'The Aristocrats' makes you laugh — and consider why

It's not about the joke. The staggeringly obscene and very funny documentary "The Aristocrats" seems to be about a bunch of comedians telling and re-telling a lame old vaudeville gag that lays claim to being the dirtiest joke ever told. But really, in its heart of darkness, it's about where the audience draws the line between too-funny and too-far, about where people laugh, and then stop laughing and fall silent or emit a faint groan of disgust. "The Aristocrats" will make you laugh, make you squirm, and may make some people walk out in anger. It should make you think about where and why we draw our lines. Read the full review

TO SUM UP
Comedy veterans Penn Jillette and Paul Provenza capitalize on their insider status and invite more than 100 of the biggest names in entertainment to reminisce, analyze, deconstruct and deliver their own versions of the world's dirtiest joke, an old burlesque routine too extreme to be performed in public, called "The Aristocrats."

FILM FACTS ...
THINKFilm
'The Aristocrats'

Director: Paul Provenza
Starring: Whoopie Goldberg, Robin Williams, Phyllis Diller, Don Rickles, George Carlin, Steven Wright, Jon Stewart, Drew Carey and many, many more.
Run time: 106 minutes
Release date: July 29, 2005
Rating: Not rated, but contains massive amounts of nasty profanity and detailed descriptions of sexual perversity.
See showtimes

On the web
Official movie site
View the trailer
   Trailers require Quicktime

Rate "The Aristocrats"
  Go see it
  Make it a matinee
  Wait to rent
  Don't bother


Voter Limit: Once per Hour
View Poll Results
READ THE REVIEW

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution: A-
"Director Paul Provenza and his production partner, Penn Jillette of Penn and Teller, spent almost five years filming comics riffing on the joke. They edited and structured the finished piece so that it almost always keeps the audience off-balance, which helps increase the shock value."

Austin American-Statesman: 4 of 5 stars
"Once the shock wears off, the laughs still come. ... The endlessly inventive comic minds that populate the film are like jazz musicians riffing on the same material in increasingly free-form ways."

Dayton Daily News: B
"... insightful, profanely funny film."

The Palm Beach Post: B+
"For those who are jaded and disappointed by what they usually encounter in their local multiplex, it is fair to say that comics-turned-filmmakers Paul Provenza and Penn Jillette (of the subversive magic act Penn and Teller) have created a movie unlike any you have ever seen or heard."


Inside AJC.COM

Movie openings

"Cadillac Records" sings a familiar tune led by Beyonce portraying Etta James.

Cookie of the day

Chocolate-tipped butter cookies premieres today in our baker's dozen of goodies.

"Wonderful Life" Quiz

What did George wish for when he entered the drug store? Test your knowledge.

Weekend web fares

With more than 25 cities, the weekend travel deals are here. Example: NYC for $69.

Grammy nominations

Ludacris and Sugarland are some of the local acts who received Grammy nods.

A Christmas Story Quiz

How well do you know the cult holiday classic? Be careful or you will shoot your eye out.

Atlanta Holiday Guide

It's always a wonderful gift, so here are 10 books to give these holidays.

One-tank trip

Selma, Ala., is home to gracious architecture, large oaks and a beacon of history.

A Charlie Brown Quiz

Do you know what TV show was pre-empted to show this holiday classic? Test yourself.

Kudzu.com services Find the right people for the job

Keyword     Business Name