neumu [ cinematronic ]




	Comedian
	Christian Charles Jerry Seinfeld, Orny Adams, Colin Quinn, Bill Cosby, Robert Klein, Chris Rock, Jay Leno, Gary Shandling, Ray Romano, Kevin Nealon, George Shapiro 2002		Tapping into the omnivorous mind of a certain semi-retired sitcom superstar, "Comedian" follows Jerry Seinfeld back to his stand-up comedy roots. The digital-video camera watches as he works out an entirely new act during unadvertised gigs at New York area clubs. Along the way, director Christian Charles tapes Seinfeld's conversations about the pursuit of laughter, as he trades priceless quips, insights and anxieties with peers such as Bill Cosby, Jay Leno, Chris Rock, Garry Shandling, Robert Klein and Colin Quinn. Paralleling Seinfeld's exploratory journey is that of Orny Adams, a relative fledgling in the legion of working jokers. While Adams struggles to achieve wealth and celebrity by making club audiences laugh, Seinfeld uses fame and its trappings to get back to the joy of live performance. What becomes clear is that both Seinfeld and Adams are their own harshest critics and that insecurity can plague and drive a comedian, no matter how successful. The documentary is a unique opportunity to observe the process of comedy as executed by the experts.