This documentary does exactly what its title says, providing an biographical account of comedian/actor/marathon runner Eddie Izzard through interviews, home video footage and clips from his stand up shows.
I was dubious about whether a 1hr 45min documentary about Izzard would have much to say, but it turns out that his rise to comedy heights took quite a slog. From being born in Yemen, moving to Northern Ireland, losing his mother, attending boarding school, being kicked out of Sheffield University, slogging away at the Edinburgh festival and street performing in Covent Garden, Izzard eventually hit the big time, pretty much overnight. And then there was the coming out as TV, the Watchdog 'scandal' when he was accused of recycling old material in 2000 and his comeback to stand up in 2003 on the Sexie tour, which is woven throughout the standard talking head-docu stuff. There's no denying Izzard's determination and drive to make it big in comedy, and then to get to Hollywood and star alongside George Clooney in Ocean's Twelve & Thirteen. It's quite a story, and one that is told with compassion, insight and liberal doses of Izzard's humourous flights of fancy. The movie is surprisingly emotional too, as Izzard opens up and shares his belief that by doing all of the things he does he's aiming to get his mother back.
but...
On that last point above I'd say that the camera lingered too long to be comfortable on the teary Izzard after he'd bared his soul. Otherwise, as a depiction of how hard it is to make it in stand up, and the tenacity of Izzard, Believe is a winner.
briefly...
An unusual insight into the way the comedy circuit works, with a subject worthy of such a lengthy documentary. The clips of old shows reminded me just how hilarious Izzard is.
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