criterion released it so you know it's a great film.
-
ToastedCheese — 4 years ago(July 27, 2021 05:54 AM)
It was unusual, but not exactly fun/rauncy/gross/crude in an early John Water's way.
Pink Flamingos - 72'
is a bit wrong in many parts, but he honed that aspect in more when he made
Female Trouble - 74'
and
Desperate Living - 77'
and focused more on the humorous characterization parts.
I actually struggle to watch PF. Its just not that nice or pleasant and appears a bit too anarchic irresponsible.
Waters got a nice balance going with what was going to be his cheeky/rude offbeat style with
Polyester - 81'.
Norman! What did you put in my tea? -
Hutch — 4 years ago(August 04, 2021 05:35 PM)
I love Polyester. It's funny, has great characters, fun sets and is the warmest movie JW has ever made. Who knows where the sweetness came from? Maybe it was a defensive reaction to a certain ugliness that the 80s brought.
I have no idea if that is true or not!
Pink Flamingoes has a few highlights and they ARE highlights. The scene in Babs' trailer receiving a "special delivery package" is hilarious!
"A TURD! OH, A TURD!
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY, FATSO!"
"THE EGGMAN DIDN'T DO IT, BABS! I KNOW THE EGGMAN DIDN'T DO IT"
And my favorite… "OH, I DON'T THINK HE DID, EITHER, MOTHER! NOW SHUT UP AND LET ME THINK!" -
ToastedCheese — 4 years ago(August 05, 2021 09:13 AM)
Polyester
doesn't contain the nastiness of Water's previous entries. Some despicable character behavior, yet so ott and wacky that it wasn't cruel.
The start of the 80's tended to have a somberness place upon it, or even a sense of uncertainty, but it soon glitzed up. The decade doesn't quite have the warm sunshine feel I get from the 70's vibe, but it was interesting nonetheless.
I would even rate
Pecker
as being even warmer over
Polyester
. Others may gravitate towards
Hairspray
and
Cry Baby
.
Norman! What did you put in my tea? -
Hutch — 4 years ago(August 05, 2021 09:00 PM)
1981 and 1986 are my two favorite years for 80s movies.
The 80s are sometimes referred to as the "me decade", with Reagan economics and "greed is good" mantra. Also there was a definite fallout from the good times hedonism of the 70s, from AIDS to Pauline Kael's insight that "Fatal Attraction" might serve as a warning to married men who couldn't keep it in their pants.
That's interesting that "Pecker" is a warmer movie for you than "Polyester". I like the movie fine. In fact, for my 45th birthday, I went out to dinner with friends and then we went back to a friend's place and I got to pick the movie for the evening and I picked "Pecker". It has charm and it's cute and the timing was right because we all enjoyed ourselves.
Hairspray was a cute movie and I liked it. I can't decide whether it's "Hairspray" or "Polyester" that represents JW's bridge between his trademark shock value and the more mainstream stuff.
My friend worked in a video store in the 80s and he told me about a family renting "Pink Flamingos" solely on the basis that they had loved "Hairspray". Well….
The dad came back alone and returned it a few hours later. Upon rewinding the tape back to the beginning, Doug noticed that the movie had been viewed only part way. The family had made it to "Surfin Bird" and the winking sphincter before deciding that this was not the movie for them!
I have mixed feelings for "Cry Baby:. It does have the JW charm, but it's just a tad dull for me. On the other hand, it boasts one of the most impressively offbeat casts ever.
Joe D'alessandro
Susan Tyrell
Joey Heatherton
Mink Stole
Johnny Depp
Ricki Lake
Iggy Pop
Traci Lords
Patty Hearst
Willem Defoe
Troy Donahue
Mary Vivian Pearce
Susan Lowe, etc
Another thing that tickles me about "Polyester" is Bill Murray crooning the title song and Debbie Harry's "Daddy, Daddy" refrain.
I need to give Cecil B. Demented another chance. I only saw it once and I did not like it. Maybe this time I can watch and just focus on Melanie. -
ToastedCheese — 4 years ago(August 06, 2021 02:54 AM)
I can't decide whether it's "Hairspray" or "Polyester" that represents JW's bridge between his trademark shock value and the more mainstream stuff.
I'd say from
Hairspray - 88'
. This was his first PG rated film and while it contained his off-beat and outlandish characters representations and style, it didn't have the crudity of his other films, even Polyester, and had a solid theme about racial segregation and unity.
He couldn't keep making films in his 70's shock-trash, gross out style.
Polyester
afforded him a little more charm to his proceedings, while still harking back to his earlier efforts.
Cry Baby
starts off fine, but I think the main problem with it is the leading girl. I don't like her. It also lacks a bit of energy/dynamic that was very prevalent in
Hairspray
.
Norman! What did you put in my tea? -
ToastedCheese — 4 years ago(August 06, 2021 03:08 AM)
She's had a pretty meh! kind of career. Too bland and generic pretty. She wasn't unusual enough and Depp has charisma.
I liked the Willem Dafoe cameo as the prison guard.
Cry Baby
is fun in pockets. It was Water's first big studio release for Universal and bombed. He went back to more independent distribution after that.
At least he resounded boldly with
Serial Mom - 94
and
Pecker - 98'
. He may have had less creative control over
Cry Baby
.
Thinking of
Pecker
with Edward Furlong, have you seen
Detroit Rock City - 99'
? One of my favorite movie comedies and surprisingly from the 90's.
Norman! What did you put in my tea? -
ToastedCheese — 4 years ago(August 05, 2021 09:22 AM)
I have just edited my post, as I was thinking of Waters
Pink Flamingos
and not
Sweet Movie
, which your comment was attributed too.
Pleased you enjoyed
Desperate Living
. There are some good lines and fun interesting characters.
Norman! What did you put in my tea? -
I love hutch — 3 years ago(May 07, 2022 07:39 AM)
She was hilarious without even having to try too hard.
————————
Yes! And that is the best kind of funny!
Edith was said to have not a mean bone in her body. That is not hard to believe. But she played evil quite well! LOL!
"My life is over. I might as well dance with Johnny Slash!"