Crying with Laughter

I am a professional screenwriter, and when I see something brilliant, I find myself thinking, "Gee, I wish I'd written that script." I just saw this at the EIFF and had those exact thoughts. A brilliant script, directed well by the writer, and it looks like his first feature. A gripping tale that is entertaining, funny, and thought provoking. The R rating it will receive is both necessary and appropriate -- even though I'm not a fan of R movies, I am a fan of this one. Great message, to boot, but never heavy handed or on the nose. I hope this gets wide distribution -- it deserves it. Only distraction for me is that the Scots accents are quite strong and may not sit well with American audiences who don't have the ear for it. Perhaps it will need subtitles for that crowd -- hah! Great acting, BTW. A solid, different, great film. yh

The over all impression I had of Crying With Laughter was that of a film student or amateur film maker being let loose with a professional film crew and not really knowing what to do with it. The script wasn't great and the plot that unfolded down right silly. Low budget film makers always seem to feel the need to have a shocking element to their story as if this makes it intrinsically good drama and an obligatory climatic scene where all is revealed. It actually started off reasonably well with a solid enough character, the stand up comedian Joey Frisk played by Stephen MacCole. He's a bit clichéd but a decent script could have built around him and his relationship with his family. Instead a totally unconvincing character called Frank starts hanging around trying to get him to attend a school reunion. Frank apparently beats up Joey's landlord and then claims to be a witness to Joey doing it and identifies him in a police line up. It's such a severe attack that Joey is facing the possibility of many years in prison. Frank then pretends to be a friend to Joey offering him a place to live and even an alibi. Anyway a very silly plot unfolds where Frank kidnaps a former teacher who raped him as a child and as it turns out Joey but to be honest by this point I didn't really care. Frank also kidnaps Joeys daughter for reasons that shall remain a mystery.

The ending is a bit daft and there is absolutely no resolution as to what will happen to any of the characters concerning the assault charge or the kidnapping. Not that I was particularly interested in finding out.

'Crying With Laughter' is certainly a film that won't be for everyone. It's meant to be as tragic as it is funny. Stephen McCole plays a club circuit comedian, Joey Frisk, who is looking for his 'big break' while also succumbing to the excesses that come with even his minor 'showbiz lifestyle.' He's the very definition of an 'anti-hero' - someone who is completely flawed and doesn't always do the right thing and yet we can relate to him and root for him to overcome his demons in order to better himself.

During the film, Joey has to face all sorts of physical and mental horrors from his past, not to mention battling the effects such torment has had on his present day situation. However, don't expect too much 'happy-happy' comedy. The funny moments come with seeing the clips of his stand-up comedy and we - the audience - knowing how he bases his real life events on what goes into his act

The film does delve into some pretty dark places (and subject matter), so you'll need to be ready for it not to pull any punches. Also, there's a fair amount of bad language - both in and out of the stand-up routines, so this can hardly be described as a 'family film.'

I'm trying to be as vague as possible when it comes to the plot, as I don't want to spoil it for everyone. All I'll say is that you'll need to be in the mood for a strong, character-driven piece with plenty of adult content. It could be average, but, as with a one-man stand-up show, its strength lies with Stephen McCole himself, whose portrayal of a flawed man who you really do want to succeed makes you want to root for him all the way.

The old phrase 'tears of a clown' has never been more applicable when it comes to this film. Expect to laugh at him and also - hopefully - cheer for him. Uplifting... in a weird sort of way.

I have to disagree with graham 525's review. The film was, and was supposed to look like a low budget movie. Personally, I think this approach was honest and gritty. If you want glamour, watch Hollywood! The script was down to earth - like the filming, it tried to give a sense of realism, as if you were watching someone's video diaries.

The acting was good and the character Frank was totally convincing. Albeit he came across as strange for the most part of the film but strange was the correct approach. This guy, as it turned out, had a terrible past and had also spent his adult life in the forces, so had no doubt seen a lot of terrible things and been through a lot. It will come clear in the end.

The ending is not daft at all. The daughter is kidnapped in an attempt to bring Joey to the final destination. I also believe Frank blames Joey for some of his later suffering and looks to expose Joey's young daughter to the horror that he has been through in the school.

A good "night in" film, with good locations, with good "honest, non-Hollywood" acting.

A coked-up, alcoholic narcissist making money by catering his stand-up 'shtick' to his like-minded contemporaries in dimly lit bars like the Bull Pit personifies our protagonist, Joey Frisk, at least to the eye. This comedian was behind in child support and rent, and and just came off as a making it day-to-day, near-do-well, who-cares kind of chap. Consequently, when he once again began his disgusting hyperbole regarding some woman, I felt like shutting this down, and then… WOW! Frank began his magic!

Justin Molotnikov, Writer and Director, methodically paced Frank's character to move this piece along like a thriller ought to move. Indeed, we got to know at least the facade of the two main characters fairly well and then, like a train that hits a long 7% grade, we watch the whole thing unfold in a manner which cannot be stopped.

The subject matter is dark; the things we do to ourselves and others in order to survive make us, at times, walking talking paradoxes and that is what Joey had become. But, will he grow to be as dangerous as Frank? Malcom Shields and Stephen McCole are exceptional!!! Included: Bawdiness, humor, drama, thrills, depth of character, redemption. 10/06/2010