Watch Punching the Clown For Free

good back-story, and good acting

This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.

The acting in this movie is really good.

It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties. It's a feast for the eyes. But what really makes this dramedy work is the acting.

It is rare a modern comedy makes me laugh out loud. Punching the clown made me laugh through-out the film, and even when I have re-watched it I catch parts/references I hadn't picked up previously.The humor is clever and original, as is the plot. It is also a low budgetish film, which makes me appreciate it that much more.The plot cleverly intertwines Henry's adventures with his music bits, while he is interviewed by a DJ on the radio. I have been following Henry Philips since his hilarious you-tube series called Henry's Kitchen.The man is a comedic genius, on the likes of Nathan Fielder from Nathan for you with his subtleness.

This is a comedic masterpiece, in the sense that I was coughing up phlegm throughout the film. The Village Voice called this the "funniest movie ever made about trying to hold on to one's artistic integrity in an image-obsessed world." That's one way to put it, but the writer should have added "...oh, and I was laughing so hard I crapped my pants".Henry Phillips is a great guitar picker and writes and sings like Roy Zimmerman, Bob Dylan, and Redd Foxx all rolled into one. OK, Loudon Wainwright too. The film depicts his plod through making a living as a...satiric folk singer-songwriter? That's exactly what he is, but the term has too many syllables for promoters and record company execs. Awkward encounters abound, some briefly tense, most hysterically funny. Ten stars.

Funny, heartfelt and deep. A good luck at life on the road, the art of entertaining and making a career in Hollywood. Henry is great and very deadpan funny. He is sweet guy and we come to care for him over the course of the film. Also, a good cast of funny side characters, everyone is properly subtle and not overblown. Not cliché or 'typcial Hollywood' this show is more independent, many of the stories are based off real life encounters. Great humor is found at the insanity of Hollywood life. Henry's songs are great too, he is dark and brutal and unflinchingly awesome. So yes, it is an indie film, but it is very well made and full of great moments. Recommended.

Here's a good one for you, if you want something new. Punching the Clown. Yes, the title means what you think it means, but that's not what the film is about... Well, yes, it IS about a clown of sorts (a comic) that rolls with the punches... but nothing immature here. Trust me, I know immature!Anyway, I loved it. My favorite characters apart from Henry Phillips were his useless but loving manager (Ellen Ratner, she reminded me of my mom... Bonus: she does the commentary track with the director and the star. There are some very funny deleted scenes too.), his amazing failed actor brother (Matt Walker) and the extremely realistic record company guy (Guilford Adams). There are plenty of other great characters. Most of them are surprisingly true to life. Without giving too much away, it's about a singer/comic who decides to move to LA because his luck dried up singing at one too many pizza joints on the road. In Hollywood, he gets a record deal a little too quickly, and then... life happens. The plot is fun (though not 100% fresh) but the way it plays out is about as fresh as anything I've seen on a screen, big or small. Henry's songs are hilarious, which is refreshing. Kind of like a young Tom Waits. The movie is expertly directed, avoiding cliché's, keeping the story moving the entire time. It will suck you in. It won the audience award at the Slamdance film festival and a bunch of other awards, and I can see why. It's got a high rating (rotten tomatoes). It's got my vote too.