And thats the highest compliment one can give in this specific case.

"You dont cater to the audience. You tell them what is funny."

"I'm someone who left their past twice, I dont have any more time for not giving it all."

"Do you know Lenny Bruce?"

"People come here to see us, not you - or someones singing."

"You have tamer material, right? And you have still plenty of time, so change your set."

"If you cant joke about yourself in private, you wont be able to on stage."

An odd family --

and the rest is tragedy.

And ascendance above it all. But - you know, the Kitano way.

With a twitch,

and a whimper,

shouting "I'm a comidian, you idiot" into some agitated persons face.

I only gave 8/10 because of the one shot in the end, attempting to show the audience what the heart of the story is all about. It wasn't needed, as another reviewer already stated in here before. Less is more. But the film had me in tears even before that (nostalgia inducing) scene - so, all is good -- it captured the essence, and thats really everything that was needed, and the highest compliment one can give in this specific case.