Captures, with a frenzied and dextrous clarity, the unmoored, wired, euphoric, listless feeling of being very online during the pandemic. .... “Inside” is a virtuosic one-man musical extravaganza, and also an experimental film about cracking up via Wi-Fi connection while trying to make said one-man musical extravaganza—although, in the mediated age, when genres are twisted and mashed together, characterizing it feels almost beyond the point.
I was not familiar with Bo Burnham, but watched this just not (2024 already) after hearing someone mention it in a YouTube long-form video. I had no idea what to expect. I thought it was brilliant. Plenty of clever and thoughtful songs. It is even more impressive in light of it being a one person project.
Inside is a singular artifact of the pandemic era, a deftly crafted musical collage in a lo-fi disguise. And to those with the stomach to revisit the darkest period of our collective lives, it will continue to serve as a matchless time capsule.
It is an incredible accomplishment, a testament to Burnham’s genius at directing, writing, songwriting, performance. There are a few overwhelming moments of empathy and warmth, too. ... But it is also mesmerizing throughout, catchy and astonishing and captivating and self-absorbed and desperately thinking of everyone else, all at once.
Easily the best comedy special of the pandemic, if not the best “content” of any kind from the pandemic that you’ll see, putting everything we’ve felt over the past year and a half, and still feel, as each of us figure out what comes next.
He plays with forms and genres as if mixing colors. It's often that if you're not laughing, you're still impressed, if not inspired. This feels like Burnham achieving his ultimate form, as a parodist who proves again and again to be exceptionally original and wise. ... A bit more transparency on the creative process, and what happens over the isolated project's timeframe, would help it resonate as an artistic statement.
The results are extraordinary. ... Despite its many levels of jokes and meta-jokes, Inside is one of the most sincere artistic responses to the 21st century so far: a beautiful, intricate chambered nautilus shell filled with loathing.
This film not only captures the pure boredom and panic of living in isolation during COVID-19, but also lets you know of the everyday life of the generations of Millennials and the Z.
While watching this film, I had saw an arc in him, having a content state of mind when he actually starts the project, to denial to get it completed, anxiety to even speak in camera, crying tears in depression, and finally acceptance of the film actually being in completion.
You’re in the journey, you’re stuck with him, and it feels like you’re with him for a long time.
If you go into “Bo Burnham: Inside” with the wrong mindset, you will hate it, but if have the right attitude, it might just change your life. First off, this is basically a 90 minute concert, but the songs and production are just really clever and with the backdrop of quarantine, it has real emotional impact. I give it a C, if you've already seen the best, but you insist on watching a movie, try this one out.
Introspection? A little, yes.
I think we all had our fair share in this pandemic.
The rest is a brutal exercise in self-absorption and narcissism.
Not because you have a public platform and a mic, does it mean you have something meaningful to say.
Forgettable. I don’t understand the acclaim. The best thing about this is how well it was filmed, but the content itself was mediocre. I found myself bored through the majority of the special, which is strange for me because I tend to laugh pretty easily at most kinds of comedy. Would not recommend this to anyone, even people I know who’ve seen his earlier specials.
Neo-liberal trash. Selling the aesthetics of leftism without doing anything to support anyone. This movie is faux deep surface level observations to make those without critical thought believe they are able to think for themselves.
Often playing into negative stereotypes for jokes but then scolding the viewer for doing so later on in his works. He glories suicide and depression using it as a punchline without supplying actual resources until the very end of the special.