Public Speaking

Railing against contemporary celebrity culture, NYC Jewish lesbian writer Fran Lebowitz notes that Andy Warhol's transformation of drag queens into superstars wound up making “fame” more “famous.” Lebowitz impishly smiles before adding the kicker, “This is what happens when an inside joke gets into the water supply.” Lebowitz's own 15-minutes-plus of fame came in 1978 with the publication of her debut collection of sardonic essays, Metropolitan Life, followed by a second compilation, 1981's Social Studies, and then…nothing, aside from a 1994 children's book entitled Mr. Chas and Lisa Sue Meet the Pandas. So what has this woman—dubbed by some as a modern-day Dorothy Parker—been doing for the last quarter-century? While still fighting her infamous “writer's blockade,” Lebowitz (who claims, “no one has wasted time more than I have”) has regaled Manhattan audiences with her “public speaking” (noting, “when I was a child it was called talking back”). Directed by Martin Scorsese, Public Speaking is not a biographical portrait of the artist, but rather a very smart standup routine with Lebowitz sitting down in a booth at NYC's Waverly Inn and riffing on a wide variety of subjects: the difference between men and women (“testosterone”), the drawbacks of being prescient (“the problem with being ahead of your time is that by the time everyone else gets around to it, you're bored”), her preference for avoiding direct confrontation (“I believe in talking behind people's backs—that way they hear it more than once”), and the vintage Checker cab she owns (“it's such a subtle shade of pearly gray that straight men think it's white”). Interspersed throughout are a handful of archival clips featuring Lebowitz talking to audiences, being interviewed by Toni Morrison, riffing with Conan O'Brien, and guest starring on Law & Order. DVD extras include two short promo pieces and deleted scenes. A hugely entertaining documentary spotlighting a cultural treasure who mixes penetrating insight with Wildean wit, this is highly recommended. Aud: P. (R. Pitman)