The second of two nonfiction projects in the new Special Events section closes out today’s profiles: MISERY LOVES COMEDY, Kevin Pollak’s revealing look at stand-up comedy.
Sundance Program Description:
Tom Hanks, Janeane Garofalo, Larry David, Lisa Kudrow, and Whoopi Goldberg are among the 50 stand-up comedy legends featured in this hilarious twist on the age-old truth: misery loves company. In-depth, candid interviews with international comedy veterans dig into their earliest comic experiences, ones that planted the seeds of “funny” and became formative in their careers.
Kevin Pollak’s film immerses you in unforgettable anecdotes and insights from the comedy circuit that reveal a performer’s deep, and perhaps paradoxical, desire to connect with audiences. It’s often only on stage that they are able to truly be themselves. The problem is, connecting with an audience and getting the laughs can be addictive.
Pollak’s master class in comedy reveals a rare opportunity to hear your favorite comics dissect the art of stand-up and explore how a joke can operate as a blunt tool, a social weapon, or a personal elixir. It reminds us that the best humor might be derived from misery, but it’s the comedian’s particular brand of truth that helps us all understand a little better what it means to be human. An extended discussion will accompany this screening.
Some Background:
Veteran actor Kevin Pollak has performed in several past Sundance films, including RED STATE (2011) and THE USUAL SUSPECTS (1995). A stand-up comic since the age of ten, this comedy-focused documentary marks his feature directorial debut. His producers are Becky Newhall, Barry Katz, and Burton Ritchie, who executive produced last year’s fiction film LOW DOWN; while executive producers are Ben Galecki, an associate producer of LOW DOWN; and venture capitalist Ashton Newhall of Greenspring Associates.
Why You Should Watch:
Peeling back the protection afforded by persona and laughs to expose the vulnerability at the heart of the comedian’s stock-in-trade, Pollak assembles a staggering parade of world-class comics and actors for a penetrating exploration of the fundamental question: Does art require suffering?
More Info:
For more information, visit the film’s Facebook page. For screening dates and times at Sundance, click the link in the first paragraph.
To experience the festival through the eyes of this year’s filmmakers, follow my Sundance filmmaker class of 2015 Twitter list.
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