For Madmen Only

Smashing look at the life and work of a brilliant, flawed, singular artist, whose importance cannot be diminished. Great find!

For Madmen Only is a fascinating documentary about Del Close, the influential teacher and performer whose ideas helped shape modern improvisational comedy. What makes the film especially engaging is how it tells his story through archival footage, interviews, animation, and reenactments rather than relying on a conventional talking-head format.

The documentary does a great job showing just how far Close's influence reached, particularly through the generations of comedians who studied with him or adopted his long-form improv techniques. His personality could be chaotic and difficult, and the film doesn't shy away from those contradictions.

The supplemental features add worthwhile context, especially for viewers interested in improv history and the creative process. The artwork also suits the documentary perfectly, capturing the eccentric, slightly anarchic personality at the center of the story.

Overall, it's an entertaining and informative portrait of a complicated figure whose influence on American comedy is much larger than his name recognition might suggest.

This documentary is fantastic. I never knew how much influence and connection Del had with today’s and past comics. Great from start to finish. Pick this one up for sure if you’re into documentaries.

very inspirational

Fun doc biography