The Indie Film Corner: ‘Sleep Walk with Me’

By Dennis Tavernetti
“Sleep Walk With Me” from The Indie Series presented by Emerging Pictures in HD at USCB Center For the Arts Monday, October 12 at 6:30 p.m.
Synopsis: Comedian, turned-playwright-turned-filmmaker, Mike Birbiglia wears his incisive wit on his sleeve while portraying a cinematic surrogate. We are thrust into the tale of a burgeoning stand-up comedian struggling with the stress of a stalled career, a stale relationship threatening to race out of his control, and the wild spurts of severe sleepwalking he is desperate to ignore. Based on his successful one-man show, the film engages in a kind of passionate and personal storytelling that transfigures intimate anguish into comic art.
Ratings & Reviews: Internet sites IMDb: 7.2 and Rotten Tomatoes: Critics/86 and Audience/85. Very good marks indeed. Roger Ebert: “… I like this movie”; USA Today: ”A dream for fans of offbeat, well-written…”; San Francisco Chronicle: “… fine, funny exercise in disheveled self-deprecation…”; The Wall Street Journal: “…funny…”.
Previewer Comments:  This dramatic comedy is really about the lead’s relationship with his girl friend and his reluctance to commit and his failing standup comedy career.  Then he hits up on using his relationship in his standup comic routine as fertile ground for humor, seemingly unconcerned about the impact on his girl friend. Will both survive at the end? The sleep walking bits are very good examples how to turn a dangerous malady into slapstick comedy.  If you have been to a comedy club and enjoyed it, you will love this movie! If you haven’t been to one, go to this move and save lots of cash by not having to buy dinner and all those drinks!
Rated: Not rated but likely to be considered PG-13  for sexual humor.
Awards: Winner at 2012 Sundance and Nantucket Film Festivals.
Tickets for adults are $7, seniors $6, students $5. Call USCB Center for the Arts box office at 843-521-4145 or purchase day of performance. Box office opens one hour prior to show time.