The best comedy simply points out the obvious, usually in an exaggerated delivery but never exaggerating the facts of the case, the story of life, or the
absurdity of man's march towards wherever the heck it is he's going with all his attention focused on Farmville and nude airport scanners and wasting
his time with pointless holidays. Yet not everyone sees the humor in everything. Maybe it's their standing in life, maybe it's a lack of experience (or
too much experience), or maybe it's just as simple as differing tastes. Comedian Lewis Black knows all of this all too well, approaching his audience
honestly
and without the slightest bit of hesitation as to who he is or what it is his show will and will not be. Love the humor? Great. Enjoy. Hate it? Sit
down
and listen, anyway.
Black on stage.
Lewis Black opens by speaking on his own style. Is he "funny?" Is he a "traditional comic?" Does the audience have any f-ing idea what it is
it's in for? Black finds the comedy in everyday things, modern technology and politics and the new way of life, or he at least comments on
them in a humorous fashion while he aims to keep his head from popping off his shoulders in frustration and anger. He drops plenty of F-bombs --
that's just who he is -- as he covers technology, politics, and anything and everything that gets in his way of living the life he wants. He discusses
the
national political discourse, which he compares to the obnoxious sound of incessantly barking dogs. He speaks on a previous engagement in
Wendover, Nevada and subsequently offers his thoughts on Valentine's Day, politics, terrorism, and technology. He's quick on his feet and, for those
who can relate to his
style for find the humor (or sorrow) in what he speaks, then In God We Rust is a must-watch.
Lewis Black performs In God We Rust from Minneapolis, Minnesota. He warns his audience that it cannot truly be prepared for him
coming into the performance hall completely unaware of who he is beyond "comic" or merely piecing together clips from previous routines from
television or the Internet.
Black is a one-of-a-kind performer to be sure, not necessarily a nontraditional comedian but definitely a man with his own style, a unique
perspective, and a humorous self-deprecation, pointing out how he dreads looking in the mirror every morning and remembering he's still himself,
for example. The audience sees him once or twice, live, and that's it. He has to live with who he is 24/7. To be sure, he's a performer who
commands respect and demands to be heard in his entirety, not in bits and pieces (so forego that
chapter select button and watch from the start!). The presentation's simple; Black uses all of two props which are basically just held in his hand at
points in the show. The camera angles are few but effective, allowing Black to dominate the show without any intrusive whiz-bang technology that
he might very well dislike, anyway.
The following chapters comprise Lewis Black: In God We Rust:
Lewis Black: In God We Rust arrives on Blu-ray with a proficient but unremarkable high definition transfer. Generally, it's crisp and well-defined,
with strong facial and clothing details evident in close-up shots of the performer. There's not much in the way of bright color; a large red cube hovering
in the background and Black's similarly-colored necktie are the only splashes beyond the dim and dull to be seen. Black levels are sturdy, though
certainly a bit noisy over crowd shots. Light banding creeps up from time to time over this HD video image, and there's a subtle softness to some of the
distance shots. This is the very definition of a stale but effective transfer. There's nothing here to dazzle, but this image is well-assembled and holds up
nicely enough from beginning to end.
Lewis Black: In God We Rust features a satisfactory DTS-HD MA 5.1 lossless soundtrack. Generally, the track yields impressive results. Crowd
noise is loud, but not obnoxiously so, at reference volume. It nicely envelops the listener, and even if there are moments when the thunderous
applause, laughter, and even a few boos near the end sound a bit muddled, the cumulative effect is fine, and the sense of being one of the crowd in the
auditorium makes the track worthwhile. Black's speech is even and crystal-clear, gently reverberating about the auditorium at times but usually focused
up the center, where it should be. As with the video, this is an unremarkable track in the grand scheme of things, but listeners should enjoy without
picking up on too many flaws or lamenting the absence of more pronounced or artificial effects that would only detract from, not enhance, the show.
Comedy is the great example of the subjective. It's difficult to universally recommend (or not recommend) Lewis Black: In God We Rust, but it
is simple to say that audiences with an open mind and no real aversion to swearing should give him a try. It's rather funny stuff -- subjectively
speaking -- but for those who try it, stick with it through to the end and don't be fast to dismiss Black partway through his show. Paramount's Blu-ray
release of Lewis Black: In God We Rust features acceptable video and audio. A few extras are included. Fans should purchase, newcomers
should first rent.
Lewis Black: In God We Rust Blu-ray, News and Updates
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