SIFF (Seattle International Film Festival) is happening right now in Seattle. This is one of the movies that Mike and I saw a few weeks ago.
I admit that am a comedy nerd. Mike (husband) and I saw a sneak preview of this movie when we saw a "This American Life" live event a few weeks ago. TAL helped produced it, and Ira Glass has a cameo. You first see Mike Birbiglia driving and speaking directly to the camera, "I'm going to tell you a story, and it's true... I always have to tell people that."
His girlfriend (Lauren Ambrose, Six Feet Under) decide to move into an apartment together. There is talk of marriage.So after this talking about commitment, he begins to sleepwalk.
Birbiglia plays a character named Matt, but it's clearly himself. Part of the movie is him struggling to break into comedy, and playing crappy gigs all over the country. There are comedians playing "comedians" in the film. Marc Maron, Eugene Mirman, and Kirsten Schaal and a lot more. Carol Kane plays his mom. He realizes that there is trouble in paradise with his girlfriend, and soon start talking about his relationship onstage. His comedy gigs get better.
There are some great visual scenes when he is sleepwalking. The image above is him thinking he is winning the Olympics.
This movie is based on a book which got turned into a play. Mike handles the movie with wit and charm. It paid homage to "Annie Hall" (mainly breaking the wall and talking to the audience) and there is a slight Charlie Kaufman vibe as well. He is also the director. It just won an "Who's Next" audience award at Sundance Film Festival.
I really enjoyed this film. I give it an A. It goes into wide release on August 24th.
Trailer:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIjkheJJzEM
