World’s Greatest Dad

I like dark comedies because they are more honest than their average brethren - the good ones anyway. It's a broad category but it seems we can add Bobcat Goldthwait's "World's Greatest Dad" to a list that includes films like "Heathers," "Ghost World," every other film the Cohen Brothers make, even the likes of "Dr. Strangelove." (Bobcat Goldthwait and Robin Williams. WORLD'S GREATEST DAD, courtesy of Magnolia Pictures.) Robin Williams stars as high school poetry teacher, Lance Clayton, who's nightmare of a teenage son tragically provides him with the opportunity he's waited for all his life. Of course it comes at a great cost. You'll notice a shit load of Bruce Hornsby playing. Dad likes the Steinway piano, easy listening tunes and the son despises them with no shortage of vitriolic hate speech. Here's the full track list: "Invisible" by Bruce Hornsby "Sneaking Up On Boo Radley" by Bruce Hornsby...

I like dark comedies because they are more honest than their average brethren – the good ones anyway. It’s a broad category but it seems we can add Bobcat Goldthwait’s “World’s Greatest Dad” to a list that includes films like “Heathers,” “Ghost World,” every other film the Cohen Brothers make, even the likes of “Dr. Strangelove.”

(Bobcat Goldthwait and Robin Williams. WORLD’S GREATEST DAD, courtesy of Magnolia Pictures.)

Robin Williams stars as high school poetry teacher, Lance Clayton, who’s nightmare of a teenage son tragically provides him with the opportunity he’s waited for all his life. Of course it comes at a great cost. You’ll notice a shit load of Bruce Hornsby playing. Dad likes the Steinway piano, easy listening tunes and the son despises them with no shortage of vitriolic hate speech.

Here’s the full track list:

“Invisible” by Bruce Hornsby
“Sneaking Up On Boo Radley” by Bruce Hornsby
“Is You Is, Or Is You Ain’t My Baby” by Bruce Hornsby
“It’s a Good Day” by Peggy Lee
“Song C” by Bruce Hornsby
“The Creeper, (High)” by Tom Kenny, Darius Holbert, Jerry Brunskill, Ryan Rees, and Andy Paley
“Don’t Be Afraid, You’re Already Dead” by Akron / Family
“I Hope I Become A Ghost” by The Deadly Syndrome
“Shadow Hand” by Bruce Hornsby
“Genius” by Inara George
“Mandolin Rain” by Bruce Hornsby
“Under Pressure” by Queen & David Bowie
“Tiny Spark” by Brendan Benson

Music supe Linda Cohen (“Be Kind Rewind,” “There Will Be Blood”) takes the credit there. I chatted with her not long ago, and you can check out a list of her favorite work anecdotes here.

Gerald “Jerry” Brunskill composes (and plays on “The Creeper, (High)”). At 21, he took home the one-hundred-thousand dollar grand prize on “Star Search,” and his post-production facility, Wow and Flutter, is also credited in the film. I’m sure we’ll be hearing more of him in feature films.

Also, dig this hilarious interview with Bobcat by IFC’s Aaron Hillis.