JohnDoe
Bryn
Brentonthe Aristocrats (2005) - Trailer Included
January 2nd 2007 02:13
The Aristocrats
Warning: Offensive material Follows
DVD Cover
“It's the perfect joke. Just hearing out loud descriptions of giddy shit-covered incest. And other poems by Maya Angelou.” – Dana Gould
Have you ever wondered what jokes comedians tell each other to make them laugh? What offends them, where the line of good taste is and what they chat about when they get together?
Structured to offend and shock, the joke known as The Aristocrats is an age old secret handshake for showbiz improvisation.
It is not the kind of gag that comedians add to their stage routine, the public may not of heard it but comedians have made it their own.
Insightful, revealing and gutbustingly funny, this documentary examines the mysteries of its origin, the moth to a flame attraction for performers and the precision of how to tell it right.
Putting a microscope up to the art of how and what makes people laugh, featuring some of the worlds greatest and worst laugh masters having a jab.
Annihilating the censorship code with disgraceful mental imagery and gutter talk to make Andrew Dice Clay blush, So what is the joke?
“A man walks into a talent agent's office and says that he has an act...” – Joe Franklin
It opens with the line “A guy walks into a talent agency and says “Do I have an act for you, my family and I have the greatest stage show in the history of entertainment.” The agent replies “So, what do you do?”……
That’s the set up, now the beauty is from here on out the idea is to describe the most unspeakable, inhumane, repulsive, vomit inducing things that a family could do together onstage. Incest, beastiality, fecal dining etc, each individual makes it their own and injects a personal style and mines deep into the back of their warped and twisted minds to come up with the most disgusting filth possible.
Now, the punchline which only works if the teller has successfully hit all the wrong buttons. The agent reluctantly ask “So what do you call the act?” and the father replies with a smile and enthusiasm “The Aristocrats”.
It doesn’t work on the page at all and many people don’t get it when they hear it, that’s why it needs to be seen through the eyes of professionals to be appreciated.
“My mother was a golden shower queen.”- Carrie Fischer
George Carlin-Aristocrat
Exhaustively researched, candid and jaw dropping, like getting an all stages pass into heart of what it takes to sell a punch-line. This laugh till it hurts documentary is about a lot more than just a hit and miss gag.
Looking at social taboos, cultural morality and why The Aristocrats will always be misunderstood and forever challenges convention.
It is easy to see why this joke has remained underground. It will frighten audiences by design and importantly, screw up the delivery and you fall on your face.
Like a jazz tune, backstage it has been used to warm up for gigs and at industry get togethers there are some that have rifted on to make it over 2hrs long.
All the performers who participate seem to be at ease with Actor/Director Paul Provenza allowing for raw, off the cuff moments and well known faces let their guard down and reveal their “kissing grandma with tongue” side.
Not all love the joke, several loathe it in fact but it doesn’t stop them from trying to put their own unique spin on it.
A giant global game of one ups manship that has played out for years, each striving to out gross the last and impress their peers and friends.
Sitting back as the likes of George Carlin, Robin Williams and Sarah Silverman thrust their gregarious interpretations and feelings about the subject forward serves to stimulate the grey matter as well as the funny bone.
A highlight worthy of rewinding once you regain composure is seeing Gilbert Godfried pull off a roll on the floor version, in public at Hugh Hefner’s Roast a few years back. That it's a reaction to someone booing at a 9/11 joke he makes just adds to the routines power to provoke.
In the right hands a lethal weapon that renders the viewer paralytic, struggling to breath as it demolishes any preconception of acceptable conversation.
John Doe reacted like he had a dose of the Jokers Poison, with symptoms of medically dangerous, unrelenting hysteria. Walking out of the theatre, he went straight home and wrote his own version of the Aristocrats. Which turnerd out to be so vile and disgraceful he is still ashamed of himself for writing such things down.Translation, he loved it.
The DVD:
Transfer: 4:3 Full frame/5.1 Dolby Digital
Extras: An informative and amusing Audio Commentary from the Director. Outtakes and extended interviews. Comedians talk about some of their other favourite jokes and more. The menu screen counts as an extra to with some wonderful soundbytes palying as you scroll through. Essential viewing for fans.
For a tease at what the documentary has in store, please click below and view the trailer. (I was going to include a compilation clip of the joke but decided it would probably get me a lifetime ban at orble.)
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Comment by Cibbuano
20/20 Filmsight
Science News
Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Sarah Silverman has a quality standup routine, sadly seldom used well in films or TV.
Have you seen the doco, if not me thinks it will amuse and delight.
Comment by Adrian
Philosophy Blog
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Were you able to watch the trailer or are you still at your download limit?
Comment by Adrian
Philosophy Blog
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
If you cant wait to buy the DVD, you can go to www.youtube.com and see a nifty compilation edit of segments of the routine from some of the comedians. You have been warned about the content.
Plus there,is also the exclusive south park crew doing its vibe on the Aristocrats.
Comment by KylieW
Celebrity Obsession
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Aristocrats was so raw in parts it made even John Doe blush......if you read teh review and liked the sound of it then Im sure it is going to have you laughing.
Please come back and tell me what you thought of it.
Once more people have seen it and know the joke, I may post it up online.
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
happy new year .... !!!
i'm curious to hear your own version! i've tried one myself .... but i didn't sustain it very well ...
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Did you dig the doco??
I have forgotten a lot of what I came up with for my own Aristocrats. Maybe after a few bourbons I could improv, may write it down again because I lost my first draft.
God knows just like you, there are far too many disgusting images all crammed in my mind. Then to make the rederick funny is the gift.
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile