Bert-Someone, not sure who, commented that it was a mistake to take his diaries as anything other than simply the sort of the end of the day bitching than one does to a confidant. I think that the film makers made that mistake, and played his writings out as the reflections of a deeply tormented soul.

Also, the film made it seem like his tv appearances were some sort of fall from grace. Watching them, it is, much to the contrary, clear that he was at his best simply telling stories to a audience. As an American, I had only seen him in movies, and I was as delighted by him as the show audiences were.

The film reminds me of Bob Fosse's "Lenny", in which Dustin Hoffman
portrays comedian Lenny Bruce-a brilliant actor,playing out the torments of one of the most influential comedians of all time. Hoffman was everything except funny...