Indie at the Orpheum film series returns with comedian documentary ‘Call Me Lucky’
Bobcat Goldthwait – as unlikely as it might seem – has established himself as a bold filmmaker with such wildly genre-defying films as “World’s Greatest Dad,” “Willow Creek” and “God Bless America.”
But he also got his start as a comedian, which makes him perfect as the director of the documentary “Call Me Lucky,” the next film in the Indie at the Orpheum film series presented by the Tallgrass Film Association and the Orpheum Theatre.
It chronicles the career of Barry Crimmins, best known as a beer-swilling comedian and outspoken political satirist who got his start in the ’70s with his own comedy club in Boston, in a Chinese restaurant called the Ding Ho.
There, he fostered the careers of such young talent as Steven Wright, Paula Poundstone, Denis Leary, Lenny Clarke, Kevin Meaney, Goldthwait and many others.
Crimmins’ own career had him appear on HBO’s “Young Comedians,” “The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour,” “Evening at the Improv” and many other TV shows in the ’80s.
But beneath Crimmins’ gruff, hard-drinking, curmudgeonly persona lay an undercurrent of rage stemming from long-suppressed abuse as a child – a rage that eventually found its way out of the comedy clubs and TV shows and into the political arena.
Interviews in the documentary include David Cross, Margaret Cho, Patton Oswalt, Billy Bragg and Cindy Sheehan.
The film had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year. It will be shown at 3 p.m. Sunday at the Orpheum, 200 N. Broadway. Tickets are $10. It’s unrated.
Mountain film fest returns — The Banff Centre’s Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour returns to Wichita at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Orpheum.
The Banff Mountain Film Festival is held every November in Banff, Alberta, Canada, and immediately after it ends, a selection of the best films go on tour across Canada, the United States and internationally to Scotland, South Africa, China, Lebanon, Chile, New Zealand, Antarctica and points in between. Each year, the films travel to 40 countries, reaching more than 390,000 people at more than 840 screenings.
This year’s program features a collection of films about exploration and adventure, mountain culture and environment, and extreme mountain sports.
Host organizations in each tour location choose a program that reflects the interests of their local audiences. The tour is presented locally by Backwoods and Bicycle Pedaler.
Proceeds from the screenings benefit local outdoor programs, community causes or nonprofit organizations that foster youth adventure and outdoor pursuit programs, search and rescue operations, climbing clubs, conservation groups and more.
Tickets to Tuesday’s screening are $15, available at Select-A-Seat outlets, Backwoods at 1900 N. Rock Road, Suite 108, and Bicycle Pedaler at 330 N. Rock Road, or at the door.
For more information, go to www.banffcentre.ca/mountainfestival/worldtour.
This story was originally published September 10, 2015 at 5:16 PM with the headline "Indie at the Orpheum film series returns with comedian documentary ‘Call Me Lucky’."