Freak (1998) (TV)

User Rating:

8.2/10   

Director:

Spike Lee

Writers:

David Bar Katz (writer)
John Leguizamo (writer)

Release Date:

10 October 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Comedy

Plot:

John Leguizamo's semi-falsified, one-man stand-up performance as...himself. This is his autobiographical story...

Plot Keywords:

Autobiographical | New York | One Man Show | Child Abuse | Audience Participation

Awards:

Won Primetime Emmy. Another 2 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

John Leguizamo

...

Himself

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Trivia:

The original Broadway production of "Freak" by John Leguizamo opened at the Cort Theater in New York on February 12, 1998, ran for 144 performances and was nominated for the 1998 Tony Award for the Best Play. John Leguizamo recreated his solo act in this filmed production and was nominated for the 1998 Tony Award for the Best Actor.

Quotes:

John Leguizamo: We lived on Roosevelt Avenue.

Best one-man show ever

If you've ever seen John Leguizamo in "Freak", than you know what it is to watch a man give of his soul for two hours.

Creating a unique hybrid of every kind of one-man show performance ever, Leguizamo tells us the abridged story of his life, and goes out of his way (with a riveting, touching, hilarious performance) to cushion the many blows he has to reveal for an audience so unsuspecting of a damaged genius.

Directed for television by Spike Lee, John's *stage* performance was nominated for a Tony in 1998 for Best Actor In A Play (he lost to Anthony LaPaglia). His past show, "Spic-O-Rama", showed a diversity to play the eccentric characters of his life. But "Freak" proves something much greater: on such a fluid, risky platform as a one-man show with nearly no blackouts, Leguizamo can express emotions that are not yet eccentric or dull, but real. To see him give child abuse a whimsical perspective leaves a mark on you.

This is what he will be remembered for.

*****