The Aristocrats
#1
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The Aristocrats
There's a piece in this week's EW about upcoming documentaries focused on one called The Aristocrats, which will feature comedians telling a joke called The Aristocrats on differing levels of dirtiness. Does anyone know this joke?
In case this is in the wrong forum, hey, who's excited to see this movie?
In case this is in the wrong forum, hey, who's excited to see this movie?
#2
DVD Talk Gold Edition
#4
DVD Talk Legend
Originally Posted by Brain Stew
It's really just a piece of anti-comedy like the chicken crossed the road where the real joke is the listener's reaction.
#5
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Originally Posted by Mr. Salty
Not exactly. The joke has the same beginning and the same punchline, which isn't really funny. The joke is that the teller makes up the middle part of the joke in an attempt to make it as outlandish as possible.
The family does a bunch of sick stuff and a talent agent says, "What do you call it?" and they respond "The Aristocrats!"
But the joke is how the listener responds in the middle. It's is a textbook case of anti-comedy.
#6
DVD Talk Special Edition
I've seen the film and the joke is more of a comic exercise than how the listener responds. It is certainly not a case of anti-comedy.
It is a joke often told between comedians to test the outer boundaries of humor.
Very funny movie, but will be controversial due to the extreme language.
It is a joke often told between comedians to test the outer boundaries of humor.
Very funny movie, but will be controversial due to the extreme language.
Originally Posted by Brain Stew
And the joke is the listener's reaction. I've heard the aristocrats joke several times.
The family does a bunch of sick stuff and a talent agent says, "What do you call it?" and they respond "The Aristocrats!"
But the joke is how the listener responds in the middle. It's is a textbook case of anti-comedy.
The family does a bunch of sick stuff and a talent agent says, "What do you call it?" and they respond "The Aristocrats!"
But the joke is how the listener responds in the middle. It's is a textbook case of anti-comedy.
#8
Moderator
who's the studio that is releasing this? and when is going to get released? I know that it's getting a screening at this year's Silverdoc Film Festival and I have it on my "to see" list
The other comedy related film that night includes this film:
THE COMEDIANS OF COMEDY
Michael Blieden
USA, 2003, 103 minutes
Life on the road is wacky adventure for stand-up comics Patton Oswalt, Brian Posehn, Zach Galifianakis and Maria Bamford as they struggle to spread the alternative comedy gospel in bars, clubs and college campuses all over the West Coast.
The other comedy related film that night includes this film:
THE COMEDIANS OF COMEDY
Michael Blieden
USA, 2003, 103 minutes
Life on the road is wacky adventure for stand-up comics Patton Oswalt, Brian Posehn, Zach Galifianakis and Maria Bamford as they struggle to spread the alternative comedy gospel in bars, clubs and college campuses all over the West Coast.
#10
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Penn Jillette co-produced the film (some trivia for you). Some of the comedians in it are Gilbert Gottfried, Mario Cantone, George Carlin, Robin Williams, Whoopi, the Full House/Funniest Videos guy, etc. There's a full run-down on all the comedians involved on imdb.
I remember DVD Talk giving it a good review in the South By Southwest film fest report a few months back.
I remember DVD Talk giving it a good review in the South By Southwest film fest report a few months back.
#11
Senior Member
The movie's about the ART of comedy; how a hundred different comedians can tell the same joke, and each one will bring his own unique style to the telling. Some go crazy-elaborate, others go short & sweet, many comics like to make the joke as vulgar as possible, others add whole new subplots to the joke.
I saw The Aristocrats at Sundance. And loved it. You can read my review of the movie right here if you like.
I saw The Aristocrats at Sundance. And loved it. You can read my review of the movie right here if you like.
#12
Senior Member
The Comedians of Comedy is also quite hilarious. Not as good as The Aristocrats, but a whole lot of fun.
"Comedians" was actually bankrolled by Netflix; I believe it's the very first production from the company. Obviously it'll debut there first. You can add it to your queue, but there's no release date on it just yet.
"Comedians" was actually bankrolled by Netflix; I believe it's the very first production from the company. Obviously it'll debut there first. You can add it to your queue, but there's no release date on it just yet.
#13
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Predictably, it looks like the film is having some problems getting shown:
http://www.cnn.com/2005/SHOWBIZ/Movi...eut/index.html
I've read some good reviews of this film and I'm interested in seeing it. I remember seeing the South Park clip last year (someone posted the link in the Adult Forum) and it looks like it will be included in the film.
AMC chain vetoes 'dirtiest joke ever'
'Aristocrats' won't be shown in theater company's houses
Aristocrats
"The Aristocrats" features numerous hilarious tellings of a scatological joke.
LOS ANGELES, California (Hollywood Reporter) -- "The dirtiest joke ever told" won't be told in an AMC theater.
AMC Theatres, which will become the country's second-largest theater chain after its pending merger with Loews Cineplex, has decided not to exhibit "The Aristocrats," an upcoming unrated documentary about a particularly blue joke, on any of its screens.
According to the movie's distributor, ThinkFilm, the Kansas City-based AMC originally agreed to play the film in two markets -- Atlanta and Chicago -- but later backed out of its obligations.
AMC countered that though the two companies engaged in early conversations, AMC never reached an agreement with ThinkFilm to play the "Aristocrats." AMC spokeswoman Pam Blase said that whenever a film is unrated, the company's policy is to send the movie up to its corporate offices. Blase said in this case AMC Film Group chairman Dick Walsh made a business decision not to play the film.
Blase added that even if "Aristocrats," which showcases a string of comedians telling the same vaudeville-era dirty joke, performs well when it opens in limited engagements July 29 in Los Angeles and New York, AMC will not try to secure it for one of its 3,500 screens.
"We are trying to program more specialty films in our theaters, but we are very selective," Blase said. "We've made a business decision and evaluated all the factors and we will stick with that decision."
Closely held AMC seems to be the only major theater chain offered the picture that has given it a thumbs down. According to ThinkFilm, "The Aristocrats," directed by Paul Provenza and executive produced by Provenza and Penn Jillette, will open in New York at a Loews theater in Times Square as well as at the Mann Theatre in Santa Monica and a Pacific Theatre screen in Los Angeles. (Pacific Theatres does not confirm bookings that are more than five days in the future.)
When the movie, which bowed at January's Sundance Film Festival to strong reviews, expands August 12 to additional markets, the nation's largest theater chain, Regal Entertainment Group and other companies are on board to play it. The Knoxville, Tennessee-based company will play the film at its Cinema Art screens that show specialty product.
"We occasionally play unrated films in these locations and this one was never an issue for us," Regal chief operating officer Greg Dunn said.
Theater chains often decline to play certain films, especially if they suspect the films won't do any business in their market.
But ThinkFilm contends that AMC, rather than making a simple business calculation, is engaging in censorship, and that given AMC's status as the country's second-largest chain, that could impact the film's fortunes.
"AMC has some very strategic theaters that we'd like to access," ThinkFilm president and CEO Jeff Sackman said. "They've said ('The Aristocrats') is too small, but this film is not smaller than others that they've played. The real problem is somebody is deciding on a personal basis what's appropriate and what isn't."
Some circuits, like Texas-based Cinemark USA, have policies in place stating they will not play any unrated or NC-17-rated films in their theaters. As a result, ThinkFilm didn't approach Cinemark.
But AMC does not have such a policy. The chain has played such challenging recent fare as Universal Pictures' "Inside Deep Throat," which carried an NC-17 rating, and the unrated version of Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ."
ThinkFilm said AMC's decision could have broader consequences about what pictures are available to moviegoers once AMC takes over Loews Cineplex and its 2,200 screens.
'Aristocrats' won't be shown in theater company's houses
Aristocrats
"The Aristocrats" features numerous hilarious tellings of a scatological joke.
LOS ANGELES, California (Hollywood Reporter) -- "The dirtiest joke ever told" won't be told in an AMC theater.
AMC Theatres, which will become the country's second-largest theater chain after its pending merger with Loews Cineplex, has decided not to exhibit "The Aristocrats," an upcoming unrated documentary about a particularly blue joke, on any of its screens.
According to the movie's distributor, ThinkFilm, the Kansas City-based AMC originally agreed to play the film in two markets -- Atlanta and Chicago -- but later backed out of its obligations.
AMC countered that though the two companies engaged in early conversations, AMC never reached an agreement with ThinkFilm to play the "Aristocrats." AMC spokeswoman Pam Blase said that whenever a film is unrated, the company's policy is to send the movie up to its corporate offices. Blase said in this case AMC Film Group chairman Dick Walsh made a business decision not to play the film.
Blase added that even if "Aristocrats," which showcases a string of comedians telling the same vaudeville-era dirty joke, performs well when it opens in limited engagements July 29 in Los Angeles and New York, AMC will not try to secure it for one of its 3,500 screens.
"We are trying to program more specialty films in our theaters, but we are very selective," Blase said. "We've made a business decision and evaluated all the factors and we will stick with that decision."
Closely held AMC seems to be the only major theater chain offered the picture that has given it a thumbs down. According to ThinkFilm, "The Aristocrats," directed by Paul Provenza and executive produced by Provenza and Penn Jillette, will open in New York at a Loews theater in Times Square as well as at the Mann Theatre in Santa Monica and a Pacific Theatre screen in Los Angeles. (Pacific Theatres does not confirm bookings that are more than five days in the future.)
When the movie, which bowed at January's Sundance Film Festival to strong reviews, expands August 12 to additional markets, the nation's largest theater chain, Regal Entertainment Group and other companies are on board to play it. The Knoxville, Tennessee-based company will play the film at its Cinema Art screens that show specialty product.
"We occasionally play unrated films in these locations and this one was never an issue for us," Regal chief operating officer Greg Dunn said.
Theater chains often decline to play certain films, especially if they suspect the films won't do any business in their market.
But ThinkFilm contends that AMC, rather than making a simple business calculation, is engaging in censorship, and that given AMC's status as the country's second-largest chain, that could impact the film's fortunes.
"AMC has some very strategic theaters that we'd like to access," ThinkFilm president and CEO Jeff Sackman said. "They've said ('The Aristocrats') is too small, but this film is not smaller than others that they've played. The real problem is somebody is deciding on a personal basis what's appropriate and what isn't."
Some circuits, like Texas-based Cinemark USA, have policies in place stating they will not play any unrated or NC-17-rated films in their theaters. As a result, ThinkFilm didn't approach Cinemark.
But AMC does not have such a policy. The chain has played such challenging recent fare as Universal Pictures' "Inside Deep Throat," which carried an NC-17 rating, and the unrated version of Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ."
ThinkFilm said AMC's decision could have broader consequences about what pictures are available to moviegoers once AMC takes over Loews Cineplex and its 2,200 screens.
I've read some good reviews of this film and I'm interested in seeing it. I remember seeing the South Park clip last year (someone posted the link in the Adult Forum) and it looks like it will be included in the film.
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Originally Posted by cultshock
Predictably, it looks like the film is having some problems getting shown:
#15
DVD Talk Legend
Thank God AMC is not in Vegas.
I missed this film during CineVegas, so I'm fully anticipating this film when it rolls out in Vegas (hopefully mid-to-late August).
I missed this film during CineVegas, so I'm fully anticipating this film when it rolls out in Vegas (hopefully mid-to-late August).
#16
DVD Talk Limited Edition
I'll be curious to see this, probably not till it hits DVD though. I had wondered what the "joke" was myself until recently when I Googled it and realized I'd heard it years before, just under a different name.
#17
DVD Talk Hero
Originally Posted by Giles
The other comedy related film that night includes this film:
THE COMEDIANS OF COMEDY
Michael Blieden
USA, 2003, 103 minutes
Life on the road is wacky adventure for stand-up comics Patton Oswalt, Brian Posehn, Zach Galifianakis and Maria Bamford as they struggle to spread the alternative comedy gospel in bars, clubs and college campuses all over the West Coast.
THE COMEDIANS OF COMEDY
Michael Blieden
USA, 2003, 103 minutes
Life on the road is wacky adventure for stand-up comics Patton Oswalt, Brian Posehn, Zach Galifianakis and Maria Bamford as they struggle to spread the alternative comedy gospel in bars, clubs and college campuses all over the West Coast.
#18
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Aristocrats trailer
Link to both the south park and Trey Parker versions
This is going to be hilarious. Definitely looking forward to it.
Link to both the south park and Trey Parker versions
This is going to be hilarious. Definitely looking forward to it.
#21
DVD Talk Hero
yay, its playing at the charles. My mom wanted to see the movie (fan of robin williams and whoopie), but after i played her the Trey Parker version that is linked, now she's not quite sure.
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Heard an interview with the director on O & A this week. Sounds promising. I'll be checking this one out.
One thing the director pointed out with the South Park version is that Cartman starts out the joke with "Hey you guys, do you want to hear a joke my grandpa told me?"
I didn't notice that before. Kinda funny
One thing the director pointed out with the South Park version is that Cartman starts out the joke with "Hey you guys, do you want to hear a joke my grandpa told me?"
I didn't notice that before. Kinda funny
#23
Senior Member
I will be there to see it in Denver when it goes wide the 2nd week in August
Thanks to Landmark theatres
AMC won't show it but has not problem showing violent films- give me a break.
Thanks to Landmark theatres
AMC won't show it but has not problem showing violent films- give me a break.
#24
DVD Talk Hero
What theaters is it at now?
And why do they do all the marketing and reviews now when it's only released in a handful of theaters instead of when it goes wide - by then, I'm likely to forget about it.
And why do they do all the marketing and reviews now when it's only released in a handful of theaters instead of when it goes wide - by then, I'm likely to forget about it.
#25
DVD Talk Hero
Originally Posted by slop101
What theaters is it at now?
And why do they do all the marketing and reviews now when it's only released in a handful of theaters instead of when it goes wide - by then, I'm likely to forget about it.
And why do they do all the marketing and reviews now when it's only released in a handful of theaters instead of when it goes wide - by then, I'm likely to forget about it.
go to "tickets and showtimes.