Call Me Lucky
| Call Me Lucky | |
|---|---|
_Film_Poster.jpg) Official poster | |
| Directed by | Bobcat Goldthwait |
| Produced by | Charlie Fonville Clinton Trucks |
| Starring | Barry Crimmins Patton Oswalt David Cross Steven Wright Baratunde Thurston Mike Donovan Lenny Clarke Jimmy Tingle Jack Gallagher Martin Olson Margaret Cho Marc Maron |
| Cinematography | Bradley Stonesifer |
| Edited by | Jeff Striker |
| Music by | Charlyne Yi |
Production company | Type 55 Films |
| Distributed by | MPI Media Group |
Release date |
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Running time | 106 minutes[1] |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Call Me Lucky is a 2015 American documentary film directed by Bobcat Goldthwait[1] about the life of satirist, author, and performer Barry Crimmins.
Synopsis
[edit]Call Me Lucky details the life of stand-up comedian and activist Barry Crimmins, from his roots in upstate New York to his work as a political satirist and advocate. The film celebrates Crimmins' courage and dedication to truth-telling, highlighting his fight against child pornography on the Internet. Crimmins is portrayed as an influential figure in the Boston stand-up comedy scene, known for his profane and angry rants, primarily targeting the U.S. government and the Catholic Church. The documentary reveals that his rage stems from his childhood sexual abuse, a traumatic experience that fuels his activism. A significant moment in the film is Crimmins' testimony at a 1995 congressional hearing, where he confronts an AOL executive about the company's failure to regulate pedophile activity in its chat rooms.
Production
[edit]Filming began in January 2014 in Boston and Crimmins' home in upstate New York. Principal photography wrapped in August 2014.
Reception
[edit]The film premiered on January 7, 2015, at the Sundance Film Festival in the Documentary Competition program. It went on to play over a dozen festivals around the US and was released theatrically on August 7, 2015.
Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reports that 85% of 26 film critics have given the film a positive review, with a rating average of 7.6 out of 10.[2]
AV Club critic Mike D'Angelo wrote "If it accomplishes nothing else, the new documentary Call Me Lucky should bring some welcome attention to a man who's been under the radar for the past few decades, mostly by his own design."[3] Stephen Holden of the New York Times wrote "An earnest homage that also honors Mr. Crimmins's crusade to drive child pornography off the Internet."[1]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Holden, Stephen (August 6, 2015). "Review: 'Call Me Lucky,' About the Comedian-Activist Barry Crimmins". The New York Times.
- ^ "Call Me Lucky". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 17 August 2017.
- ^ "Bobcat Goldthwait pays tribute to a comedy mentor with Call Me Lucky". avclub.com. 6 August 2015. Retrieved 17 August 2017.