On form, this look like a very good movie, with stars Al Pacino & Greta Gerwig (with Diane Wiest and Charles Grodin in small roles); Barry Levinson directing; and Buck Henry scripting. However, despite having all the technical issues well covered and being a better movie than the current Oscar nominee BIRDMAN, with which it shares a lot of plot point, it turns into an exercise in embarrassment. There are plenty of funny bits, but they all turn on humiliation.

Given the title of the movie, this should come as no surprise. However, watching an actor do Shakespeare's KING LEAR as a comedy -- which is the subtext of this movie -- Pacino's turn as an aging actor who has lost his ability to act turns into simply a mean-spirited piece, mocking the weak and confused. Not to mention the problems with the version of LEAR that he finally agrees to perform, hectored by all and with an audience waiting for him to fall off stage.

BIRDMAN was an exercise in tragedy. This tries to work in comedy and the powerlessness of Pacino's character makes it obnoxious. Comedy should aim up. It should be the weak's weapon against the strong. Everyone performs very well, but the laughs in the theater were properly ragged and always accompanied by a wince.