Rick Alvderson: ENTERTAINMENT (2014)

Deeply ironic title and a provocative closing night film, yet another of the series provocations, which dares you to stick with its utterly repulsive, mean, sad, and irritating protagonist. The film is designed as a vehicle for fringe comic Gregg Turkington or rather his two-bit washed-up performer alter ego, usually known as Neil Hamburger, which he has played for decades. He tours toward desperation and existential despair and a Felliniesque mood through the Mojave desert and the edge of Bakersfield winding up in Los Angeles. Along the way too many scenes in restrooms including a Lynchian horror childbirth. A novelty item. I don't think it quite works as a believable film, and perhaps fortunately is sparing in its excerpts of Turkington's intentionally horrible standup performances in dead-end bars and cafes.