Teller Movies

This program follows famously angry comedian Lewis Black as he searches for the elusive origin to the most basic component of his career: the joke. Through interviews with comedians like George Carlin, Kathy Griffin, and Robert Klein, Black finds out where humor originates in the brains of his contemporaries in the hopes of finding out where it originated in history. ~ Cammila Albertson, All Movie Guide

"A family walks into a talent agent's office..." So begins "The Aristocrats," a joke kept mostly secret by stand-up comedians for decades. An intentionally "bad" joke, the laughs in The Aristocrats aren't in the punch-line (one of the only elements that's the same every time), but in the set-up, made unique by each comedian who tells it in an attempt to fashion the world's dirtiest joke. The cat was finally let out of the bag by Penn Jillette and Paul Provenza, the seasoned funnymen who gathered together a hundred people to tell a hundred different renditions of the bit. Among those presenting their personal take on The Aristocrats in this film of the same name are Jason Alexander, Robin Williams, Gilbert Gottfried, Jon Stewart, Emo Philips, and Chris Rock. The Aristocrats premiered at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide

Prepare to laugh through the bitter truth about everything from alternative medicine to the end of the world with the DVD release of Penn & Teller: Bullshit. Presented in 1.33:1 full-frame, the image sports well-balanced colors and even skin tones. Audio is presented in English Dolby Digital 5.1, English Dolby Digital Stereo, and Spanish Mono with optional English subtitles. In addition to including every episode from the first season of the myth-debunking Showtime series, Showtime Entertainment has also included some fun extras. While a bonus episode entitled "The Ghost Segment" is an entertaining exposi of supernatural scams, its tone doesn't match that of most episodes and it's fairly easy to see why it was left on the cutting-room floor. An interview with frequent Penn and Teller collaborator and vocal skeptic James Randi exposes the more damaging effects of so-called psychics and spiritual mediums, with deleted scenes and outtakes giving the viewer a real sense of how fun it must be to be involved in the production of the show. A brief behind-the-scenes segment provides alternate, shot-on-camcorder takes of Penn and Teller in action on the set, and the "wraparounds," while fairly useless, give a quick look at how the segments are connected before the show hits the air. For the uninitiated, there are also biographies for both Penn and Teller, but then again, if you've already shelled out the hard-earned cash to pick up this entertaining release, you're probably well-aware of what you're getting yourself into. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

This award-winning PBS series examines the creative process of artists in different mediums. Here, the late sculptor Nancy Graves reveals how she creates a sense of "anti-gravity" in her colorful sculpture collages, which look as if they are about to tip over. Hosts Penn and Teller offer a series of visual illusions to help explain balance, employing both tightrope walker Brian Dewhurst and a teeter-totter. They throw in some sight gags to keep the video moving. Graves' finished sculpture, a sort-of-clock, is a textbook example of the laws of physics at work, even though it looks like a prop out of Alice in Wonderland. ~ All Movie Guide

Magicians Penn & Teller host this 16-episode Vegas variety series with a salmagundi of sleight of hand, showgirls, card tricks, music, acrobat acts, rock tunes, and an assortment of illusions, including off-color "sex-magic" and their creepy rats-in-the-cage bit. Guests for the debut hour included actor Rob Schneider, Drew Carey, and Lou Reed. Loaded with sleight of hand, the series kicked off August 10, 1998 on the FX network. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide

With store employee Nora threatening to sue Drew (Drew Carey) for creating a "hostile workplace" by posting a harmlessly ribald newspaper cartoon, Winfred-Louder's attorneys Fenn and Geller (played, appropriately, by magicians Penn & Teller) pressure Drew to settle the suit out of court. When our hero refuses, Kate (Christa Miller) recommends that he hire her slimy ex-boyfriend Brad (Christopher Darga) as his lawyer. Ultimately, however, Drew chooses to represent himself in court--and we're going to refrain from making that "fool for a client" crack, even though it's true. Meanwhile, Oswald (Diedrich Bader) finds himself attracted to the promiscuous Peaches (Julie McCullough), who's already gone on record with her case of the hots for Drew! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In this campy, nostalgic comedy based on a popular TV series from the early '60s, the two bungling cops Toody and Muldoon are assigned to guard a key witness who is planning to testify against a crime lord. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

This film is one of a series that explores the creative process by going behind the scenes with a variety of renowned artists to see the nature of their work. The series is aimed at a youth audience, to inspire creative endeavors by example. In this segment, American Ballet Theater choreographer David Parsons shows how he gets his ideas for a dance by starting with everyday movements. On the tape, Parsons and his students create a dance based on sleeping patterns. Magicians Penn and Teller host this award winning series. ~ Rose of Sharon Winter, All Movie Guide

Behind the Scenes is a public television series that explores the "magic and mystery of artistic creation." It exposes children to the arts in an effort to deepen their appreciation. There are shows on painting, drawing, music, dance, sculpture, photography, and theater. The format used for this series is very similar to the successful, fast-paced format pioneered by Sesame Street. Max Roach, a jazz percussionist, is the featured guest of this program. His love for jazz and for playing the drums is quite clear. Roach comes across as a personable man and a dedicated musician. After watching this show, many children are sure to realize that a number of smart and talented people are attracted to the arts. Other segments, such as cartoons, have also been included on this 30-minute tape.
~ Elizabeth Smith, All Movie Guide

This documentary highlights the magic and mystery of artistic expression. Hosted by magicians Penn and Teller, this award-winning series goes behind the scenes to explore the talent of many gifted artists of diversified mediums. This volume profiles painter David Hockeny, whose various works embodies painting, drawings, book illustrations, photo-collage, and even set design. Some of the finer points of this art/education video include the illusion of depth and the vanishing point as David draws a virtual walk around a chair. Produced and Directed by Ellen Hovde and Muffie Meyer, this 30-minute magic show from First Run Features Home Video is a peek at the man/woman behind the curtain and the world they create. ~ C. Dwayne Smith, All Movie Guide

Penn & Teller are magicians who are known for putting on a jet-black, fake blood-soaked comedy magic show. This gory video chronicles them in performance. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide