were challenged by CBS.

For what it's worth, I think their comedy hour was the last variety show I could even stomach. Most weren't very good anyway. They either weren't funny or were pathetically predictable. This opened new doors. In fact, contemporary critics said if it weren't for the Smother Bros.' show, Saturday Night Live would probably have never been on the air.

The timing of the show is just about right. Any shorter and I might have felt short changed. Too long and it may have gotten a little dry. The people the producers talked to included the Brothers themselves, the writers, including head writer Mason Williams, famous for his single, "Classical Gas," and guests including Joan Baez and Pete Seeger (who was responsible for letters CBS received reminscient of the McCarthy witch hunt!)

If you want to remember an era when television even had some potential, or even just remember a great comedy duo, this is a DVD I recommend.

Not bad. but.....
This gives a good overview of the story of the Smothers Bros. late 1960s show and why and how it got cancelled. Those who are familiar with the basic story behind this may learn of some new things, such as the fact that LBJ himself watched and disliked the show (you' figure he had other things to worry about like Vietnam and Civil Rights) and of the Smothers successful lawsuit against CBS.

There are a few clips of the skits and on-air sermonizing that got the show in hot water, but very few. Joan Baez's speaking on her imprisoned husband, the hippy commentator's drug references, Harry Belafonte singing "Carnival" to footage of the 1968 Chicago riots (it's never clear if that footage actually aired), and Pete Seeger singing "Waist Deep in the Big Muddy and the Big Fool Says to Push On" and a snippet of David Steinberg's biblical parodies are about it. The other stuff is just talked about.

More clips would help, as well as an extra of an actual episode.

Nice
It's hard enough to get a guy in his thirties (me) emotionally invested in the sixties with a Time magazine ad "Turn, Turn, Turn" montage. So it's nearly impossible to get fired up about a (now) relatively tepid variety show. But this documentary works well at showing a banal, nuts and bolts level of politics. It's close to the center of things, where contract disputes and institutional pressures are mainstream metaphors for clubs and tear gas. (Rob Reiner compares key 60's assasinations to network "artistic assasination"... and looks like he knows he's stretching it). The story focuses largely on the increasing tension between CBS and performer Tommy Smothers over the program's political satire. LBJ and Nixon seem to loom in the shadows throughout, as fodder for jokes while exerting (plausibly deniable) pressures on the network. Throughout, David Halberstam provides good historical and political context. And clips from the show are... educational... (Look it's Steve Martin, David Steinberg, and that guy) There is a sort of "guess you had to be there" feel.... In the recent interviews, the entertainers are low key about their accomplishments. So you don't jump up and down, yet feel good that nothing is hyped -- great tone throughout.

when will they put out the original show?
i hope soon they put out on dvd the comedy hour
steve martin was one the writers of the show.it was too bad it
was canceled i didnt like nixon either.

GREAT insight to a GREAT Comedy team!
A Welcomed DVD to my collection. Now let's see some of the uncut episodes! Would love to see the FRED DE CORDEVA series on DVD too! ... Read more

Description

From the acclaimed filmmaker who brought you Roger & Me comes the most daring documentary show to hit the American Public since Moore’s TV Nation: THE AWFUL TRUTH

Michael Moore, hailed by the New York Times as a modern-day Mark Twain, is at it again with the show that was shut down by the mayor of NYC, got Moore sued by a wealthy industrialist, and landed his Corporate Crime-Fighting Chicken in Disney World’s very own jail.

Shot in his signature "guerilla video" style, each half hour episode is filled with scathingly funny observations that bridge comedy and controversy and places Moore in the middle of today’s hot topics.

DVD Features: Michael Moore Biography; "Moore Awful Truths"; Interactive Menus; Scene Selection ... Read more

Reviews (32)

have fun and revolt at the same time!
If you're a Michael Moore fan, this is essential for you. Roger & Me should probably be the first thing you see, but after that the best thing I think would be the first season of the Awful Truth. Moore goes after all the targets you thought needed to be attacked, and a few you wouldn't have thought of. (Who outside of Ohio had heard of that chicken coop with 11 million birds?) If you're liberal at all, you'll have a ton of fun seeing Moore heading into corporate headquarters and demanding a change (his specialty) and, surprisingly, getting his way a lot of times, going after those pesky Clinton impeachment folk, and otherwise trying to give the working man his fair share. You'll be a better person having seen it.

Beyond TV NATION
This set is a godsend, especially for TV NATION addicts who didn't have access to Bravo or Channel 4 when the series originally aired. I put off buying THE AWFUL TRUTH for too long.. probably because I was in awe of TV NATION and I assumed lightning would not strike twice. Well, it did and it didn't.

Gone are the guest reporters -- Merrill, Rusty, Janeane, Karen, and Louis -- and they are sorely missed. Though he sometimes enlists the help of Crackers and a handful of guest celebrities, Michael Moore handles all the reporting himself.. and fearlessly. This gives THE AWFUL TRUTH an intensity TV NATION lacked. Episode 1, for example, sets the tone for the entire season.. Moore sics puritans on Ken Starr, and then sics himself on an HMO who refuses to assist one of its customers with a life-saving operation.

Moore's badgering of those who break their promises and waste our time is completely satisfying.. but some of the short films Moore presents border on tasteless. How are we supposed to react to gags that have grade-schoolers holding guns and burning crosses? I suppose it's just the nature of awful truths.. to make you laugh, cheer, and scream at the television in outrage -- often in the same segment.

A look into the underbelly of America
I caught a few episodes of The Awful Truth on the tele and must say it is a pretty mixed bag. I liked the episode on guns, where Moore went to the NRA with his new idea for a mascot, a walking talking gun. Needless to say they wanted no part of it, but it was much more to the point than was "Eddie the Eagle," or whatever the NRA calls its stuffed bird which tries to warn tots of the dangers of guns while at the same time it fights any and all legislation on the hill to combat the proliferation of handguns. But, at other times Moore sounds pretty sanctimonious, such as when he is wheeling through New York in his rented Taxi refusing to pick up white folks. In other words it is the Michael Moore many have grown to love, not afraid to take on the big boys, and at the same time pointing out the many inherent weaknesses in our society.

Awful... but truthful too
Michael Moore is one of the few journalists out there who understands and acts on the need to present the story as it stands, regardless of the consquences. He refuses to sell his soul in order to satisfy media magnates, and this means we get a combination of (a) the hidden reality behind the big media stories, and (b) a rather irreverent look at the way many large US corporations operate. Both of these are tackled in humourous ways (Crackers the Corporate Crime-Fighting Chicken taking on Disney was an absolute classic), but can also be alarmingly sober (e.g. cold-hearted insurance company refusing to pay out to save a client's life). The Awful Truth is thus social conscience as well as great entertainment.

We need Michael Moore - he helps to keep things honest. If he does something you disagree with (e.g. anti-war speech at the Oscars), just put your prejudice on the back-burner for a minute and think about the issue from another angle. As the great Canadian singer-songwriter Bruce Cockburn said (in 'Maybe The Poet'), "...maybe you will not agree, but you need him to show you new ways to see." This is, after all, the essence of free speech.

deacon from minnesota
I would have to say that the recommendation or the lack thereof from the states of California and Ohio on March 26th. of this year sold me on buying this first season of Michael Moore's show. When a product such as Mr. Moore's gets that much negative review from the conservatives of the country it has to be very worthwhile. Incidentally, I'm one of the few who applauded his honesty at the Academy Awards (Just where are all those WMD's that the president and his advisers swear are in Iraq? Wasn't that what the president's war was all about?) Mr. Moore reminds me of the great political sage/cartoonist Walt Kelly, who, during the Vietnam War era of Dick Nixon, placed in the mouth of his cartoon character, Pogo, the profound proclamation, "We have met the enemy and he is us!" Mr. Moore's style reminds me of one of the sayings of the great comedian, W.C. Fields, who once said, "There comes a time in a young man's life when he must take the bull by the tail and face the situation." Thanks Mike. ... Read more

Reviews (71)

More like one king, two princes, and one sucker
Bernie Mac is undeniably THE king of comedy in this movie, his set smokes all of the others. That's not to say that the other's aren't funny. D.L. Hughley is really funny, especially when talking about how black people and white people view work. Steve Harvey sort of MC's the concert and does like two 10-15 minute sets that are decent. The only reason I didn't give this 5 stars is that I really didn't think that Cedric the Entertainers set was funny at all. It's a good thing Spike Lee didn't open the film with him because I probably would have shut it off. The funniest part of the whole movie is hearing Bernie Mac's views on child raising, it's just simply hilarious. Bernie comes from the old school of child rearing where it's ok to give a kid an @ss whippin'. Anyway, this is definitely worth buying just for Bernie Mac's set alone, but D.L. Hughley and Steve Harvey do a good job as well...a good addition to any comedy collection.

Almost a classic
The Original Kings of Comedy is not a movie per se; rather, it's an assortment of comics doing, well, comedy. Steve Harvey is the emcee, and he is joined by Cedric "The Entertainer", D.L. Hughley, and Bernie Mac. They each do an exceptional job of bringing their own comedic style to the stage, and I don't want to really go into the specifics because that would be giving away too much of the movie.

So why didn't I give it five stars? Because there was one problem: part of D.L. Hughley's routine. Sure, his jokes were funny as ever, but we all know damn well that several of those jokes were the same jokes he told a year before (or a year later, depending on when this movie was taped) in his HBO special "Going Home". And I don't mean similar jokes, I mean EXACT jokes. Although the jokes are still funny, you can't help but ache for more new material. I've noticed that with a lot of black comedians. (I'm black too, so that's not a racist remark.) For example, several of Chris Rock's jokes from his HBO special "Bigger & Blacker" were the same jokes given during his monologue when he hosted Saturday Night Live in 1996...minus the profanity, of course. I think that kind of pattern isn't good to follow. I mean, how would you feel if you bought a new album from your favorite artist and discovered that the exact same songs from the previous album are on there? (Are you listening, Jesse Powell?)

This is still a good video, so add it to your collection.

A
this movie is hilarious. you should buy it or even rent it. i cant garantee you'll like it. dont listen to them haters hatin on this dvd. yeah, i agree that maybe its none too smart to make fun of your own culture, but its still funny. it would still be funny if any body from another race made fun of thier own culture. well anywayz this is a good movie. but its not as funny as the latin kings of comedy.

The King of the Stand-up Comedy DVDs
The first time I saw a blurry picture of Steve Harvey in a magazine I thought I was looking at a young Richard Pryor. My mistake, but besides that, I wasn¡¯t too far off; at least they¡¯re in the same business of making people laugh. Harvey, who is more or less the MC of the show, introduces the other comedians while adding in his own jokes along the way. I love that Harvey is so proudly ¡®old school¡¯ and dishes out critique at the ever-so-annoying unenlightened Hip Hop artists; Original Kings of Comedy came out in 2000, but four years on, Harvey¡¯s observations are truer than ever.

Obviously everyone will have his or her favourite comedian, but for me, the weakest link was by far DL Hughley. Maybe the younger crowd will like him more, but to me he seems more pretentious than the others. Unlike them, Hughley isn¡¯t self-effacing or self-deprecating, which to me is an essential quality for a comedian, because to be able to laugh at oneself is Basic Comedy 101. He¡¯s the first one on stage and to me he just sounds a lot like all the other stand up comedians out there. He lacks presence and charisma, which he probably thinks he makes up for by being loud and boisterous. Don¡¯t get me wrong, some of his jokes were funny, but the other 3 comedians just had a more unique style and flair.

Next up is Cedric The Entertainer: I had high expectations of him, so along with his routine and his backstage banter plus Latin singing warm up in the men¡¯s¡¯ bathroom, I was won over. He's got a real knack for pacing his jokes, that is, he takes his time more than the others. I mean this in a good way. It provides a nice contrast to the rapid-fire laughs of Mac and Hughley. He also plays with language a bit, and like Harvey, is excellent at creating a scene, where his characters and ensuing jokes come to life.

When Bernie Mac arrives I was at first surprised by his thick accent, because I¡¯m used to seeing him in movie roles where he pronounces and articulates his lines more clearly. So admittedly I actually had to switch on the subtitles briefly while I reacquainted myself with his accent. Anyway, Mac is just dynamite. He really is. He¡¯s such a great combination of honesty (especially about himself) and saying what the rest of us don¡¯t dare. And by the way he¡¯s right, it¡¯s not about black or white, we all just do things differently.

So if I disliked Hughley so much, why do I still award the film 4 stars? Come on now, you can¡¯t beat the laughs in this one. The deleted scenes are all great (especially Mac¡¯s) and yes, perhaps Hughley is the weakest link to me, but thanks to him you really do get to see a variety of talent, and besides, maybe YOU will like him. This film by Spike Lee is a heap of fun. I¡¯ve seen other stand-up comedy DVDs, but this one is undoubtedly the ¡®King¡¯ of ¡®em all!

Sickeningly Hilarious!
This film captures stand-up performances from comedians Steve Harvey, D.L. Hughley, Cedric The Entertainer and Bernie Mac, and is a non-stop laugh-fest in the highest sense of the term. This review is not going to be a very long one - to be rather honest. The humor, of course, revolves around many taboo subjects like racial stereotypes, sex, religion and other things - if you are easily offended by any of these things, I suggest you avoid this film like the plague, because it is no holds barred! A few of the many hilarious scenes that I consider personal favorites from each comedian:

(1). Steve Harvey does a pretty good job of mocking the characters in the Titanic film who choose to keep playing their violins amidst a major catastrophe. He later goes into detail about why he prefers "old-school" music; particularly old-school R&B, over the hip-hop and rap trends that seem to be preferred by the modern generation. He does an effective job of lambasting rappers, and is absolutely laugh-out-loud hilarious. I was practically in tears from laughing so hard at this. Needs to be seen to be believed.

(2). D.L. Hughley was hilarious too, but like some have pointed out, some of his routines came from other, earlier stand-up specials. Side note: If you can find a copy of his stand-up comedic special entitled "Going Home," pick it up. That performance I believe to be his funniest, and it leaves me rolling on the floor everytime.

(3). Cedric The Entertainer's humor was the least brash of all the four, and has more of a laid-back, subtle charm, which still manages to make you laugh. The whole break-dance scene was funny, as well as his "cruising into outer space" scene, his self-made "martial art style" scene, and others.

(4). Bernie Mac - good lord. He was without a doubt the craziest, most brash, most (messed)-up comedian in this set. Sadistic and intensely cathartic, even. It's only fitting that he would be the last performer. His routine was just a little too much for me - and still is - and I mean that in the best way possible. His takes on kids and how they get (or should get) punished, sex and orgasm, and the "stuttering" kid were just too much - not only was I laughing too hard, but my lungs began to hurt, I nearly lost my voice for a brief period, and I was nearly out of oxygen. The guy was too much! Saying that he cracked me up would be a HUGE understatement.

All in all, recommended for many who want (or need) a major laugh-fest. Sometimes, one of the best ways - if not the best way - to deal with unpleasant situations in life is to be able to laugh at them - as exemplified in this film. If you suffer from chronic asthma, heart disease, and/or are easily shocked - particularly by the things mentioned in the above paragraphs (including loads of profanity) - stay VERY far away from this - you will be digging yourself an early grave. ... Read more

Description

Muffin Man is a hilarious and frightening look at the obesity epidemic and social dysfunction that led to the extinction of the human race.In the film, anthropologists from a distant galaxy are studying the ancient planet, Earth.Presented "mocumentary" style as a history lesson for alien viewers, the story follows the evolution of humans from Homo Sapiens (Modern Man) to Homo Twinkus (a.k.a.... Muffin Man), while simultaneously interweaving an age-old love story: Boy meets girl. Boy fights abusive ex-boyfriend to win girl’s heart. Boy has an ill-fated encounter with one too many donuts.Through scientific discovery the aliens piece together our story of extinction by consumption.

Part Discovery Channel and part Monty Python, Muffin Man is a campy, fun, in your face, and politically incorrect romp across America’s warped cultural landscape ... so grab a giant tub of popcorn covered in a buttery flavored substance, supersize that drink, and hang on for the ride! ... Read more

Amazon.com

In 1965 the National Film Board of Canada lured Buster Keaton northto star in The Railrodder, Gerald Potterton's slapstick travelogueof Canada as seen from the seat of an open railway track speeder. The twilightcompanion to Keaton's great railroad comedy The General is a modern silentfilm, accompanied only by a bouncy score, cartoonish sound effects, and theever-present putt-putt sound of the chugging car. At almost 70 years old, theGreat Stone Face lacks the acrobatic agility of the old days, but his timingis impeccable and he executes physical gags with the effortless ease of amaster.

John Spotton recorded some behind-the-scenes events during the film's shootingin the 55-minute documentary Buster Keaton Rides Again. Spotton supplementsthe production with perfunctory biographical background (which is better exploredin Kevin Brownlow's brilliant documentary Buster Keaton: A Hard Act toFollow), but at heart it's a loving, revealing portrait of the aging masterat work. Priceless footage shows Keaton brainstorming comic bits, schooling hisyoung director on the proper staging of gags, relaxing over a hand of bridge, andstewing over a disagreement when Potterton overrules a stunt Keaton has developed.The bit involves Keaton fumbling blindly behind a giant map while the car ridesover a trestle, and Potterton worries about the safety of his aging star."Dangerous?" growls Keaton. "It's kid stuff." The core of Keaton bubbles out inthe battle of wills: professionalism, pride, stubbornness, and the primacy of thegag. Keaton wins, and the gag is in. --Sean Axmaker ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Long Live Buster!
Really beautiful double-bill, featuring some of Buster's final appearances. The Railrodder comes up sumptuously in DVD colour, with many sound and vision details I have never noticed before. Almost better is the 55-min documentary about the making of the film: a wonderful, all-too brief glimpse of Buster and Eleanor at work and play; very candid, funny - it moved me to tears at times. I love Buster so much, as an artist and as a human being. There's a delightful moment when a bunch of Canadian children talk direct to camera, beside themselves with excitement at the prospect of visiting their hero in his private carriage. Unforgettable.

I Can See Clearly Now!
"Buster Keaton Rides Again/The Railrodder" is here on DVD! After watching the VHS version for several years, the improvement in picture and sound quality of the DVD is striking! Colors are vivid, picture is crystal clear, and the music sounds 100 times better than on the video version. This compilation is a must-have for true Keaton fans. "The Railrodder" is a short silent film (with music) which shows an aging Keaton doing what he did best. One of the last films he made (he died a year and a half after it was filmed) it is also an homage to the beauty of Southern Canada.

But the real gem of this collection is "Buster Keaton Rides Again," a b&w documentary of the making of "The Railrodder." It is a rare look at Keaton being himself, something that was usually kept from the public eye. We see how he worked, relaxed, and what made him smile. There is touching and endearing footage of him interacting with his wife Eleanor and a priceless scene of him singing and playing ukulele. Additionally, there is a short biography interwoven throughout, with some beautiful vintage photos and footage of Buster's early days. Highest recommendations! ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Rockin good time
I wholeheartedly recommend this film to anyone -- it's for parents and children, not just fathers and daughters. This movie plays more like a story than what you usually think of as documentary. I liked old Blakey, though some people in the audience couldn't stand him. It made me think about my relationships with my own parents. It's very funny up until the bittersweet ending.

Excellent title. Makes you want to know what the movie's abo
This movie was very touching, honest, sad, interesting and complete. However, it leaves Tessa "without closure". She wants her father to accept her biracial boyfriend, yet he denies her the opportunity. He quickly ends the conversation as the movie ends. I noticed her tears. The ONE thing she wants him to understand is beyond his social and ethical abilities, which is sad. Money and beauty is all that motivates her father. She loves her biracial boyfriend, yet leaves him, I think, because of her father and what he thinks. Her desire to make her father happy overcomes her own desires for happiness. She does not want to disappoint her father, which is very understanding. She wants to make her father happy, yet wants to be happy herself. This film was excellent. I wish I had her personal email address, which is probably impossible. She knows, as well as I do, that money is not everything in life. Her boyfriend was very intelligent, attractive and fun. Skin color is not significant when it comes to happiness. I wish you happiness, Tessa, if you read this.

excellent
Awesome documentary. Turn the audio commentary on, you'll get a kick out of it - I loved hearing Tessa and the producer fill in the blanks! This is not just a "chick movie," my whole family loved it.

a reel pleasure
I very much enjoyed this film. Funny and SAD! made me glad to be me and have my family. At least we TALK about things!

Good movie for documentary fans
Good movie, worth seeing. Interesting storytelling, issues are presented well. Very cool soundtrack. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

rent it, don't buy it
This is an interesting movie about an interesting subject, but done in an odd fashion. I'd hesitate to even call this "mockumentary" in the sense of the Spinal Tap/Waiting for Guffman sense, but it is indeed done in that tongue-in-cheek documentary style. What makes the film uncomfortable is the blurred line between reality and exaggeration for the sake of story telling. Also you get the feeling from the interviews that this story is one of the most important events of the millenium. It tends to drag a bit toward the middle, but like I said, the subject is interesting, and while there may not be a distinct theme, this film was in fact informative and told not only another coming out story, but also some of the goings on in Dirk's line of work. So rent the movie because it's worth seeing, but if you buy it, you'll probably never watch it again.

A one trick pony, but a fun ride
Cliche-riddled? Yes. Superficial? Mostly. Narcissistic self-indulgence on the part of director/star Dirk Shafer? Most definitely! But in this age of "Judge Judy" and "reality tv," this type of "mocumentary" is an interesting genre to follow. What is truth? What is distortion to serve a dramatic end? These are the kinds of questions that come to mind when I watch MAN OF THE YEAR. When the subject is the teller these distinctions become fuzzier and fuzzier. Clearly the tv clips from the Donahue show when the Playgirl "man of the year" fails a "best buns" contest was authentic. The nightclub stripper who became Shafer's stalker and the therapist who diagnosed Shafer as a "passive-agressive latent exhibitionist" are clearly fictional. The best female friend posing as his on-air girlfriend falls in the gray area somewhere between the two.

Recent films that fall into this category that I enjoyed (but also felt frustrated with) are: THE LARAMIE PROJECT, BEST IN SHOW, the hilarious THE KID STAYS IN THE PICTURE, and THE EYES OF TAMMY FAYE (though this last one is usually considered a documentary, Tammy Faye's full-blown participation in its making pushed it beyond the realm of objective reportage, something you expect from a documentary). These are the film equivalents of Capote's IN COLD BLOOD and Mailer's ARMIES OF THE NIGHT. History posing as fiction or fiction posing as history? What I like about this genre is that they seem, in a very post-modernist way, to blithly accept that these distinctions are either irrelevant or cannot be made with any assurance.

The problem for many viewers is likely to come when the film touches upon "serious" issues, like homophobia (including internalized homophobia), the practice of "outing" public figures, and AIDS. The death of Shafer's friend from AIDS (clearly a fictionalized component of this film)is treated with the same light touch as the "best buns" contest. This is quite disconcerting and feels like an insult to people who suffer from this frightful disease and to people who really have lost friends to AIDS. My sense, however, is that life is made up of these kinds of jarring juxtapositions of tragedy and shallowness. Blocking out one reality to more fully experience the other seems arbitrary and artificial. This realization does not lessen the oddness I felt watching MAN OF THE YEAR, but it does help me to accept it.

Overall, I felt the production values were good...as was the acting (catch Robert Goulet as Shafer's father). It's worth a rental if you don't want to cough up the full purchase price.

Bomb of the Century
A tasteless and offensive film that ultimately proves to be a cynical joke played by writer-director-star Dirk Shafer against his audience. Shafer was the 1992 "Playgirl" Man of the Year centerfold who (supposedly) represented the ultimate object of desirability for the magazine's (supposedly) heterosexual readership, but is in reality a gay man. Having played the role of a straight man in life, Shafer went on to make this film, a fictional documentary about his secret life during the year of his "reign". He's a gay man who pretended to be a straight man who is pretending to unmask himself as a gay man ... get it? Ha, ha. Ha.

Very (yawn) funny, except that during the course of the film Shafer keeps touching on some very unfunny subjects: a best friend dying of AIDS; homophobia; gay self-hatred; celebrity stalking; etc. The big punch line comes at the end of the movie when Shafer confides that his overall objective in making the movie was not to reveal himself, but merely "to direct"; i.e., to con the viewer into paying to see yet another false presentation of himself. What an ego! The film might have had some redeeming quality if only Shafer had been graceful enough to laugh at himself, but he doesn't. Trust me, there's less to him than meets the eye. Not even worth a look for Bill Bochtrup ("NYPD Blue") as the friend dying of AIDS or Mindy Sterling (the Austin Powers movies) in a brief bit as fictional talk show host Cindee.

The DVD includes the theatrical trailer which is presented in widescreen. The film itself is not presented in widescreen. Not that you should care one way or the other.

A gay "Truth or Dare"?
This mock-"documentary" is cleaver in that, I'm assuming, it does tell a somewhat truthful story overall. The problem with this video is that is doesn't know whether it should be funny or serious and this is definately a huge mistake for this kind of project/subject matter. I personally LOVE dark humor......but this aint it!!
The best part is the scene in which the "mother" talks about accepting herself as a fit parent while she was dealing with the homophobic father of a dying AIDS patient on the phone. The worst part of this whole video (and frankly I almost stopped watching a few times just because of this), are the "date scenes", in which Dirk is set up by Playgirl to go on a contest winning date with some supposed hick gal who won it. The scenes never feel real and it's obvious that everyone is over-acting during the whole mess.
One thing I noticed is that while it isn't a great film, Dirk isn't a horrible actor and I think he's actually pretty attractive, where as before I just thought he was pretty. Also NYPD Blue fans will recognize the openly gay actor Bill Bochtrup in the role of AIDS patient and "discoverer" of Dirk the centerfold.
I can't recommend this as a great video BUT I was somewhat entertained or I would'nt bother to write about it. Buy at your own risk. Try to get it used if possible and save yourself some money. Do Not buy it if you think it's a sex film or you're hoping for nudity all over the place, there's no full frontal folks....sorry. Peace Out.

Horrible, Wretched, oh my g--
This is the type of video that makes you wish you could have your precious time back.

It is so horrible, boring, uninteresting. Could the people actually involved in it sit through it?

I strongly advise everyone out there to do something better with their time! ... Read more