The Aristocrats

In my love for documentaries, I have come across a gem. The Aristocrats is not so much about an old dirty joke, but about how comedians view comedy, the art of telling a joke, and the traditions of their craft. 100 comics give their views on this old joke, and some actually tell the joke. It is a joke that is more a part of the culture of comedians, than for public telling. I do not think this joke is funny, so I felt better as the film went along, because many of the comics themselves said that it's not a funny joke. The comedy is in the art of the telling. In the course of the interviews it is told as a card trick, a female standup tells a great version that actually gets a laugh in a club and a mime even has his way with it (so to speak). A few comics tell other jokes, Robin Williams and Drew Cary are amazing!!! The high point of the film is Gilbert Gottfried in a very human moment, using the joke at a roast to get people to laugh again after 9/11 .... brilliant!!!! Many of my faves were in this film, George Carlin, Michael McKean, Harry Shearer, Paul Reiser, Rita Rudner, Phyllis Diller, Don Rickles ... and on and on. Paul Provenza, of Penn and Teller is the genius behind this look into the comic mind, and I thank him.

WARNING: The joke itself is perverted and disgusting. If vulgarity offends you, skip this film.