Friday, October 20, 2017

LEWIS BLACK: BLACK TO THE FUTURE (DVD Review)

LEWIS BLACK - BLACK TO THE FUTURE (2017) 

Label: MVD Visual 
Region Code: 1 NTSC 
Rating: Unrated 
Duration: 50 Minutes 
Audio: English Dolby Digital Stereo 2.0 with Optional English  Subtitles 
Video: Anamorphic Widescreen (1.78:1)
I've always loved Lewis Black and his curmudgeonly, acerbic views on the world, the rant-riddled comic came into my life with a fun tirade about NyQuil and has stayed with me ever since. This time out the comedian offers up his pre-election views of the presidential candidates of Hillary Clinton, Cruz and Donald Trump, and we all know how that ended - apparently no one listened to his argument against the Doritos-colored douche. He also pokes at the dim witted weirdness of lizard-eyed Ben Carson, gun control and mental illness as prescribed by the NRA and exemplified by the members Congress. Black is aging, he's in his 60's, and has plenty of that irritable grandfather charm I seem to enjoy so much, his stand-up is laced with profanity but he's always driving home the point, ranting about Christian's clinging on to the Old Testament, which he again affirms is not their book, and is irritated by people who buy their pets Valentine's gifts, while extolling the virtues of mouth-watering, glistening titties is advertising and the pro gun-control benefits of lactating robbers.

Black has arguably lost some of his comedic edge over the years but none of his patented angry-man rage and kinetic/frenetic delivery, not all the jokes/tirades land 100% but the ones that do still kill, so there's just more padding than usual around the edges of the comedy deathblows but there's still plenty to love about the ranty grandpa of comedy and his "jewy-jewness".  

Aside from the main stand-up routine there's also a bonus feature, a 50-minute Q/A titled "The Rant Is Due: Live From Napa" that was streamed to members of Black's fan club at some point, moderated by fellow comedian Kathleen Madigan, with Black answering questions from the crowd with his usual irritable charm. 

Audio/Video: Black to the Future(2017) arrives on single-disc DVD from MVD Visual framed in anamorphic widescreen, the image is solid and the English Dolby Digital Stereo 2.0 audio is crisp and clean, optional English subtitles are provided for both programs. It comes housed in digibook cardboard case with a clear plastic tray.  

Black to the Future Tracklist: 
1. What's My Job'
2. Ben Carson
3. The Media
4. Gun Control
5. Mental Illness
6. Pet Lovers (Bark Mitzvah)
7. Old Testament
8. Copenhagen
9. Lactating German Woman
10. Election
11. Ted Cruz
12. Donald Trump
13. Hillary Clinton
14. Optimism

Special Features: 
- "The Rant Is Due: Live From Napa" (50 min) 

The Rant is Due Tracklist: 
1. This Could All Go Horribly wrong
2. Moms
3. Knowing Your Audience 
4. Social Media
5. Great Gay Man
6. Public School Teachers
7. Gluten-Free
8. Public Office 
9. Best And worst Countries
10. Your Plays
11. Childhood
12. Funnier As A Woman
13. Golf Score
14 Favorite Republicans 15. Legalize It
16. Meeting Kathleen  

If you love Lewis Black's ranting fervor and passionate profanity you will no doubt have a fun time with Black to the Future, the release is available on a variety of formats, aside from the DVD there's a 2-disc CD and 2xLP, both of which feature the bonus program "This Should Have Been A Special", a 65-minute set from 2016, but do not include "The Rant Is Due" extra which is on the DVD.