Bohemian Cinema By Jonathan Pacheco

SXSW 2010: “Crying with Laughter,” “The Thorn in the Heart,” “Cannibal Girls”

Tags: SXSW, Comedy, Camp, Documentary, Michel Gondry, Ivan Reitman, The House Next Door

In my first report from this year’s SXSW, I look at Michel Gondry’s family documentary The Thorn in the Heart, Ivan Reitman’s early and terrible Cannibal Girls, and Crying with Laughter:

Joey Frisk (a very capable Stephen McCole) is a fireball on the verge of flaming out. His vulgar, relentless standup comedy style seems to demand that he self-destruct in every area of his life, from his irresponsibility as a father to his unprofessionalism as a comedian. He precedes his acts with a ritualistic line of coke, walks out on stage swigging a beer, and unleashes at whoever he can spot in the dimly lit crowd.

The film begins as a surprisingly interesting study of Joey, a Scottish man incapable of pulling things together. He can’t help but mess things up with his landlord, his ex, and even the old schoolmate who tracks him down (Malcom Shields). But about 25 minutes in, another film begins and leaves this one behind, instantly transforming Crying with Laughter into a breezy “mystery” thriller with plot holes. When Joey spends the third act bloody, running, and saving the day while trying to reason with villains, it hits you: “Wait—how the heck did we end up here?” I yearned for the captivating character piece this film began as.

Read the entire SXSW dispatch at The House Next Door.