Watch Without You I'm Nothing

Without You I'm Nothing is a dramatic-comedy film that was released in 1990, directed by John Boskovich, and stars Sandra Bernhard, John Doe, and Steve Antin. Bernhard, who co-wrote and produced the movie, also features as the lead character. The movie presents a combination of comedic sketches with a narrative thread that explores issues of identity, self-worth, and societal expectations. The main character, Sandra Bernhard, a popular stand-up comedian in real life, plays herself and takes the audience on a wild ride through her life, discussing her passion for music, bad boyfriends, and everything in between.

Without You I'm Nothing begins with Bernhard performing a live show in a small venue, singing and telling jokes to a packed crowd. However, as the night goes on, her performance becomes increasingly erratic and confrontational, as she struggles with her identity and the roles society assigns to her as a woman and an entertainer.

The movie then takes the viewer through a series of vignettes that explore different aspects of Bernhard's identity, which she humorously and poignantly reflects on through monologues, song renditions, and comedic performances. One of the most remarkable scenes in the movie is a parody of Madonna's "Material Girl," which Bernhard reinterprets with powerful feminist undertones that reveal the character's pride and disillusionment with the patriarchal structures of the entertainment industry.

The movie also features a subplot involving Bernhard's involvement with a band, The Fabulous Stains. Her boyfriend, John Doe, also plays in the band, and much of the conflict centers around their relationship, their differing opinions of the band's success, and their constant squabbles. The band segment of the movie features several punk-rock performances that showcase the band's music and the emerging punk scene of the 1980s.

Ultimately, Without You I'm Nothing is a movie about the complexities of identity, drawing from Bernhard's unique perspective as a queer, Jewish, performance artist who has navigated the entertainment industry for decades. Through her performances and narratives, the movie exposes the precariousness of personas, the importance of self-acceptance, and the chaos of the cultural moment in which she and her peers found themselves.

The film ends with a fully-realized performance of Bernhard singing her signature song "Without You I'm Nothing" which echoes the themes of the entire movie about the struggle to hold onto one's sense of self against the pressures and expectations of others.

In conclusion, Without You I'm Nothing is a humorous, moving and inventive film that chronicles the life experiences of the character portrayed by Sandra Bernhard. It presents a portrait of an artist struggling to define herself, exposing the flaws and follies of the entertainment industry while providing both laughs and poignant reflections on identity, authenticity, and self-worth. The movie remains a cult classic, infusing humor, music, and social commentary to make for a memorable cinematic experience.

Without You I'm Nothing is a 1990 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 29 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.4.