For more independent film reviews please visit http://www.outcrymagazine.com
Also download this review of "What is it?" in our Sundance 2005 issue. It is available in the archive section of 2005 issues.
Thank you!
Darin Hadley
Outcry Magazine
Tuesday, February 07, 2006
Saturday, February 05, 2005
What is it?
Notice: This isn't a review, or an interview, so what is it?
I'm still asking myself what the hell it is. All I can say is Crispin Hellion Glover's film What is it? is one of the weirdest movies I have ever seen. I say this in a good way however. I found it fascinating and it kept my attention throughout the entire film. I even found myself laughing through out even though the images of Nazi's, sex, snails being burned to death by salt really was startling. The most un-startling aspect of the entire film was the down syndrome actors. Which after talking to Crispin is one of the points he was trying to achieve. I am still pondering the entire movie and I will be seeing it again when it comes back to Salt Lake in February at the Tower Theatre. I will warn people now that this show isn't for everyone. I have never seen a movie so warped in my life, yet I came out of it feeling okay. It was like witnessing a train wreck and leaving the disturbing site smiling. I always considered myself warped, but I found the king of warped, and yes it's "McFly". Even though the movie was bizzare in every way I have a better understanding of it after talking with Crispin. There are actually two other movies making this part one or a prequal of a trilogy. I believe once all of us see the other two films that this one will make total sense.
Probably one of the more horrible images in this movie was the constant snail destroying. It was througout the entire movie, and made a lot of people feel queesy. Crispin look out for the animal activists my friend. I enjoyed it myself, but I also enjoyed the movie. I have a mentally handicapped brother, and I liked the movie because Crispin used down syndrome actors. They were portraying ordinary people and they showed they had faults and could be corrupted as easy as free thinking "normal" people. In fact once I got into the mood of the movie I didn't even feel that I was watching down syndrome actors. The actors all put on brilliant performances including Crispin. Fairuza Balk screaming through out the movie playing a depressed snail was absolutely fabulous and funny to me and a lot of other people. She has a shrieking scream that makes you wet yourself. Yes I stuck to the seat when I tried to get up...
A really strange aspect of the film is it takes place in two different realities. The one shown above in the photo, and a normal looking world like the one we live in. The bizzaro world is what I would describe as the land of OZ. You have naked monkey women and a sort of king or god on a throne, greek theater comes to mind in this world. This land is also marked with Nazi swastikas and Shirly Temple images which were quite the shocker at first for me. Watermelons are the food of plenty in this strange land, and sex is abundant. Once you see part two the sex is better explained Crispin told us. The women in the film are all very large breasted and they wear what looked like monkey masks. Maybe there is some sort of wartermelon/big breasted women imagery that Crispin wanted us to put together here.
I originally thought possibly the world was wiped out and only down syndrome people were left to rome like the bible says "The meek shall inherit the earth". But I don't think this film had anything to do with down syndrome people after talking with Crispin. It is just one of those counter cultural shock issues put into the film along with many others. Including the minstrel painted black who injects himself with snail juice to become a snail. He is unhappy in the bizzare world and transfers over to the "normal" world. The minstrel is unahappy with his current state and wants to transform into a snail. There is some deep meaning here, but you will have to figure it out for yourself and see the film.
I'm still asking myself what the hell it is. All I can say is Crispin Hellion Glover's film What is it? is one of the weirdest movies I have ever seen. I say this in a good way however. I found it fascinating and it kept my attention throughout the entire film. I even found myself laughing through out even though the images of Nazi's, sex, snails being burned to death by salt really was startling. The most un-startling aspect of the entire film was the down syndrome actors. Which after talking to Crispin is one of the points he was trying to achieve. I am still pondering the entire movie and I will be seeing it again when it comes back to Salt Lake in February at the Tower Theatre. I will warn people now that this show isn't for everyone. I have never seen a movie so warped in my life, yet I came out of it feeling okay. It was like witnessing a train wreck and leaving the disturbing site smiling. I always considered myself warped, but I found the king of warped, and yes it's "McFly". Even though the movie was bizzare in every way I have a better understanding of it after talking with Crispin. There are actually two other movies making this part one or a prequal of a trilogy. I believe once all of us see the other two films that this one will make total sense.
Probably one of the more horrible images in this movie was the constant snail destroying. It was througout the entire movie, and made a lot of people feel queesy. Crispin look out for the animal activists my friend. I enjoyed it myself, but I also enjoyed the movie. I have a mentally handicapped brother, and I liked the movie because Crispin used down syndrome actors. They were portraying ordinary people and they showed they had faults and could be corrupted as easy as free thinking "normal" people. In fact once I got into the mood of the movie I didn't even feel that I was watching down syndrome actors. The actors all put on brilliant performances including Crispin. Fairuza Balk screaming through out the movie playing a depressed snail was absolutely fabulous and funny to me and a lot of other people. She has a shrieking scream that makes you wet yourself. Yes I stuck to the seat when I tried to get up...
A really strange aspect of the film is it takes place in two different realities. The one shown above in the photo, and a normal looking world like the one we live in. The bizzaro world is what I would describe as the land of OZ. You have naked monkey women and a sort of king or god on a throne, greek theater comes to mind in this world. This land is also marked with Nazi swastikas and Shirly Temple images which were quite the shocker at first for me. Watermelons are the food of plenty in this strange land, and sex is abundant. Once you see part two the sex is better explained Crispin told us. The women in the film are all very large breasted and they wear what looked like monkey masks. Maybe there is some sort of wartermelon/big breasted women imagery that Crispin wanted us to put together here.
I originally thought possibly the world was wiped out and only down syndrome people were left to rome like the bible says "The meek shall inherit the earth". But I don't think this film had anything to do with down syndrome people after talking with Crispin. It is just one of those counter cultural shock issues put into the film along with many others. Including the minstrel painted black who injects himself with snail juice to become a snail. He is unhappy in the bizzare world and transfers over to the "normal" world. The minstrel is unahappy with his current state and wants to transform into a snail. There is some deep meaning here, but you will have to figure it out for yourself and see the film.
Mike Fink and I joined Crispin in a round table the day after we saw the film. Crispin is one of the most down to earth people you will ever meet. To tell you the truth Mike and I and the Fangoria reporter were a little nervous at first to meet him, but it turned out to be better than we thought. Mr. Glover seems extremely normal for making a film like "What is it?" Crispin told us that the film was 10 years in the making and that he had a lot of trouble getting it done. He utilized money from blockbuster movies he was in such as "Charlies Angels" to finish his masterpiece. We are very happy he was able to finish it. We could tell he was exhausted and was happy it was finally finished. Crispin was surprised that it was accepted into Sundance in the first place. He wasn't expecting that, and didn't expect to have it picked up for distribution by a major film company, which for now I don't believe it has been. He didn't really mind either way and wants to self promote the film by visiting different states. Crispin will play the film in theaters around the states and then hold Q&A sessions or have a book signing afterwards. He is emotionally attached to his film and it isn't meant to be shown without him present. Unfortunately he couldn't make it the night of the press showing. I'm sure there were quite a few Questions that needed to be answered. http://www.crispinglover.com is where you can find showing schedules and dates, and a trailer of the movie. You can also find out more information on the sequals and Crispin's books.
I really can't say anything more about this movie, but insist that all of you see it. It will make you think far beyond the night you see it.
Thursday, February 03, 2005
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