Quartile rating: 7/10 · 1 rating
George Carlin performs a hilarious set of never-before released material in "Complaints and Grievances." His 12th HBO special was recorded live at the Beacon Theater in New York City on November 17, 2001. In "Complaints and Grievances," Carlin shamelessly exposes the people and subjects that irritate him the most.
A late-period Carlin HBO special, this is a sharply delivered stand-up set recorded just weeks after 9/11, giving it an unusually charged atmosphere. Carlin's performance is characteristically ferocious and precise — his command of language and timing remains well above average for stand-up specials. The material itself, while vintage Carlin in theme (misanthropy, cultural grievances, linguistic hypocrisy), feels somewhat recycled compared to his groundbreaking earlier specials like 'Jammin' in New York' or 'You Are All Diseased,' making it less distinctive than his peak work. Cinematography is standard multi-camera concert filming with no particular visual ambition. The ending lands solidly but doesn't reach the transcendent closer moments of his best specials. A strong showcase of a master at work, even if not his most original hour.