Surveys the history of Jewish comedy. . . Read more at IMDB or buy it now at Amazon.
Stand-up
The Aristocrats – 2005
Comedy veterans and co-creators Penn Jillette and Paul Provenza capitalize on their insider status and invite over 100 of their closest friends–who happen to be some of the biggest names in entertainment, from George Carlin, Whoopi Goldberg and Drew Carey to Gilbert Gottfried, Bob Saget, Paul Reiser and Sarah Silverman–to reminisce, analyze, deconstruct and deliver their own versions of the world’s dirtiest joke, an old burlesque too extreme to be performed in public, called “The Aristocrats.” Read more at IMDB or support this site by buying it at Amazon.
Stand-up
Blue Collar Comedy Tour: – 2003
The comedic stylings of four sort-of famous funnymen are brought to the big screen courtesy of this 2002 documentary. Read more at IMDB or support this site by buying it at Amazon.
Stand-up
The Yes Men – 2003
A comedic documentary which follows The Yes Men, a small group of prankster activists, as they gain world-wide notoriety for impersonating the World Trade Organization on television and at business conferences around the world. The film begins when two members of The Yes Men, Andy and Mike, set up a website that mimics the World Trade Organization’s–and it’s mistaken for the real thing. They play along with the ruse and soon find themselves invited to important functions as WTO representatives. Delighted to represent the organization they politically oppose, Andy and Mike don thrift-store suits and set out to shock unwitting audiences with darkly comic satire that highlights the worst aspects of global free trade. Read more at IMDB or support this site by buying it at Amazon.
Stand-up
Comedian – 2002
Fresh from the success of his sitcom, comedian Jerry Seinfeld decided to do the unimaginable: he completely retired his stand-up act, electing to start over again by developing entirely new material. “Comedian” follows Seinfeld through this process, as he rehearses in front of small comedy club audiences, meets with fellow comics and finally appears before a national audience. Read more at IMDB or support this site by buying it at Amazon.
Stand-up
The Original Kings of Comedy – 2000
February 26 and 27, 2000, the Original Kings of Comedy play Charlotte, NC. The themes are Blacks and Whites, men and women, old-school and hip-hop. Steve Harvey emcees, celebrates ’70s music and lyrics of love, and pokes at folks in the front row. D.L. Hughley mines racial differences and talks about his marriage. Cedric the Entertainer riffs on a Black president and on being grown up.
Stand-up
The Decline of Western Civilization – 1981
Many comedians – hell, any comedians worth the stage space they take up – cite this film as the Rosetta Stone of stand-up, the reason they´re in the business. I´d like to see a special-edition DVD with the Patti LaBelle performance the opening credits tell us we´re missing (“Sing it, motherfucker, yeah!” Pryor praises her, as only Pryor could), but the one that´s out there now is more than enough – a man, a microphone, and the surreal, magnificently human universe he creates with his voice and body. – efilmcritic.com
Read more at IMDB or support this site by buying it at Amazon.
Stand-up
Gilda Live – 1980
A filmed version of the Broadway show starring comedienne Gilda Radner, complete with the characters she made famous on the TV show “Saturday Night Live.” Read more at IMDB or support this site by buying it at Amazon.
Stand-up
Richard Pryor: Live in Concert – 1979
Many comedians – hell, any comedians worth the stage space they take up – cite this film as the Rosetta Stone of stand-up, the reason they´re in the business. I´d like to see a special-edition DVD with the Patti LaBelle performance the opening credits tell us we´re missing (“Sing it, motherfucker, yeah!” Pryor praises her, as only Pryor could), but the one that´s out there now is more than enough – a man, a microphone, and the surreal, magnificently human universe he creates with his voice and body. – efilmcritic.com
Read more at IMDB or support this site by buying it at Amazon.