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The Aristocrats

Reviewed by Madelyn Miller, the Travellady

Imagine that you were a famous comedian. And all of your friends and mentors were famous comedians. You asked them all to tell the same joke. Sounds like an interesting premise for a movie/documentary.

It almost works. I think if you were at a drunken fraternity party, you just might think it was the funniest movie you ever saw.

I sort of felt like I was watching a sophisticated version of the Emperor’s New Clothes.

All these famous comedians. Each trying to make a silly joke their own.

I thought about leaving. Something I have only done once during all the time I have been reviewing. And when you get in free, you certainly can’t ask for your money back.

If you like words like fuck, cunt, anal, semen, ass, incest, bestiality, rimming, shit, piss and etc, you might really like this movie, because they will be talking your language. But if you don’t usually laugh every time you hear those words, you might not think this is the funniest movie you ever saw.

It was obvious that audience members either loved or hated the movie. The guy behind me loved the movie so much he kept kicking my seat as he spasmed in laughter. The middle-aged woman next to me seemed repulsed at the beginning, but was laughing after the first hour.

IF YOU LOVE THE MOVIE, HERE IS YOUR CHANCE TO BE AN ARISTOCRAT.

CALLING ALL PERFORMERS: ARE YOU AN ARISTOCRAT?

Distributor Announces “Be An Aristocrat” Contest Tied To The Theatrical Release of THE ARISTOCRATS

Following the sensational theatrical opening in NY and LA of THE ARISTOCRATS, THINKFilm announced a contest that invites fans of THE ARISTOCRATS to present their own takes on the “unspeakable obscenity” at the heart of the joke showcased in the movie.  Running July 29th through September 30th, the contest is presented by THINKFilm with promotional partners Heavy.com and iFilm.com.  A contest announcement also follows credits on the film on all theatrical prints.   

Submissions of the infamous joke will compete in two separate categories: Live Action, and Non-live action (animation, claymation, flash, etc..).  One grand prize winner from each category will have their rendition of the joke presented on THE ARISTOCRATS DVD, and each will receive a $1,000 cash prize.  8 runners up will receive a THINKFilm DVD pack.  Depending on space, there is a chance the 8 runner ups will be presented on the DVD.

After screening the movie, entrants are encouraged to come up with highly original creative renditions of the joke –a true challenge given that the film includes extremely diverse versions told via pantomime, a card trick, and a juggling act. 

In THE ARISTOCRATS, 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, 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 routine, too extreme to be performed in public.

Penn says "There's nothing more American than the dirty joke: Comedy and freedom of speech. Provenza and I never get sick of this joke, but we've run out of friends. We need you to tell the joke. Lay it on us. Push us. We've pushed the limits as far as we can take it. You might have to make up new vulgarity. Tell it live in public, tell it to someone dead in private, animation, claymation, performance art. The lawyers say just don’t break any laws and don’t actually use your family dog.  We'll put the winners on the DVD with our friends from the movie, plus even more legends of comedy."

One of the smash hits of the 2005 Sundance film festival, this star-studded comedy extravaganza, which celebrates the art of improvisation and the finest (and most foul-mouthed) traditions of stand-up, is sure to stretch the limits of its audience, particularly how loud and long they can laugh.  Since the smash theatrical launch in NY and LA on July 29th, the movie is poised to be one of the year’s comedy hits.

A privately held film distributor with offices in New York City and Toronto, THINKFilm represents specialized cinema at its best - bold, business-oriented, yet fiercely and financially independent.  THINKFilm was founded by President/CEO Jeff Sackman in September of 2001.  Mark Urman is the Head of the U.S. Theatrical Division.  Currently in release for THINKFilm is the award-winning MURDERBALL, which THINK also executive produced and financed. 

THINKFilm will release THE ARISTOCRATS in the top 20 markets on August 12th and Nationwide on August 26th.

Contest website link : http://www.thearistocrats.com/contest

I will not be making my movie debut in any version.

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