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A Great Documentary...Minus Orny


I think this documentary is a great opportunity to see the dark and not-so-glamorous side of comedy and what it takes to come up the hard way through stand up clubs. I really respect Jerry Seinfeld for returning to his roots and it was refreshing to see him and other greats in this documentary like Romano, Klein, Rock and Leno going back to the dark little clubs that gave them their first spotlight, even if only as a spectator. Jerry has accomplished more than he probably imagined he ever would, and going back to the small stage shows just where his heart is. True, his celebrity pretty much guarantees him success on the comedy club circuit, but several scenes in this documentary clearly show just how much he feels like a newcomer again. The very best parts of this film are the candid moments when Jerry gets much needed advice and support from several successful peers, as well as his comedy hero Bill Cosby. The Orny scenes were annoying to me and I found that once I fast forwarded through these scenes the documenty was just fine. Aside from Orny not being that funny at all (despite his drawers of notebooks full of jokes that he goes out of his way to show off) it just seemed awkward to try to follow a comic hopeful while watching Jerry reinvent himself. The main focus of this documentary was Jerry Seinfeld and his new/old stand-up career, and I think it probably would have been better to just stick with this throughout the film.

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I think the contrast b/w Jerry and Orny IS the key to the film. Orny is painted as an insecure, whiney, struggling comedian. I think the editors wanted to paint him that way (not that he didn't help them out by all that glorioius material he gave them to work with). And Jerry comes across as the wise, guru-like guy who gives advice to Orny (his story about the Glenn Miller band is my fav). But then, like you said, I think you see Jerry getting a bit insecure as well (just not around Orny).

I love "Comedian" because it shows how both a veteran and newbie struggle in the business. My only wish would be for more scenes with Romano, Klein, Cosby, etc.

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[deleted]

I think Orny was manic depressive. He had a really over inflated view of himself that comes from massive insecurity. The end result is that he comes across as a gigantic @sshole. Jerry, on the other hand, was wise and respectful.

--
"Surrender Dorothy!"

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