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Bo Burnham: Inside
My first exposure to him was as Carey Mulligan's love interest in last year's Promising Young Woman, where he proved to be a more than competent actor. But he proves to be a more than competent director, writer, keyboard player, singer, film editor, cameraman, songwriter, guitarist, music director, and lighting technician in his third special entitled Bo Burnham: Inside, which, in terms of entertainment, redefined the adjective "original."
A huge bouquet to Netflix for taking the risk of bringing something like this, that doesn't exactly fit the typical movie or television genre, to the small screen. While quarantined during the year 2020, Burnham locked himself in a room and filmed this comedy special...no, it's not a special...this is a one man show...no, it's not a one man show...this is live theater...on television.
It's hard to write about this, yet it's very easy to avoid spoilers, because explaining what happens here is pretty much impossible. It requires an open mind and undivided attention. This piece is filmed exactly the way it came out of Burnham's brain. He starts material ( or as he refers to it "content") and doesn't finish it, he performs and then critiques himself, he has difficulty expressing certain thoughts to the point of breaking down and crying and has the viewer wondering whether the breakdown is sincere or acting.
Even though Burnham is primarily known as an actor and comedian, it's his talent as a songwriter and musician that really makes this piece soar. Song titles include "Face Time with My Mom", "White Woman's Instagram", "Comedy", "30", "Bezos", :Welcome to the Internet" and what he does with a song called "Unpaid Intern" has to be seen to be believed.
If you're looking for stand-up comedy, you won't find it here. During the 90-minute running time, I think I may have laughed out loud three times. Though laughs were very selected, I found this piece to be nothing short of mesmerizing and could not take my eyes off the screen. This guy is so smart and so good at what he does, I imagine he is probably difficult to work with on a mainstream movie set and probably drove Emerald Fennell insane on the set of Promising Young Woman, but this guy really shouldn't be directed by anyone else...a most singular and unique talent whose work on this piece earned him three Emmys. Not for all tastes, but for those who are game, dazzling entertainment.
My first exposure to him was as Carey Mulligan's love interest in last year's Promising Young Woman, where he proved to be a more than competent actor. But he proves to be a more than competent director, writer, keyboard player, singer, film editor, cameraman, songwriter, guitarist, music director, and lighting technician in his third special entitled Bo Burnham: Inside, which, in terms of entertainment, redefined the adjective "original."
A huge bouquet to Netflix for taking the risk of bringing something like this, that doesn't exactly fit the typical movie or television genre, to the small screen. While quarantined during the year 2020, Burnham locked himself in a room and filmed this comedy special...no, it's not a special...this is a one man show...no, it's not a one man show...this is live theater...on television.
It's hard to write about this, yet it's very easy to avoid spoilers, because explaining what happens here is pretty much impossible. It requires an open mind and undivided attention. This piece is filmed exactly the way it came out of Burnham's brain. He starts material ( or as he refers to it "content") and doesn't finish it, he performs and then critiques himself, he has difficulty expressing certain thoughts to the point of breaking down and crying and has the viewer wondering whether the breakdown is sincere or acting.
Even though Burnham is primarily known as an actor and comedian, it's his talent as a songwriter and musician that really makes this piece soar. Song titles include "Face Time with My Mom", "White Woman's Instagram", "Comedy", "30", "Bezos", :Welcome to the Internet" and what he does with a song called "Unpaid Intern" has to be seen to be believed.
If you're looking for stand-up comedy, you won't find it here. During the 90-minute running time, I think I may have laughed out loud three times. Though laughs were very selected, I found this piece to be nothing short of mesmerizing and could not take my eyes off the screen. This guy is so smart and so good at what he does, I imagine he is probably difficult to work with on a mainstream movie set and probably drove Emerald Fennell insane on the set of Promising Young Woman, but this guy really shouldn't be directed by anyone else...a most singular and unique talent whose work on this piece earned him three Emmys. Not for all tastes, but for those who are game, dazzling entertainment.