The Buzz
“It’s got something for everyone – well, except grannies and kids.” Stephen McCole
Crying with Laughter has been kicking asses all over the World at festivals from Edinburgh to the now legendary SXSW (South by South West) in Austin Texas. And here is what the critics and fans have to say about it;
Time Out – Tom Huddleson
‘Crying with Laughter’ is an impressive low-budget debut. It builds on McCole’s seedy central performance to create a believable and sympathetic portrait of a bitter, beaten man finding his way back to the world.
The Mirror – David Edwards
It is by turns painfully funny and excruciatingly tense, with McCole and Malcolm Shields as his nemesis both on fire. It also boasts cinema’s funniest threesome joke.
The Guardian – Peter Bradshaw
Molotnikov drives his movie forward with real storytelling skill; …. this is a very strong debut from Molotnikov.
Little White Lies
Dark, funny and, most importantly, fresh Crying With Laughter is an accomplished Britfilm that plays with genres as opposed to rigidly sticking to them.
An involving British thriller which nimbly evokes the dangerously volatile chemistry of stand-up comedy.
From SXSW
Donny Broussard – Killer Film
Justin Molotnikov’s Crying with Laughter is a compelling thriller that took hold of my soul and didn’t let go until the credits rolled, and even then, I couldn’t get it out of my head. Crying with Laughter is an exuberantly acted, magnificently directed film about how two people’s memory of the same event are almost never in sync. If you get the chance to see it on the big screen I’d highly recommend it, but if not, then please seek it out of DVD because it it absolutely a killer film.
We Are Movie Geeks
CRYING WITH LAUGHTER is a fresh film, taking a typical genre such as the suspense thriller and applying a different edge. Joey is a comic, so this plays a significant role in the storytelling process. Interspersed within the action of the story, the audience is given short clips of Joey giving a funny and very compelling performance on stage.
Eye for Film
It’s a rather wonderful black comedy, and makes an equally welcome change from the usual parochial bilge served up by the Scottish film industry and festivals. A polished little gem – seek it out.
Smells Like Screen Spirit
Crying with Laughter is by no means an easy film to watch, but several of the plot’s twists and turns are executed quite masterfully and McCole’s lead performance is chillingly sincere.”
Austin Chronicle
The stand-up routines are a unique way to frame this oft-told and usually depressing tale of pain and forgiveness, and Crying With Laughter marks an impressive feature debut for Molotnikov.