The fact that Sam Kinison was a truly unique standup comedian is amply demonstrated in this compilation of his two best HBO specials, 1987's Breaking the Rules and 1991's Family Entertainment Hour. A former preacher who would later disdain organized religion, Kinison was tormented by numerous personal demons, not the least of which was rampant substance abuse. But he made his pain the wellspring of his scabrous humor, articulated in near primal screams. One of the classic segments in Breaking the Rules, for example, is a hilarious song dedicated to his former girlfriend, which begins tenderly and ends as a maniacally profane rant. Profanity, by the way, was Sam's stock in trade, which he deployed in the manner that a master artist wields a paintbrush. Kinison's comic routines are laced with anti-woman, anti-gay, and anti-religious tirades (the easily offended are advised to steer clear), but the man was an unquestionable trailblazer. In the years since his premature death in a 1992 car crash, dozens of comedians have followed the path Kinison marked—for better or worse. Loud, rude, and unforgettable, Sam Kinison Unleashed (which incorporates never-before-seen footage) is hardly for all tastes, but it is contemporary classic comedy. Recommended. Aud: P. (E. Hulse)
Sam Kinison: Unleashed
(1991) 174 min. DVD: $14.98. Mill Creek Entertainment (avail. from most distributors). Volume 24, Issue 3
Sam Kinison: Unleashed
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