Dying Laughing (2016) User Reviews

What a great in depth look at what it's like to be a comedian.

[subxerogravity · 7/10 · 28 February 2017]

I have individually herd most of these comedians talk about the craft. There is even a HBO special produced by Ricky Gervais were he's sits down with three really famous comedians and they talk shop. It's an excellent special but this documentary tops that.

Having all these comedians being interviewed together and having their stories inter cut with one another and their experiences layered into one gave a very complete inside look at what it takes to be a comedian.

What's awesome about this too is that it's a wide range of comedians. From here in the States to across the pond black, white, women, black women, Latino, Asian, middle Eastern. From the really famous to the living legends to the truly iconic, to people who have been in the biz for decades but you've never herd of them. They even took some time to do a segment of one up and coming black woman whose not remembering what it's like to start out but actually going through it.

It's a lesson in time and dedication and the struggle to hit the stage and what it takes to do it for a living. Very fascinating and entertaining, heartwarming sometimes serious, but overall funny

A must see.

http://cinemagardens.com

no joke

[ferguson-6 · 6/10 · 23 February 2017]

Greetings again from the darkness. We all want to be funny. Making people laugh allows for an immediate connection … plus it just feels good to make someone else happy. Co-directors Lloyd Stanton and Paul Toogood show us the dark side (or at least the backside) of comedy through a series of black and white filmed interviews with dozens of stand-up comedians. In this age of political correctness, Chris Rock explains that there is only one group who says what they want to say: stand-up comedians.

It plays not so much as "how to become a comedian", but rather a therapy session for those who already are. It's loosely structured into segments that provide very specific insight and real life stories on: the first time on stage, life on the road, dealing with hecklers, the devastation of bombing, how to connect with an audience, and what it's like to be "on" or really kill it.

The list of participants is too long to list here, but includes such stalwarts as the aforementioned Mr. Rock, Jerry Seinfeld, Sarah Silverman, Jerry Lewis, Kevin Hart, Amy Schumer, Billy Connolly, and Dave Attell. Those at the top of their profession open up about what it takes and how they made it. Think "Take a Parent to School Day", without the societal filter or peer pressure. These folks spend most of their waking hours looking outward for material, but here they are generous enough to look inward so that we might better understand their craft.

A diverse cross-section of comedians provide examples of racism, sexism and most any other ism. There is also the admission that a need/desire for acceptance exists pretty much across the profession. The struggles and challenges make up the experience which is vital to the growth and survival of a comedian … and maybe even what strands of sanity they possess. We hear stories of writing and re-writing jokes over and over again for years, before finally hitting on the right wording and delivery. We learn Smartphones often contain pages of notes on ideas and partial jokes, and that pain on stage often leads to a better act.

Jerry Seinfeld produced a documentary in 2002 entitled Comedian, and it dealt with the rigors of honing the act in front of audiences, and when combined with this project, we are reminded that comedy is at its best when it is about SOMETHING (fertile ground these days) … and that every comedian gets knocked down – but then gets up again (tip of the cap to Chumbawamba). The film is dedicated to the late Garry Shandling (who also appears in the film) and leaves us with the thought that "the laugh is your reward as a comedian". And that's pretty sweet.

standups talk about doing.... standup

[ksf-2 · 6/10 · 2 November 2021]

Standups talk about being standups. Dying means it bombed. Killed means it went great! Seinfeld, schumer, sandra bernhardt, and a cast of thousands.... LOVE dave attell. Gotta confess, i didn't recognize everyone... a couple i did recognize from listening to comedy channel on sirius xm. Even jerry lewis at 90, just before he died. It's a mix of things... there's what they like about going on the road.... a lot of complaining about going on the road (so don't do it!) lots of complaining. The audience. The town. The plane. The hotel. Was a little annoying to listen to that. But i guess this is a documentary, so they are probably doing their job by presenting all parts of the job. So much anger! And pain when they bomb, or have a heckler. It ends up being pretty dark. The last couple minutes, they describe what it feels like when it goes Great.... i wish they had spent more time on that. Directed by lloyd stanton and paul toogood. It's interesting, but there's a lot of darkness.

This movie is criminally under rated.

[music_man_fan · 10/10 · 14 August 2019]

One of the best documentaries about a profession you'll ever see. I have no idea how it's rated this low as it's so enjoyable. Seen it twice now, and got better in the second viewing, because they really delve into what is life like as a comic.

Be warned. Although this movie can be funny at times, it's a pretty serious look at the life of a comedian, and all the ups and downs of getting there. Great emotional documentary at what you have to go through to be a comedian. I think the reason why it's so low, is because people came with the expectations of laughing. Though serious, it's a great watch.

The stars for of this for me were Royal Watkins, with an amazing story of bombing, Mike Epps, and Tiffany Haddish (Before she made it big. I'm sure some studio exec saw this movie and said that woman is a star.) The conscience in this movie is Garry Shandling, who provides the perfect philosophy on how a comedian survives. It's also bitter sweet as it's the last movie he ever did as himself.

Jerry Seinfeld, Chris Rock, especially Kevin Hart, and the surprising Keenen Ivory Wayans provide the star power and tell the story of what happens when you make it big, but still all the trials you have go to get there.

Great documentary.

Solid exposé

[soapytiger · 9/10 · 8 August 2019]

I hadn't heard a word about this film and only stumbled into it while flipping channels...and there's Billy Connelly, sitting in a chair, cast in black & white against a plain backdrop, talking about the craft of stand-up. I was rapt from that point on.

The doc gives an inside view of the nuts, bolts, and mechanics of stand-up comedy by those who hit the stage and ply the craft. Comedians of all manner spill the beans on what it takes and what it gives; the long road, dismal motel rooms, the loneliness, the hecklers, the boos, and the glorious highs of honing a set, capturing an audience, winning them over, and reaching a pitch where everything kills.

The film fully resonates with my experience as a stand-up, and as a film, I appreciated its tonality, showcasing the comedians telling their stories in raw B/W, with B-roll of the clubs, cafés, and the road shot in color. It may be confirmation bias, but I found myself voicing "yes", "exactly", and pointing at the screen as I recognized the experiences and emotions.

While the film is an embarrassment of riches when it comes to the breadth and depth of how many comedians took part, I kept waiting in anticipation to see several more; Bill Burr, Louis CK #metoo, Zach Galifanakis, Todd Barry, Paula Poundstone, Lilly Tomlin, Tig Nayarit, David Cross, etc.

9/10

Recommended for fans of Stand-up

[michaellaney15 · 4/10 · 19 March 2018]

After the shock of Robin Williams death the world was alerted by the complexities of being a comedian. Being a stand-up comedian is both complicated and rewarding. At times it can be self-deprecatory and lonely. This is what I gathered from "Dying Laughing". Making others laugh is a great experience to these comedians but when that stimulus isn't there it can leave a void that can only be refilled by external social gratification. It's an interesting documentary for people who enjoy stand-up, but seeing How I'm not one of those people I found it rather boring and pretentiously narcissistic.

A breakdown of all that is needed to have the foundation of a successful stand up comedian.

[Amari-Sali · 9/10 · 28 February 2017]

I don't watch a huge amount of documentaries, but when I do I am rarely disappointed. But what makes this one special is that this features people who didn't just do a bunch of research and got it published in journals and made books. These are working comedians, of various success, and it was all about their collective experiences. Many of which conflicted, such as not every comedian having mental health issues or a terrible life. And with that, I feel if you really were interested in comedy, be it out of curiosity or perhaps as a career, you got the type of information you'd need to make a decision for yourself.

...Because Comedians Never Know When to Shut Up

[matthewssilverhammer · 5/10 · 6 September 2017]

How many talking heads docs about comedians talking about comedy do we need? Apparently one more…. The stories are good as always, but this one is hit with a crate of unnecessary pretension (black and white? Really?). Kevin Pollack's "Misery Loves Comedy" is similar, but is better and more focused; watch that instead.

Great movie about what it's really like to be a standup comedian

[russconte · 10/10 · 24 November 2019]

This movie is seriously underrated. It's an incredibly honest look at what it's like to be a standup comedian.

The movie is not labeled in sections, but it is designed in sections.

Getting started in comedy - your first time on the stage, auditions How to prepare so that people actually laugh Finding your own voice - when you can use your own material/stuff/voice/truth Writing your own material and improving your material, and testing it in clubs The comedian and the audience - the rhythm of the act, who is in charge (hint - it's the comedian) The road - the good and bad places, food, loneliness, hotels, sleep Coping with hecklers Coping with bombing (Royale Watkins has the best part here) Advice for people who want to get into standup The bigger purpose of comedy and standup Standup comedy success and highest points and the reward making people laugh

It's extremely rare to see into the world of standup comedy, but this film really succeeds in sharing what that life is like.

Excellent documentary, one of the best I've watched in a long time!