Friday night of last week, Crispin Hellion Glover was in town, doing his Big Slideshow and showing What is it? on Friday night, and It is Fine, Everything Is Fine on Saturday night.  I went Friday night, since I wanted to see the movies on some semblance of order.  Glover’s a strange man, and his books showed it.  (He takes old books for the 1920′s on things like Concrete Inspection, and judicously cuts, pastes and adds to make them his own)

What is it is the disturbing story of a young man’s obsession with snails, salt, and his social standing. His inner turmoil plays out on screen like a greek tragedy, except with Shirley Temple hawking Nazism. Worth a watch, particularly with Glover there afterwards, talking about his film making process.

Of the two films, I somewhat regret not seeing It is Fine, Everything is Fine, as I suspect it is the better of the two films, but if your the type of person to enjoy Eraserhead, or even Twin Peaks, then I would suggest that both movies are required viewing.