Tasty Crispin

By Rob Christopher in Arts & Entertainment on Nov 13, 2006 6:08PM

Most of us know Crispin Glover from the role which he will be forever associated with: that of Marty McFly’s dad in Back to the Future. (His most famous line of dialog, of course, “Get your damn hands off her!”) But aside from the dozens of quirky performances he’s given over the years (the Christmas-obsessed weirdo in Wild at Heart being our favorite), Mr. Glover is also an accomplished artist, writer, musician and filmmaker. He will put in three extremely rare personal appearances this weekend at the Music Box accompanying his new film What Is It?

A more apt question was probably never asked. Mr. Glover describes it thusly: “Being the adventures of a young man whose principal interests are snails, salt, a pipe, and how to get home, as tormented by a hubristic fascist inner psyche.” We first became aware of this film through the wonderful Daily Greencine, which links to Seattle’s The Stranger. Kelly O writes about some of the film’s imagery (Shirley Temple in a Nazi uniform; a couple, both with Down's syndrome, wearing makeup and feverishly making out) and says, “People try to compare it to the likes of surrealist hero Luis Buñuel and trailblazer Werner Herzog, but I say Glover has transcended even them.”

Mr. Glover (who prefers to use his full name, Crispin Hellion Glover) only allows the film to be shown when he is in attendance, and each screening at the Music Box will include a Q&A afterwards and a presentation of his infamous BIG SLIDE SHOW. This is one bit of cinematic performance art that’s bound to leave you speechless.

Crispin Glover appears at the Music Box for three performances only, Friday, November 17, through Sunday the 19th. Tickets are $17 in advance or $20 at the door; advance tickets are highly recommended.