THE ARISTOCRATS
Year: 2005
USA: ThinkFilm
UK: Pathe Distribution
Cast: Chris Albrecht, Jason Alexander, Hank Azaria, Shelley Berman, Billy The Mime, Lewis Black, David Brenner, Mario Cantone, Drew Carey, George Carlin, Carrot Top, Mark Cohen, Billy Connolly, Tim Conway, Pat Cooper, Wayne Cotter, Andy Dick, Frank DiGiacomo, Phyllis Diller, Susie Essman, Carrie Fisher, Joe Franklin, Todd Glass, Judy Gold, Whoopi Goldberg, Eddie Gorodetsky, Gilbert Gottfried, Dana Gould, Allan Havey, Eric Idle, Dom Irrera, Eddie Izzard, Richard Jeni, Jake Johannsen, Amazing Johnathan, Alan Kirschenbaum, Jay Kogen, Sue Kolinsky, Paul Krassner, Cathy Ladman, Lisa Lampanelli, Richard Lewis, Wendy Liebman, Bill Maher, Howie Mandel, Merrill Markoe, Jay Marshall, Jackie "The Joke Man" Martling, Chuck McCann, Michael McKean, Eric Mead, Larry Miller, Martin Mull, Kevin Nealon, Taylor Negron, Otto & George, Rick Overton, Gary Owens, The Passing Zone, Penn & Teller, Emo Philips, Peter Pitofsky, Kevin Pollak, Paul Reiser, Andy Richter, Don Rickles, Chris Rock, Gregg Rogell, Jeffrey Ross, Jon Ross, Rita Rudner, Bob Saget, T Sean Shannon, Harry Shearer, Sarah Silverman, Bobby Slayton, The Smothers Brothers, Carrie Snow, Doug Stanhope, David Steinberg, Jon Stewart, Larry Storch, Rip Taylor, Dave Thomas, Johnny Thompson, Peter Tilden, Bruce Vilanch, Fred Willard, Robin Williams, Steven Wright, Joe Garden, Tim Harrod, Carol Kolb
Director: Paul Provenza
Country: USA
USA: 92 mins
UK: 88 mins
UK Certificate: 18 contains crude sexual humour, some relating to race or religion, and very strong language
USA Release Date: 12 August 2005 (Limited Release - wider)
USA Release Date: 29 July 2005 (Limited Release)
UK Release Date: 9 September 2005
US Distributor
Synopsis
With THE ARISTOCRATS, Paul Provenza and Penn Jillette have made the funniest movie ever, because it has more funny people than have ever been in one movie before. A labor of love three years in the making, encompassing more than 100 comedians and culled from over 100 hours of footage, Provenza and Jillette shot the documentary holding DV cameras in their own hot little hands and edited it at home on a Mac. As fellow comedians, Provenza and Jillette got their cameras rolling where no real filmmaker could ever go. They let us see how professional comedians talk after their sitcoms have wrapped and the audience has gone home.
The result is a heartfelt, private, unprecedented backstage look at famous comedians playing around. Provenza and Jillette got superstar comedians being funny for other comedians, and that is really no-kidding funny. They also captured a performance portrait unlike any other: The art of comic improvisation.
We see artists draw the same nude, hear musicians play the same song, and see actors do the same Shakespearean scene. Comedians, however, never tell the same joke. Provenza and Jillette got comedians to tell the same joke.
THE ARISTOCRATS is a joke that has been with comics since Vaudeville. THE ARISTOCRATS is a joke that is never told in public, a private joke for comedians, so you've never heard it before. It's a secret handshake among comics. It is also the dirtiest joke you will ever hear.
THE ARISTOCRATS is filthy, vile, disgusting - and hilarious. It's dirtier than anything you've ever thought. THE ARISTOCRATS captures over 100 of the world's funniest, most gifted comics giving the joke their own interpretation. Even in comedy, it's the singer, not the song. These comedians push boundaries you never knew existed. That's because they're artists.
THE ARISTOCRATS has no nudity, no sex, and no violence, but it's one of the most shocking movies you will ever see. Take a deep breath. This is the power of language spoken by professionals. Professionals trying to outdo each other with the most hysterically disgusting, offensive, f**ked-up verbal images they can spit out. You'll hear descriptions that will stay with you the rest of your life, whether you want them to or not.
THE ARISTOCRATS is an arresting portrait of the comic art - one that makes us cringe, laugh and think - all at once. Remember, these men and women are professionals. You sure don't want to try this at home.