Alone Up There (2012)

Good movie, but best of all time? Hardly . . .

It's funny watching the elements come together in this complicated scam. On one hand, the set-up isn't quite as complex as it seems, but there's an easy sense of fun in every exchange.

Fun premise, good actors, bad writing. This film seemed to have potential at the beginning but it quickly devolves into a trite action film. Ultimately it's very boring.

Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

I've always appreciated good comedy, and Shaul's exploration of it has only strengthened that appreciation. Through candid interviews and his own personal journey to the stage, Sean Patrick Shaul gives us an excellent, unflinching look at just how awkward and painful the life of a stand up comic can be. Something that's always intrigued me has been how some of the funniest people in the world can have such dark and brooding personalities. My own cynical sense of humor often leads me to the darker comics (Lenny Bruce, Bill Hicks, Jim Jeffries, Doug Stanhope, David Cross, etc). This film gave me a glimpse into just a bit of the anguish, insecurity and outright depression that can be associated with putting yourself up there (alone) to be judged. I don't want to paint a picture as if this is some sombre affair reminiscent of an episode of 'Intervention'; there are definitely some laugh out loud moments, and the payoff at the end is worth the wait!

I recently downloaded the documentary Alone Up There by Sean Patrick Shaul. First of all - I loved the fact that I could download it on my phone, very cool.I'm a huge fan of stand up comedy, so it was great to hear what the comics had to say about the art form. The film asks the question - what kind of person would want to become a stand up comedian - and why? There are a lot of great interviews and candid moments from the comics. It's always a treat to see and hear what comics are like off stage.Seeing Jeremy Hotz talking casually off stage is worth the price alone - but Alonzo Bodden, Marc Maron and Iliza Shlesinger are real stand outs too.Without giving anything away, the last part of the film examines the idea that to really understand stand up comedy - you have to do it. The filmmaker embarks on a journey to learn what it feels like to be a comic and I think he succeeds.In the vein of I Am Comic, I think Alone Up There provides a short glimpse into the mind of the comic and what it takes to do this for a living.I really enjoyed the film and highly recommend it. You can download it for $7 at HTTP://thestandupcomedians.com