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Cecil B. Demented

Cecil B. Demented

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Rating: 4 stars
Summary: "I'm a Prophet Against Profit"...
Review: …Is just One of the Many Ultra-Clever and Endlessly Quotable lines Sprouted from the dirty mouth of Guerrilla-filmmaker Cecil B Demented in John Water’s “Cecil B Demented, a film where Heavy-Handed Satire and Over-the-Top Performances are the Name of the Game, Hollywood Filmmaking and Bad Movies are the Enemy and Cival Unrest and Mayhem are their Goals, as far as I can tell. The film makes a lot of Contradicting Statements, some I’d Fight for, some I Totally Disagreed with and Dismissed, but the Main statement the film seems to want to make is… It’s Just a Movie.

Making Statements is Ultimately not Really what the film is about, it’s about Entertaining a more Offbeat audience and Telling a Worthy Story. Stephen Dorff is Cecil, Cecil B Demented… Filmmaker Extraordinaire. Dorff plays him with Passion; I got the Feeling that Dorff Honestly Believed in some of the things he was saying. He strikes a Good Balance between Serious and Send up, and he really Looks the part. He watches the performances of his “Sprocket Holes” (his acting troupe) with a Twinkle in his Crazed eyes, much like the twinkle in Johnny Depp’s eye in the film “Ed Wood”, a director that Demented would Definitely get Along with. Dorff also looks Mighty Cool with that Bottle Blonde hair and that Concoction of Clothing. Melanie Griffith was a Inspired Casting Decision; her Persona fits the Role like a Glove, Aging Starlet on the Downward Slope of her Career. She seems to be having a lot of Fun with the role, I was waiting for her to Break out in Laughter at some points.

The Supporting cast are Equally as Dedicated to the cause at hand, and there performances strike the same balance between Real and Comic. Alicia Witt is Hilarious and has Never looked so [Good]. Jack Noseworthy is Always good and he has one of the Films Funniest scenes, where her Expresses his feelings about his Confused Sexuality. The Rest of the cast is filled with Actors who I Know by Face but not by Name, what I Do know is that they are all Great. The Films Casting Agents did a Wonderful Job.

The film is Definitely not for Everyone, but if you Ever found yourself Cursing a Big Budget film or Crying in a film that is so Sickly Sentimental that you feel Tricked, “Cecil B Demented” knows how you feel and he has the Remedy.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Action-film fans to the rescue
Review: The porn fans have been overwhelmingly applauded and it's my time to say that more credit is due the action film fans who jabbed and kicked against the censor moms' pursuit of the filmmakers. It's great that a singular ambition to make a film that includes street chases with the door open and cameras rolling, artillery, white hot hair treatments, and family valuations from one to the next ends in a fiery explosion, where out like a brief candle a selfless artisan bids goodbye world and warps the minds of generations to follow.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Great Water's action film
Review: It has everything you'll ever need and more from a Water's flick! Excellent film, get it unless you LOVE Hollywood TOO much! Ignoramous....

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: "Power to the people who punish bad cinema!"
Review: John Waters has been making films for 30 years or more. Best known as the man behind the truly obscene "Pink Flamingos" (1972), one of the few good things about John Waters is his ability to give the viewer the look and feel of the way millions and millions of people - almost entirely excluded from artistic representation - in the US were living and continue to live: in confusion, desire and anxiety. Water took a turn for the worst of sorts in the 80's when came pretty close to selling out with such 'safe' films as "Cry-Baby". Now, with both "Pecker" and "Cecil B. Demented" Waters has returned to his typical bad self. Cecil B. Demented (Stephen Dorff) is the leader of a band of cinema guerrillas who capture Hollywood star Honey Whitlock (Melanie Griffith), in Baltimore on a publicity tour for her newest effort, "Some Kind of Happiness" ("A screwball romantic comedy, life-affirming"), and force her to play the leading role in their own no-budget film, "Raving Beauty". Demented, who tends to speak in slogans, is intent on leading "a revolution to destroy mainstream cinema." Among his rallying cries: "Power to the people who punish bad cinema!"

Eventually Honey comes to appreciate the virtues of underground cinema and throws herself into the project. In the course of making their film, the group invades and disrupts a number of events, beginning with a showing of "Patch Adams—the director's cut" (at which the entire audience is sobbing!) in a suburban mall. Then comes a press and industry party hosted by the Maryland Film Commission, whose guests are guzzling oysters. The group members confront the film industry types about their rotten films and corrupt lives. "I was only following studio orders," whimpers one of the latter. The "vice president of creative affairs," says, "I don't go to the movies." Waters and his performers manage to establish the precisely correct tone. The extravagance and silliness are played with absolute earnestness. Waters has made a work which says what practically no one else will admit out loud: that Hollywood is turning out brain dead, bland and conformist films and that the movie studios are nothing more than multinational corporations controlled by large financial interests, philistines, cowards and filthy scum bags. "I'm a prophet against profit," declares Cecil. "One day you'll thank me for saving you from your bad career," he tells Honey. Honey, once she's gotten into the swing of things announces, "Bad movies must be avenged!" All in all, the film is good because for a change, one has the sense that the director is speaking honestly with his own voice. Moreover, almost every target of the film is deserving of scorn and derision. Of course the film is one prolonged joke, but, behind the humor, is the notion that art is not about financial success, but a serious activity with consequences, and worth making enormous sacrifices for.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: I'd rate this less than 1 star if I could
Review: This was one of the worst movies I've seen, although listening to John Water's commentary on the DVD was fun. He's very creative and dynamic in person; unfortunately none of that translated into this film. The idea for the story isn't bad, but the plot and dialogue are almost never funny. I might have smiled a couple of times. Mainly I was bored because I couldn't have cared less about any of the characters. None of this was cutting edge. None of it was original.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: One "DEMENTED" Film!
Review: Mainstream movies and the studio system, as well as independent films and filmmakers, are sliced, diced, hammered and shredded by writer/director John Waters in his biting and funny satire, "Cecil B. Demented," starring Stephen Dorff and Melanie Griffith. Railing against convention and adamant in his quest, a young man who wants to make a statement about bad movies, the way they're made, those who participate in these cinematic transgressions and those who flock to theaters to see the final product, dubs himself "Cecil B. Demented" and sets out to make a "real" indie film. Toward this end, he assembles a group of like-thinking would-be filmmakers and forms them into a lethal band of cinematic guerrillas he names the "Sprocket Holes," and has them take jobs at and infiltrate a theater in Baltimore that is about to hold a lavish premiere of a new movie featuring Hollywood star Honey Whitlock (Griffith). Honey herself is scheduled to attend, and Demented's plan is to kidnap her and force her to star in his film, which will be shot "ambush" style, intruding upon real people and situations, rolling film and getting it in the can before anyone knows what happened. He hopes. Dedicated to making the kind of movie that should be made, the Sprocket Holes are not only willing to die for their art, but go so far as to take a vow to remain chaste until the film is completed.

"Demented" is by turns outrageous, violent and hilarious, and-- some would say, subjectively speaking-- that Waters pushes the envelope of good taste to the limit. But then again, he usually does, and it usually works. Anyone who knows John Waters' movies knows what to expect (indeed, anticipate), but those who come to his work unawares may be in for a jaw-dropping eye opener. When satire is done well it can cut both ways; this one is, and it does. Movies made by the studios for no other purpose than to make a buck, and which contain no artistic merit whatsoever are the obvious target of Waters' barrage, but so are the "auteur," legends-in-their-own-minds "indie" filmmakers with a penchant for taking themselves too seriously. Along the way, Waters is having a laugh at himself, even as he laughs along with his fellow filmmakers at both ends of the spectrum, those at whom his shots are being fired.

As Demented, Dorff takes a somewhat over-the-top and highly energized approach to the character, in a performance punctuated with exclamation points. But he leaves no doubt in the mind of the viewer that he IS Cecil B. Demented. And you know that come what may, there's going to be no stopping him. Griffith, meanwhile, adds a nice touch as Honey, a character through whom we see all the transparencies of a Hollywood "star," whose career has never been hampered by bad acting. Inured of a caustic and ego driven personality, she nevertheless manages to garner some sympathy as the story moves along and her vulnerable side is exposed. Griffith is perfect for the part, which is something of a good natured nudge in the ribs of her own image. As intended, it's just another instance of Waters pulling aside the curtain to reveal what is really behind the facade.

In a supporting role, Alicia Witt gives a memorable performance as Cherish, the porn star who sees her co-starring role with Honey in Demented's film as a way of legitimizing her career, while at the same time thumbing her nose at the industry that has for so long shunned her "talents." The additional supporting cast includes Adrian Grenier (Lyle), Larry Gilliard Jr. (Lewis), Maggie Gyllenhaal (Raven), Jack Noseworthy (Rodney), Michael Shannon (Petie), Harriet Dodge (Dinah), Zenzele Uzoma (Chardonnay), Eric M. Barry (Fidget), Erika Lynn Rupli (Pam), Mink Stole (Mrs. Mallory), Patty Hearst (Fidget's Mother), Ricki Lake (Libby) and Kevin Nealon (Himself). A film that will definitely get your attention, "Cecil B. Demented" sets pretentiousness on it's ear by saying what most people think but rarely say due to the constraints of social protocol. Waters crosses some lines and doesn't pull any punches with this one, which may make it a bit hard for some to take; but movie lovers in general, and aficionados of independent film especially, should get a real kick out of it. It may be a bit skewed, but it's all a part of the magic of the movies.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: tired of typical hollywood fair? become a sprocket hole!
Review: i had an opportunity to see this movie a few weeks ago. i can't stop raving about it. amazing! if you like cult classics, get this one while its hot. i was shocked melanie griffin can in fact act. perfectly cast film. great story. great dialogue. this movie is a keeper! thanks mr. waters for a great mantle piece of a movie!

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Watch it with the commentary track on...
Review: This is one of a small but growing number of movies that are improved by their Director's Commentary track. By itself this is far from my favorite Waters movie. Like most of his stuff after 'Hairspray', it's got about 1 1/2 points to make and it makes them over and over and over. The characters have little of the color of his best - they each have one defining trait and that's about it. Worst of all, it's not particularly funny. But Waters is a great talker, and his affection for his cast and story makes me feel a little more kindly toward the movie as a whole. I do wonder about a couple of his comments however... At one point he says he wanted Stephen Dorff for the movie because he thought he wouldn't camp Cecil up, that he'd make him into someone you'd want to be a fan of. But I always thought campiness was a large part of of John Waters' characters. Aside from maybe 'Hairspray', the folks in his movies aren't anything like real people, they're cartoon characters - some of the most well-drawn, wonderfully campy cartoon characters ever. And since most of Cecil's part is screaming rhetoric at everybody there's absolutely no human core to get at - he ain't real, and sadly, I have no desire to be his fan. Also, John, the way you go on about how you saw all Stephen's movies reveals the real reason you chose him - because you obviously think he's a cutie... What's wrong with admitting that?

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Demented forever!!!
Review: First off, I would like to say BRAVO to John Waters... Thisman is one of the all time best film makers.. his films aim to shock,entertain and to stimulate your brain.. Unlike a lot of hollywoodsfluff films, Cecil B. Demented follows in the footsteps of Waters'other films.. while my favorites are still Hairspray and PinkFlamingos, this film had something.. Stephen Dorff plays Cecil, anindie film director with a cast, a dream, a star, and a gun.. Thestar is played by Melanie Griffith (Honey Whitlock), a hollywoodstarlet who plays in fluff films that many dont even find to be goodfluff films.. the cast is rounded out by some rising stars and somefuture finds.. Alicia Witt (Cherish, an ex porn star with a past) mayhave become a household name with teenage boys in Urban Legend, but inDemented she makes her mark on Hollywood.. Adrian Grenier plays Lyle,a guy who used to have problems until he found drugs, and now he onlyhas one, "they gave my life real focus". the rest of thecast includes a teenage runaway who likes to play pocket pool, asatanist with great potential to be a salesperson at the cliniquecounter in your local shopping mall, and a hairdresser who is ashamedof his heterosexuality.. Waters succeeds in making yet another filmto add to the pile of refuse and dog feces that has made his career ahigh point in my life.. Cecil B. Demented FOREVER!!!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: VIVA LA CECIL B. DEMENTED
Review: This movie is for ANYONE who shuns ANYTHING, mainstream! Everything in this movie is Grade A FRESHNESS. From it's soundtrack to all of the special effects. If you love destruction, bringing down the mainstream, and love to laugh, BUY or run out and rent this movie TODAY! Long live Guerilla Film Making!!!!!!!!!!!!


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