Probably the first hurdle that anyone needs to get over when dealing with any of Eric Bogosian’s work is to simply know who he is. I think many people have heard the name, but have undoubtedly never put it with the face. Bogosian has been in a few films, even starring in “Talk Radio”, so the face is a recognizable one. But unless you know who he is, you don’t really know who he is. The second hurdle has to be one of taste. When you see Bogosian in a film, he comes across as a rough talking opinionated guy. When you take the time to see any of his stage monologues, he is an even rougher opinionated guy. He is not a comedian, as some people are want to think, nor is he a performance artist. What he does is talk. Monologues are his game, and for the most part they are uncomfortable monologues. Given the opportunity, Bogosian will slap every human ideal in the face, offend those who aren’t easily offended, and anger those who just don’t ‘get it.’

Why does he have such a negative effect on people? Because he doesn’t care what lines he has to cross to get make his point, and even worse… he’s often right on the money. People don’t like to hear the truth.

I’ve only seen a few snippets of some of his earlier works, but recently I sat down to watch the DVD of his one-man show, “Wake Up and Smell the Coffee.” And let me tell you, it is a shocker. But I love watching this guy rant. He goes off on tangents ranging from a fantasy about having sex with a stewardess in-flight (which decays into a fantasy about the plane crashing) to commenting on Christ as if he were an airhead (Christ, not Bogosian). Sometimes the guy makes some great points, but occasionally you have to really wonder where he’s heading.

I really enjoyed the opportunity to see Bogosian in action, spinning under the wheels of his own demoralizing attack on the public at large, but I had mixed feelings about the DVD release itself. Instead of simply focusing the camera on him, the producers of the film opt to use way too many quick and clever editing tricks, thinking it would make it more interesting. It was way too distracting. What they failed to realize is that Bogosian is interesting enough if you just let loose of the camera and let him do his thing.

Docurama’s DVD release of “Wake Up and Smell the Coffee”, offers up a couple of extras in the form of an eye-opening interview with Bogosian (as if he isn’t eye opening enough in the feature), and a bit of a biography.

There is no doubt in my mind that Wake Up and Smell the Coffee” is not going to appeal to everyone. Bogosian is a master of the spoken word, and only those who can see beyond what he is saying into what he really means is going to enjoy it.

Directed by: Michael Rauch
Starring: Eric Bogosian
Extras: Exclusive Interview with Eric Bogosian, Biography, Filmmakers Biographies
Specifications: Full Screen, Dolby Digital Stereo
Studio: Docurama / New Video
Release Date: 9/28/2004
Region 1
MPAA Rating: NR
Website

We'll give Wake Up and Smell the Coffee a B.