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What Is It?

Play trailer What Is It? 2005 1h 12m Comedy Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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50% Tomatometer 10 Reviews 54% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
A young man journeys through a bizarre land inhabited by mentally impaired people, and snails.

Critics Reviews

View All (10) Critics Reviews
Jonathan Rosenbaum Chicago Reader Glover, who appears in the film as a kind of barbarian dictator-auteur, lacks both the self-imposed ideological innocence and the talent for composing sounds and images of David Lynch. Nov 16, 2006 Full Review Michael Wilmington Chicago Tribune A shocker, but not a world-class one. Rated: 2.5/4 Nov 16, 2006 Full Review Laura Kern New York Times His directorial debut, What Is It? -- which plays as part of a double bill with a live, enthusiastically performed slide show in which Mr. Glover displays pages from his recent series of books -- is just as unclassifiable as he is. Rated: 3/5 Nov 10, 2006 Full Review Amber Wilkinson Eye for Film It isn't the blatant affronts - the aspects aimed to shock - that upset me, but the fact that the film lacks heart. Rated: 2/5 Dec 7, 2007 Full Review Scott Foundas L.A. Weekly It's clear that [director] Glover is less interested in narrative than in rekindling a rich midnight-movie/avant-garde tradition that encompasses everything from Maya Deren and Jack Smith to Alejandro Jodorowsky and David Lynch. Dec 8, 2006 Full Review Andy Mauro Dread Central What Is It? is really only worth mentioning because of the bizarre casting, and Glover's own odd persona. Rated: 2/5 Jan 30, 2006 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (69) audience reviews
Audience Member Worth a single viewing. Very hard to find and watch. When I was finally able to view it I admit i was slightly disappointed. Big fan of Crispin Glover. I get the point. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/31/23 Full Review Audience Member O delírio artístico de Crispin Glover (conhecido eternamente no cinema pelo personagem Mcfly de Back to the Future) certamente não é palatável às grandes massas consumidoras dos blockbusters hollywoodianos ou dos propagadores dos padrões mais moralistas difundidos pelo conservadorismo. Filme de fortes influências surrealistas, com poderosos ecos das obras de Buñuel e Jodorowsky, "What is it?" requer paciência similar ao de um homem que fita a lente de objetiva que, aos poucos, vai enfocando e produzindo uma imagem cujos componentes (ainda assim) não são formulaicos ou simplórios, mas de resolução opaca e disforme. O que soa como um número de cenas mórbidas atiradas a esmo e sem conexão ao espectador, gradativamente expõem um quebra cabeças repleto de elementos comuns fortemente distorcidos para compor uma história densa e curiosa. Glover utiliza atores com síndrome de down (algumas parecem com retardamento severo), pessoas com problemas neurológicos e dificuldades de fala, desconstrói padrões de beleza, desestigmatiza o sexo, proporciona uma releitura da violência psicológica e física interior aos diversos planos do filme, tudo de forma original e bem diferente de um clássico como Freaks, por exemplo. O filme é bastante perturbador, incomoda, e há um impressionante diálogo entre a perversidade, o lúdico, onírico, bizarro e o surreal. Vale a repetição de que não é um filme comum e provavelmente não agradará a imensa maioria do público. Mas, para os amantes do cinema de arte, vale bastante a pena uma olhadela, se você se propuser às esquisitices do filme. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/13/23 Full Review Audience Member Crispin Glover was walking on the ground when he made this movie. He didn't make a sound, he in fact turned around and saw a clown. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/11/23 Full Review Audience Member Viewed this film in Asbury Park NJ; great film. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/06/23 Full Review Audience Member I volunteered on the set of the film. watch behind the scenes footage!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NqRs_x1Dryw&feature=share&list=UUxxxeVl-JFku-MzkKtX-IYQ Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/31/23 Full Review Audience Member I have seen "What Is It?" and I find it to be a trip down everyone's inner self that they refuse to explore.. I want to see it again! -Dawn Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/26/23 Full Review Read all reviews
What Is It?

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Cast & Crew

Movie Info

Synopsis A young man journeys through a bizarre land inhabited by mentally impaired people, and snails.
Director
Crispin Glover
Screenwriter
Crispin Glover
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Original Language
English
Runtime
1h 12m