Bitter Jester (2003)
-
33% want to see it
(3 ratings)
On the cusp of stardom, standup comic Maija DiGiorgio suffered an emotional breakdown while performing before a room packed with a number of the comedy industry's head honchos -- whom were on the receiving end of DiGiorgio's obscenity-laced outburst -- at the Aspen Comedy Festival.… More On the cusp of stardom, standup comic Maija DiGiorgio suffered an emotional breakdown while performing before a room packed with a number of the comedy industry's head honchos -- whom were on the receiving end of DiGiorgio's obscenity-laced outburst -- at the Aspen Comedy Festival. Subsequently faced with a nearly industry-wide blacklisting as a result, the comic (and film school graduate) came upon the idea of creating a film journal to document her struggles within the industry, as well as within her own psyche. The result is Bitter Jester, DiGiorgio's 2003 film that started as a document of self-examination and evolved into an examination of success and achievement within the standup circuit. Greatly assisted by the contacts and prestige of executive producer Richard Belzer -- a friend and former employer of DiGiorgio's boyfriend and co-conspirator Kenny Simmons -- DiGiorgio proceeds to gain access to a surprising berth of comedy legends, including Chevy Chase, Richard Pryor, Phyllis Diller, Whoopi Goldberg, and George Carlin, all of whom dispense insightful and sometimes surprising opinions about their individual achievements. ~ Ryan Shriver, Rovi
- Genres
- Documentary, Comedy, Special Interest
Unrated,
Critic Reviews
-
Dennis Harvey, Variety
Often hilarious and always diverting.
-
Walter Chaw, Film Freak Central
An honest and frightening confirmation of more than I ever wanted to know on the subject of fame and performance .
-
Steve Rhodes, Internet Reviews
Bitter Jester is much funnier and more insightful than a similar documentary, Comedian, which got a theatrical release last year.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
No Featured Audience Ratings Found…
Currently unavailable on Flixster
Also available on
Other Retailers
Not Available
Not Available
Not Available
Subscription Services
Not Available
Not Available
Not Available
Cast
- Joy Behar
- Richard Belzer
- George Carlin
- Chevy Chase
- Norm Crosby
- Phyllis Diller
- Whoopi Goldberg
- Gilbert Gottfried
- Dom Irrera
- Kevin James
- Richard Kind
- Kathy Kinney
- Robert Klein
- Colin Quinn
- Tony Roberts
- Rita Rudner
- Ryan Stiles
- Judy Tenuta
- Peter Boyle
- Terry Jones
- Barry Manilow
- Paul Mooney
- Richard Pryor
- Vincent Schiavelli
- George Schlatter
- Paul Shaffer
- Jerry Stiller
- Colin Mochrie
- Ray Romano
- D.L. Hughley
- Nicole Sullivan
- Maija DiGiorgio
- Kenneth R. Simmons
- Rich Vos
