Directed by: Marina Zenovich
Could Richard Pryor have flourished in the present day as a stand-up comedian? He was a ground-breaking comedian who spoke with unflinching honesty and humor about being black in America, drug use, and autobiographical stories about growing up in a brothel run by his family. There was no subject that was off-limits for him to discuss. He would appear on Johnny Carson and throw the n-word around in a way that would never be tolerated today. Pryor's album titles included variations on the n-word that would not be accepted today. He came along at the right time, when comedians didn't speak with such frankness and there were many barriers that needed to be broken.
Omit The Logic is an engaging documentary which shows the funny and tragic side of the legendary comedian.
Growing up as Pryor did, he didn't stand much of a chance of functioning as a normal adult. He grew up in a brothel run by his family and witnessed things daily that young boys shouldn't be forced to witness, such as his mother prostituting herself and rampant drug use. Pryor used what he witnessed as fodder for his stand-up act, or was it a form of therapy? Comedy wasn't therapeutic enough and Pryor began a lifelong battle with drugs and alcohol which turned him into a public spectacle at times. His most infamous drug-related incident occurred on June 9, 1980, when Pryor poured rum on himself and lit himself on fire following a three-week freebasing bender. This was reported as accidental at first, but Pryor revealed later that it was a suicide attempt. George Carlin referenced this in his own act, stating, "I lead Richard Pryor in heart attacks two to one, but he leads me in setting my entire body on fire 1-0". After this incident, Pryor was clean for a bit, but suffered relapses which had negative effects on his career and his health. Until he was diagnosed with MS in the early 1990's, Pryor's battle with drugs and alcohol continued.
Pryor married 7 times, including marrying two different women twice. One of Richard's former girlfriends saw him as one who loved the chase more than the conquest. "He would spend his energy getting the girl and then spend his energy trying to get rid of her". In between his marriages and drug addiction, he also made some very funny and not-so very funny movies, two concert films, a TV show which pushed the limits of censorship, and of course some brilliant standup. Richard Pryor was possibly more autobiographical on stage than any other comedian. He didn't necessarily say it all for laughs. He had stories to tell, like one would tell in an AA meeting. When I first heard a Richard Pryor album, I would characterize him as "Hilariously funny for 10 minutes and then not funny for an hour." Little did I realize that he wasn't a laffaminit comedian, but someone who was communicating his life and pain for all to see. I can't imagine I would ever have wanted to trade places with him.
The documentary covers plenty of ground, including showing previously unseen footage from the filming of "Live On The Sunset Strip". The movie everyone saw was actually his second comeback concert. The first one went horribly, with Pryor stumbling through an ad-libbed act without the fire and confidence that marked previous performances. He left the stage after one hour to a booing crowd. He returned the following night and the rest is history. Many celebrities, family members, and friends provided honest insight into a man who wasn't easy to get along with or read. Whoopi Goldberg and Robin Williams commend his comedic talents, while friends and family lament the fact that drugs prevented Richard Pryor from being even greater than he already was.
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