The Film Habit #55

This is going to be a fairly short and to the point Film Habit. As I've mentioned already elsewhere on the site, let's be honest… no one's head is really in it this week, not with what's happening on the Gulf Coast. But, I'm not going to spend a lot of time talking about what is by now, clearly if not the biggest, one of the biggest disasters in the history of the United States of America. You all know what's happening, and how absolutely horrible it is.

Instead, before we get to the movie talk I'm just going to say this: In nearly four years of operation I've never once promoted, mentioned, or suggesting anyone give money to any charity of any kind on this site. I almost certainly never will again. But right now on the main pages of the site you'll find a banner direct linking to the Red Cross, where you can donate cash online, or even volunteer yourself to help. If you want to donate fine, if you want to donate somewhere else fine, if you don't want to do a damn thing at all, well that's on you. But I'll leave that banner there awhile at least, because well… frankly it makes me feel better to have at least some sort of reminder of what's going on there. Alright, enough of that. Here's a big ass banner, and then some stuff on movies which probably isn't very important so feel free to ignore it and skip on over to CNN or better yet get out your front door and help someone instead of reading it.




A Film Not For Sophisticates

Lexi reviewed The Aristocrats for the site quite awhile back, so I've been able to take my time in getting around seeing it. Though she gave it a pretty negative review, I've remained interested. I'm a big fan of Penn Jillette for one, and the idea of the film just sounded like it might even be funny. Well, having now seen it I'm not sure if The Aristocrats is supposed to be funny. After all it's a documentary, traditionally the realm of serious things like the hating of Republicans or the mating habits of cute, wobbly penguins. What's certain is that it's great at being foul, disturbed, and utterly disgusting. It's all of that and a donkey show, but despite the comedic talent packed into it, The Aristocrats isn't funny.

The Aristocrats, we're told, is an ancient joke told amongst comedians. It's a little odd that no one's heard of it before; most stand-up comics tend towards diarrhea of the mouth. Still, it's been around and evidently nearly every comic knows it. What keeps it going is how flexible it is. Everyone who tells it puts their own unique spin on it, only the setup and the punch-line consistently remain the same. The basic framework is this: A guy walks into a talent agency and pitches an act. The comedian telling the joke then describes in gruesome, nearly illegal detail, the most vicious, morally bankrupt, twisted things he can imagine. Most of the time the telling of this part of the joke involves creative uses of shit, cum, and other bodily fluids. Some tellers like to mix in a little incest and bestiality, just to stir the pot. Others throw in everything imaginable, from pedophilia, to racism, to cracks about the victims of 9/11. The punch-line of all this is that the act is called "The Aristocrats". Generally this is the part where no one laughs.

The big finish doesn't matter, actually everyone admits that it sucks. The humor of the thing is supposed to come from the constantly changing setup. For his documentary, Director Paul Provenza has filmed dozens and dozens of comedians telling the joke in as many different styles possible. Mixed in with the joke telling are their thoughts on the joke itself. What does it mean, why do they tell it, what makes it funny, and so on. But basically the film is one joke told over and over and over again.

Therein lies the movie's problem. The joke stinks. It's not funny and only becomes even less so after you've heard it the first dozen times or so. It's juvenile at best and plain brain dead at worst. Truth be told, it's not all that offensive either, except maybe in the way a thirteen year old kid thinks of shock and offense. George Carlin, Pat Cooper, Andy Dick, Tim Conway, Billy Connelly, Richard Lewis, Robin Williams, Whoopie Goldberg, and dozens of other ex-pythons, writers, poorly drawn cartoon characters, and stand-up comics who you've never heard of all give their take and not one of them deserves more than a polite courtesy chuckle.

Most of the comics in the film seem to agree that the funniest telling of the joke was the version done by Gilbert Godfried, at a Friars Club Roast of Hugh Heffner three weeks after 9/11. He tells his version, and the audience full of comedians goes wild. Here's the thing: they aren't laughing because the joke is funny, they're laughing because he actually had the balls to tell it. That's really the truth of the whole imbroglio. This is a terrible joke beloved only by a certain set of people because they like the shock of it. Comedians love the joke because it's their own little secret, sort of like a secret handshake handed down from one Stonecutter to another. Held up to the harsh light of reality it's a total and utter flop.

Yet that doesn't mean The Aristocrats is an utter failure as a movie. Granted, it's not very funny, but it is surprisingly interesting. Watching so many talented performers work their creative magic over and over on the same topic is rather compelling. It's more an exploration into what makes these guys tick, a window into their creative process than a gut busting documentary comedy. Maybe, just maybe The Aristocrats is looking for something deeper than a thousand ways to tell a shit joke. Maybe in amongst all the Dirty Sanchezes, Donkey Punches, and the tossing of salads Provenza is searching for the soul of comedy itself. Or maybe he just wanted to see if he could get Paul Reiser to say "fuck". You be the judge.

me to see if you can get me to respond with cursing.

E-Mail Turbulence

And now for the only thing you people really care about… yourselves! We get e-mail, here's some of it. Not all of it of course! My inbox is so full… aw who am I kidding, we're not that popular. This is all of it. I've revamped the email section a little, brought in Shatner to straighten things out. Who better than the Captain? Here we go:

me or I'll come up with my own content.

Tell Me What To Think! Roy: Hey I am a big fan of Tim Burtton's Movies and I want to see Corpse Bride the day it comes out. But Before I go and waste my money on a movie that I may not like, What do you think of it? Is it a good movie or a complete waste of time and money? Let me know, I am dying to find out. Ha Ha Ha I made a funny. Josh: For the record, you did not make a funny. I haven't seen The Corpse Bride yet, but should some time before it gets released. But to decide if you should see it or not, ask yourself this question: Do you love The Nightmare Before Christmas? If yes, then make sure you're at Corpse Bride opening night. If no, there's a fairly good chance you may be the son of Paul Walker. That's kind of like being the Son of Kong, only without any of the respect or brains involved. But you do get to destroy things… like good taste and my eyes the next time I have to see one of your daddies movies. I may have gotten a little off track there, but you get the idea.

Irrelevant Enough Andrew: just wanted to be a massive geek and say that I have to agree Natalie Portman IS too old to play a girl in Mr magiwhateveritscalled, but regarding your new stills of Narnia - Buckbeak from Harry Potter is a HippoGryff (sp?) which are mythical creatures with a kind of set way of looking so this Hippogryff looks like your "average" one! hope this is irrelevant enough for you to care Josh: You've actually achieved the perfect balance of irrelevance. You've said something completely obvious, and stated something that I clearly would already know, but done so in a way that makes it seem as if you're convinced I really would be that stupid. Yet perhaps most amazingly, you've done so without drooling all over yourself as most of the people who generally send me these sorts of emails would. Well done sir. And yes, she is too old. That also means she's very legal! Not that it'll do you or me any good.

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