Michael_Elliott
Gilbert (2017) *** 1/2 (out of 4)This is a rather unique and interesting documentary that takes a look at the life and career of comedian Gilbert Gottfried but instead of focusing on the early portion of his career this film takes a look at his more recent years including his relationship with his wife and two children.Apparently there was a very long-running joke saying that the comedian would never get married and the first twenty or so minutes of the documentary covers his relationship with is wife. We really get to know Gilbert as he is today with the family life and then we slowly start to go back in time to hear stories about his parents, growing up, becoming a comedian and then hitting success.I thought the film took a rather unique approach to the subject and I must admit that I have never been the biggest fan of Gilbert's. In fact, I honestly found him to be rather annoying but after watching this documentary I really came away seeing him quite differently and yes, this documentary actually made me like him. We get some terrific stories from his wife about what it's like to live with someone like him. We also get to hear from comedians like Jay Leno, Artie Lange, Whoopi Goldberg, Richard Belzer, Jim Gaffigan and Lewis Black who explain why everyone loves Gilbert.There are plenty of video clips from his earliest performances on the stage as well as his transformation into a dirty comic where we get even more clips. There's also discussion of his now notorious tweets after the Japan tsumani and we get to hear from everyone involved on the jokes and the comic's timing in regards to something beign too soon.GILBERT is certainly a very fun and at times touching look at the comedia. I think his fans will really enjoy the access into his life and I also think the film is good enough to even work for people like me who wasn't the biggest fans going into it.
MisterWhiplash
Gilbert appears to be just a profile of its main figure, the inimitable Gilbert Gottfried (if you hear his voice once you'll never forget it). It turns out Neil Berkeley, who followed Gottfried around for almost a year, was out to capture everything in his life and got both the mundane (but in amusing ways, like we literally see him clean his socks and underwear... in the sink in his hotel room) and the insightful. We see his family and their accomplishments (his late sister, Arlene, was a photographer), and specifically his wife and two kids, which he got late in life (he's in his 60's but doesn't look a day over 59). There's so much humanity bursting all around that it's sometimes easy to forget how much of a crumudgen Gilbert is... or that that is a cover for being a shy, basically good hearted person who has had a few blows in the public eye (sometimes of his own doing, but nothing ever maliciously meant).This really was quite heartwarming, and what's lovely about it is that the director makes it about something deeper than just Gilbert (though he is as Stephen King once noted, a national treasure): we're seeing the vulnerability that comes with a person who uses comedy, and his show-business persona in general, as a defense mechanism because the world is such a cruel and terrible place. While he may claim to see his current family as something out of a "Twilight Zone" episode, or compare first seeing his first child like Karloff's Frankenstein coming up to the little girl by the pond in the film - his pop culture references know no limit, just listen to his podcast for that - Gottfried brings genuine joy for people, and that's all he can do.
zxdex88
A behind the scenes look at the life and comedy of Gilbert Gottfried.
My impression: Gilbert is a comedic genius who is often misunderstood, misinterpreted. In real life he is a sweet, kind caring guy, a real family man with two kids and a good marriage. He gets himself into trouble (and sometimes fired) because he has no filter, he just goes right ahead and says what we all are thinking in the deep recesses of our minds, and he makes it sound hilarious....but often not "politically correct". So he gets into trouble and then he regrets it. But he's actually a brilliant comedian and, little know fact...one of the greatest impressionists in all of show business. I've actually never seen a better impressionist than Gilbert. Who else does an impression of character actor John McGiver?! It was surreal and hilarious when he went into his McGiver impression for a baby! Unfortunately he doesn't do impressions very much any more.
Great documentary. I highly recommend it!
torrascotia
Gilbert as many will know is a stand up comedian and occasional movie actor who is also known for his habit of telling off colour jokes about tragic events just a bit too soon for many of the public to accept. This is a very surprising documentary. It's very clear that Gilbert is a very guarded person and protective of his personal and family life. It's clear that he likes to be in control. How much control may shock you however as it's made clear that Gilbert has a very obsessive compulsive personality. Gilbert likes to hoard, he doesn't spend money and collects freebies. However he is a very lucky guy as he has a wife who understands him and must have the patience of a saint. As Gilbert seems to avoid reciprocating the signs of affection his wife extends to him. He has a stable loving family and it appears it's largely down to his loving and understanding wife. The story of his family background and development into an adult and professional comedian make this documentary what it is. Reasons for his behaviour become apparent. And it's all the more remarkable he agreed to making this movie as it obviously involved Gilbert having to relinquish control which must have been difficult. Be warned however this is not an easy watch and there's a few emotional scenes which will hit home. It was also interesting to see that although he comes across as insensitive on Twitter particularly he was obviously wounded by the backlash against his jokes which for some were in poor taste. It seems that Gilbert is more naive than insensitive and obviously regrets causing real offence. For Gilbert fans this is a must see as it is for anyone interested in the human condition as Gilbert is certainly a one off. There's the usual talking head cameos from a number of his comedian friends but it's when his family speak you get the real sense of the man and his life. Its a great watch and you even get to hear him talking in his real voice, and where his stage voice came from. You didn't think he sounded like that all the time did you?
AD
