User reviews

Unabashedly sentimental, at moments arguably too shticky, but there's a lot of heart and laughs, along with a good set of smiles in Billy Crystal's one-man show remembering his youth, especially the 700 Sundays he had with his father before his untimely death.

From the telling, Crystal had a remarkable childhood, and came from a remarkable family. His father owned a music store and promoted concerts, and knew and was loved by many of jazz's all time greats. His family come off as sweet if eccentric. As related here, this was a family without many of the painful skeletons in their closets that most of us grew up with. It's sort of the Jewish version of Norman Rockwell's America, but I don't mean that as a put down. Crystal seems to truly appreciate the blessings he's had, and to honor and love the people who made him who he is. He doesn't deny that life can be painful, but that doesn't mean for a second he's going to say it's not wonderful and worthwhile.

If a few moments of emotion feel forced in the unforgiving close up lens of a camera, there's a lot that ring true, no matter that Crystal has performed variations of this monologue on stage hundreds of times.

I have watched this so many times. I am so glad that this one man show was filmed because I would have never been able to see it otherwise.

Funny, touching and entertaing, Crystal tells stories about his family and Commodore Records and proves to be an excellent storyteller. The rawness of certain stories only amplifies the honesty. His family's jazz lab makes some stories from his early life exceptional, but the family focus gives a universally-relatable feel to most of the special. The love ia evident throughout and gives an insight to a great entertainer that will take you through a range of emotions.

I thought gosh nearly 2 hours ,it's a marathon. But the genius of Billy Crystal takes over and it's compelling, I kept thinking don't stop Billy and the only thing I can say is I love you Billy and your life is unbelievable but your comedic genius will live on. I first saw you in 'Soap' and couldn't wait for your schtickl the Curly western's loved them, the famous Harry met Sally scene, the comedic elf that makes us laugh Anyone who is a Billy Crystal fan this show is a must, people who are less familiar are going to love watching a person expose his honesty ,pain, humor and love to the world

I've been a fan of Billy Crystal for many years. Not just a comedian and actor but a real story teller, giving us an incredible tour of his life from childhood to today and the family that is so much of who he is. I was laughing one minute, crying the next, then laughing again. His love of jazz, baseball and comedy were so well punctuated throughout, as you listen to him you personally reflect on the things that are important in your own life, the things you love, family and friends. I was most moved by the relationship with his father and how he would so wonderfully talk about the good and the bad. This is a must see and thanks to HBO for mounting this production. And for the man himself, pure genius. Bravo Mr. Crystal, BRAVO!

I personally have never seen anything like this before and am so glad I have now.

I know Billy's story will give everyone a touch of familiarity. He pulls you into his own right away, he will make you laugh and even (for me at least) make you cry.

You know, it's such a simple thing. A man telling you the story of his life. Not for this one though. The presentation brings the emotions of being there to life. It becomes way more than "just a story".

Watching this is giving yourself something good. I recommend when you do that you give yourself time. No interruptions. You want to watch it all in one sitting. It really is worth every second.

For me, my family came to America and stayed on the east coast. When I was just a few years old we broke away and moved to the west. Along with a few of our closest family members. We brought the East Coast values along with us. Something I never truly understood like I understand them now.

Good food, strong family, hard times, breath taking moments and always, always love.

You do not have to live on the east coast, have it your past or in your heart to enjoy this amazing show. You only need to clear your mind and take a listen. You will come away appreciating the many moments in your own life. You will also be reminded of how precious it and how much each person in your life means to you.

You deserve to watch it.

This was beautifully executed and I loved every moment of it! Gave me a whole new insight to Billy Crystal and his background. The story told was a bit melancholy at times but only helps bring out the broad spectrum of what Mr. Crystal has lived through. Wow! Thanks Billy =)

I grew up on Crystal and would call myself a fan but haven't seen much other than City Slickers and When Harry Met Sally. I've always loved him in whatever other movie I've seen or other appearance I've seen him do. I've always liked him. 61* is a fantastic movie.

This was a great act by a top notch performer, well told with honestly. The story is dark but Crystal acknowledges this but he doesn't steep in it. He never makes it a sob story, he's just telling you his story. He lets the weight of the seriousness sink in and doesn't rush the next joke. But he also doesn't leave you hanging long.

His childhood is basically where pop culture started for me so it's fun to hear the rise of that stuff through his eyes. And it's not all about him, he turns it into a way for you to look at your life and how to make the most of it. I think he wanted to get some things off his chest, make people laugh and try to be helpful.

First of all, I am not a fan and I found this brilliant. Not perfect, as some very dignified reviewers seemed to have asked for, but brilliant. It has better parts and weaker parts, now he delivers amazing timing and physical comedy, then he flirts rather annoyingly with the camera. The show has some vulgar bits (not even close to some of today's disgusting stand-up 'stars') and also some touching bits, sure, but that's how life is, too. The silent movie scene was wildly hilarious, while some of the sad parts prove he's not a drama actor. Anyway, this is a honest take and I will forgive even his poses for the camera for the sake of one of them (I don't remember where it occurs): it pictured perfectly the bittersweet and almost touching humor of the poor Jewish folks or of any people forced to deal with a hard life in a subdued, non-grandiloquent way.

the earlier review posted here about comparing to Mr. Saturday Night, and comedians who tell childhood stories more effectively was spot on, in every regard. The good, the father stories, the gangster visit...the bad, the cutesy expressions and the overindulgence in vulgarity by a comic fans like myself are totally unaccustomed to seeing work blue. The obsession with his 13-year old entrance into sexual awareness was WAY over the line, and not funny. Unlike Mr. Saturday Night, which grew darker and meaner over time, but was saved by some vintage insights into that period...this gives only minor glimpses into that life growing up, and far too much self indulgent, not funny, overly dramatic, overlong, joylessness.

Crystal delivers a heartfelt and craftfully put together story of his fairytale upbringing and early adulthood. Along the way we get a history lessons, almost Forest Gump like, of the greatest characters in jazz and baseball from the 50s and 60s. Around the middle of the 2-hr long show Crystal delivers an unforgetable silent movie rendition of a barbeque party at his house that will literally make you Rolling On The Floor Laughing. Crystal is one of the most clever and creative comedians ever, and this show should be on your short list of things to see before you die. Brilliant, just brilliant.

This had everything and more. The drama was surprising yet not glaringly abundant. Yet the way it was delivered had me hanging on every word. As someone who don;t like drama at all, that was a pleasant surprise. The visuals were really the best HBO has ever done for a comedian! I mean the way they did it was just breath taking. It drew you into the story which I really did not except from a comedy show.

Billy crystal did his A game that I have never seen in a comedian before or since. I mean he did it all and you felt it all. Happiness, sadness, anger, uncertainty, hope, love and humor. I mean not Robin Williams, Richard Pryor, Micheal Mcintyre, George Carlin, Danny Bhoy, Josh Wolf or Sebastian Maniscalco could even do all that in one show!

If you're a fan of the film "Mr. Saturday Night", Mr. Crystal's self-indulgent portrayal of a mediocre TV comedian, then you might love this. Otherwise, if you want amusing reminiscences of childhood, find a monologist who can do this kind of thing well (Jean Shepherd, Bill Cosby) without resorting to profanities, vulgarity, or overly maudlin histrionics. Crystal has some amusing, touching moments in this nostalgic look back at his childhood, but these moments are too often padded out with tacky jokes about flatulence, foul-mouthed relatives, and many, many references to his private parts. Maybe these remarks are intended to be shocking, but a man in his sixties bragging about his once-glorious equipment sounds pathetic, like the male version of "Sunset Boulevard"'s Norma Desmond's obsession with her faded beauty. All too often, these attempts at humor not only become tiresome, but overshadow the more poignant moments of the show, which deal with Crystal's late father. Those moments, while sad, are somewhat undone by Crystal's explosive emoting; he really needed better direction during the more dramatic passages.

Besides the excessive, tiresome vulgarity, there's the tendency Crystal has to mug shamelessly several times during the show; the habit he has of striking a pose and grinning coyly at the camera, as if to ask the audience, "I'm so cute, ain't I?" is just obnoxious. Again, maybe some better direction and reining in of Crystal's ego could have made this a better show.

I really expected something else... Billy talks about how his life as a child which mixes up with a part of Jazz history in the U.S. But if you don't care or know about Jazz and its history, it is boring...

Overall I found it boring... Rarely laughed...

It is so much story and details from when he was 5, 6, 7, 8 years old. I doubt he remembers it all and I doubt anyone from his family remembers EVERYTHING in such details which draws me to conclude he made most of it up.

Also, a lot of jokes about Jewish people (he is Jewish and do his entire family). If you are not Jewish or are not aware of their mannerisms, it is boring...

I'm not really sure what this film is? It certainly isn't funny. It's not really an auto-bio and it's not one of those neighborhood reminiscences. Let me flat.