Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2007 6:11 pm
Synopsis :
An indy filmmaker calling himself Cecil B. Demented (Stephen Dorff, typecast as an over-the-top weirdo again) thinks that Hollywood is producing nothing but shit films & lacks some of the qualities of the glory days of the studio system. He sets out to make his own "ultra-realist" film & kidnaps a leading mega-star actress to do so.
Review :
This was directed by John Waters, actually someone whom I've come to think of as a gay dude w\ my sense of humour. He gets Stephen Dorff as the namesake psycho director/producer/writer. He has equally interesting crew members : a Satanist make-up artist, a constantly drugged-up-on-everything leading man, a former porno star, a fucked up way out there art director, & other assorted misfits. Melanie Griffith gets to be the semi-washed-up Hollywood star that gets kidnapped. Which is where the funny shit starts.
Cecil & each of his crew gets their own intro in which they show off a tattoo of some old/off-beat Hollywood dude who has a particular quality they admire. Cecil has Otto Preminger, the art director has David Lynch, etc. There's also plenty of names in there that you won't get unless you got a degree in film. Like a real degree, too, given the insanely inside jokes they set up. Then then go on a town-wide rampage trying to stop the initial filming of "Forest Gump 2 : Gump Again," & get all their robberies, murders, kidnappings, & shit on camera so they can make their flick.
The rants from Cecil & Co. are fucking hilarious. He echoes many of the same opinions I've heard on this BBS hundreds of times. Hollywood doesn't take chances. Hollywood only wants safe, family flicks. Too many sequels, remakes, etc. Plots suck, everything is watered down & boring.
But the best two scenes are by far when Cecil & Co. are running from the authorities (or teamsters, they kick the shit out of some teamsters in a couple scenes) & seek refuge in some carefully selected cinemas. I cannot say more for fear of ruining what I felt were the funniest moments of the film.
Verdict : 8 of 10. Fucking brilliant. Not since Jonathan Swift has anything involving devouring babies been so entertaining. But, some jokes are extremely inside. If you think Hollywood is devoid of creativity & think that mindless entertainment does not need to be boring entertainment, I'd at least check this out. If you think Hollywood is producing consistent, worthwhile films, avoid this flick & put down the bong.
An indy filmmaker calling himself Cecil B. Demented (Stephen Dorff, typecast as an over-the-top weirdo again) thinks that Hollywood is producing nothing but shit films & lacks some of the qualities of the glory days of the studio system. He sets out to make his own "ultra-realist" film & kidnaps a leading mega-star actress to do so.
Review :
This was directed by John Waters, actually someone whom I've come to think of as a gay dude w\ my sense of humour. He gets Stephen Dorff as the namesake psycho director/producer/writer. He has equally interesting crew members : a Satanist make-up artist, a constantly drugged-up-on-everything leading man, a former porno star, a fucked up way out there art director, & other assorted misfits. Melanie Griffith gets to be the semi-washed-up Hollywood star that gets kidnapped. Which is where the funny shit starts.
Cecil & each of his crew gets their own intro in which they show off a tattoo of some old/off-beat Hollywood dude who has a particular quality they admire. Cecil has Otto Preminger, the art director has David Lynch, etc. There's also plenty of names in there that you won't get unless you got a degree in film. Like a real degree, too, given the insanely inside jokes they set up. Then then go on a town-wide rampage trying to stop the initial filming of "Forest Gump 2 : Gump Again," & get all their robberies, murders, kidnappings, & shit on camera so they can make their flick.
The rants from Cecil & Co. are fucking hilarious. He echoes many of the same opinions I've heard on this BBS hundreds of times. Hollywood doesn't take chances. Hollywood only wants safe, family flicks. Too many sequels, remakes, etc. Plots suck, everything is watered down & boring.
But the best two scenes are by far when Cecil & Co. are running from the authorities (or teamsters, they kick the shit out of some teamsters in a couple scenes) & seek refuge in some carefully selected cinemas. I cannot say more for fear of ruining what I felt were the funniest moments of the film.
Verdict : 8 of 10. Fucking brilliant. Not since Jonathan Swift has anything involving devouring babies been so entertaining. But, some jokes are extremely inside. If you think Hollywood is devoid of creativity & think that mindless entertainment does not need to be boring entertainment, I'd at least check this out. If you think Hollywood is producing consistent, worthwhile films, avoid this flick & put down the bong.