wild combination: a portrait of arthur russell is a joy to watch, despite the sadness of the content. his unfettered artistic vision and his early demise render the film poignant without being schmaltzy.

russell's life is a remarkable one, yet he's one of those many figures that lurk around the edges of any given arts scene. you hear about the allen ginsberg and the philip glass types, but the arthur russells of the world don't break through into the public consciousness in quite the same way. his work is challenging, uncompromising, and yet strangely accessible and intimate.

you walk away with the feeling that more people should know his story and be influenced by his creative drive. the world needs a few more of his type.