Tonight I had the opportunity to finally see Crispin Glover’s film What Is It? at the Broadway Performance Hall. The film was preceded by a slide show reading/presentation of Glover’s books given by Glover himself. It was followed by a question-answer segment.

I first heard of this film when I watched Glover’s interview on Tom Green’s online show last summer. I’ve been fascinated by Glover ever since watching him in River’s Edge. That performance, with respect to his in Back to the Future, really made me wonder what was up with this man. Crispin Glover, without a doubt, is a unique individual. Sometimes I wonder whether I like him, but I always appreciate and respect him. People such as him are necessary for our culture, people who work both within and without our parameters, to challenge the status quo and keep us from becoming stagnant.

I was a little afraid to see the movie tonight. I had seen the trailer, and heard Glover talk about it on Tom Green Live, so I knew it was most certainly unconventional fare. I can’t really begin to describe it, nor would I really want to. For anyone who would want to see it, I’d like them to be able to go in with as little preconception as possible. The gist of it, though, is a sort of presentation of societal taboos in order to explore their meaning and context in our minds. According to him, it is a reaction to his experience with the film industry and some of the changes it has gone through in the last 20-30 years. This film is not for everyone. You know all those parodies of art house films that are completely absurdist? This is their fodder.

The Q&A afterward was quite good. I sat with rapt attention as he meandered and digressed about a handful of questions. We must have been there for about an hour listening to him explain his intentions and philosophies regarding the making of What Is It? and the rest of the trilogy of which it is a part. I love the thought processes behind it all, and was thrilled to know there were actually philosophical reasons for even the music choices. (He chose some of the music because of the social currents running at the time the music was written, to put it simplistically.) Glover is quite brilliant indeed. At least in my estimation. I think I could listen to him for hours, if he would let me.

In fact, tomorrow evening I will be seeing the second part of the trilogy, entitled It is Fine! Everything Is Fine. It will be presented the same as tonight’s film. That is, sandwiched between the book reading/slide show and the Q&A. I’m curious about seeing the slide show again one day later. How much will it be the same? How different? But maybe between now and then, I will be able to come up with a question to ask, and then ask it. And maybe I will stick around after and buy a book for him to sign.

While you wait for the answers to those questions, you can watch the trailer for What Is It? as presented on Tom Green Live.