Wake Up and Smell the Coffee

A series of manic, ironic, stand up comedy numbers by Bogosian, performed in a black box theater. The camera work and editing looks amateurish at times. I am disappointed that there is not more solo Bogosian out on video - he is a lot of fun, and smarter than your average comedian.

It's really just astounding to me that this film has this low of a rating. This is probably the most profound one man show I have ever seen committed to film. Its profundity is even increased by the fact that Bogosian admits that he doesn't have the answers - he is just honestly exposing his own confusion and dismay with the modern world, and juxtaposing it to the confusion and dismay that we ALL feel. There is a fault in the film, but it is not in Eric's astounding performance - it is the utterly horrible direction. Watching the way this thing is shot is like watching someone trying to perform a great song by literally acting out its lyrics. Instead of relaxing and watching this live performance in front of an audience, the camera constantly asserts its existence, reminding viewers of how annoying poor attempts at clever editing can be during what is essentially a stand-up act. Future one man show directors can look to John Leguizamo's "Freak" and the late Spalding Gray's "Gray's Anatomy" for help in doing it right, and to this film for how to do it wrong. Nevertheless, underneath the occasionally distracting exterior is an unforgettable performance for the ages, one that should launch Bogosian into a world of fame and riches...if only he were a little less reluctant to be a part of that world. If the mishandled exterior keeps him relegated to late nights on IFC and to the life of a struggling artist, both he and the audiences he entertains may be better off.

Yeah, I saw the IMDb review and wondered why it was so low also. Bogosian is one of the most important playwrights of his generation, a NY fixture in the off-Broadway theater scene, a Guggenheim fellowship guy, and a multi-talented individual. The modern-day Lenny Bruce, or as close as we're gonna get anyway. I highly recommend checking out "Wake Up and Smell the Coffee." It's an acerbic and accurate portrayal of modern society and post-consumerism humanity in general. It was originally performed during the last years of the Clinton administration, and thus obviously pre-9/11, but most of it is not dated at all. Bogosian's satire remains topical and dead-on most of the time. His riffs on religion, fame, materialism, psychotherapy etc. are definitely an example of someone who is trying to "keep it real" while conscious of his own limitations and susceptibility to frauds like Deepak Chopra. This DVD is basically a filmed version of the play, filmed during what seems like a regular everyday performance at the Jane Street Theatre in Manhattan's meat-packing district. So it's not really a "film" per se. But if you like theater that is thought-provoking, definitely check this out. And it's only an hour and 15 minutes, so it's not like it's taking a large part of your day.

Sean