Oftentimes the most celebrated comedy of any era is appreciated on the basis of a countercultural attitude that takes full advantage of the medium’s unique ability to speak truth to power. This is true of the three most celebrated stand-up comedy acts in modern history (as per Comedy Central but also just common knowledge I’d say): Richard Pryor, George Carlin, and Lenny Bruce.
The life of Lenny Bruce served as Exhibit A for anyone fascinated by the comedic stereotype of the sad clown. His stand-up act in the 1950s seemed like a kind of therapy that wasn’t working all that well for him towards the end of his life. The movie, in which he’s played by Dustin Hoffman, captures some of the most famous and dramatic episodes that he’s known for: having self-destructive breakdowns on stage, constant battles with censoring bodies, flouting his disdain for laws pertaining to both obscenity and drugs.
Some of these performances where he’s just laying out all of his frustrations and personal feelings for a confused and sometimes hostile audience have become legendary. No doubt Bruce is one of the figures that informed Adam Sandler’s character in Funny People, showing an increasing contempt for crowds at his shows. Lenny is a fascinating portrayal of a certain kind of artistic genius: our protagonist relies on his ego to reach incredible heights but is also buttressed on a self-hatred that leads to rock bottom.
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