Showgirls

Rating:
Summary: Best comedy ever made
Review: This movie is full of laughs, highly recommended.

Rating:
Summary: Oh, my..
Review: Oh, I should get a dozen lashings for having watched this, what with only sixteen years under my hip-hugging jeans, but I thought I'd give it a chance. And I'm pretty pleased to say that I am glad that I did.

This movie won't change your life, but it will give you a couple laughs at the complete ridiculousness of some things - Nomi's tough-girl facade and her hilarious 'sexy' writhing during the 'hot' love scene, and the 'tension' between her and the lead Showgirl.

If you watch this movie without taking it seriously, you'll probably enjoy it. At least on a rainy day.

Rating:
Summary: You love it ... admit it!
Review: I saw this movie 3 times in the theatre, and I've seen it easily 50 times since. It is one of the funniest movies of all time. It's so exploitive, so ridiculous, and so offensive that it's become a cult film the likes of which hasn't been seen since "Rocky Horror". Elizabeth Berkeley (whose acting chops were adequate enough for "Saved by the Bell" but hardly enough to carry a film) plays Nomi, an ex-hooker who moves to Vegas to become a dancer, but has to pay the bills stripping at a seedy bar. After catching the eye of the bisexual lead in a big hotel show called "Goddess" (the smoking hot Gina Gershon, who is the only one whose career was actually helped by this film), Nomi is able to get a more legit (albeit still topless) dancing job. From there, drugs, catfights, violence, and betrayal ensue. Althought the script and most of the acting performances are awful, this movie does have wonderfully gaudy costumes and set designs, and some of the music is pretty good, too (My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult, David Bowie, etc.) Hang out with your friends, have a smoke, watch this movie, and laugh your butt off.

Rating:
Summary: This really is good movie
Review: ok ok.. so there is a lot of nudity (men, and women), and dancing. But there is a story. This is the story of someone who has had a bad life, and tried to re-create herself. It is a story of friendship, and how careful with it you need to be. I know that this movei got a BAD WRAP but it really isnt that bad. But I would say it is the type of movie that you Like or Hate. Nothing in the middle. If you like Las vegas, and you enjoy a movie than pushes so limits.. This is the movie for you.

I think that this is one of those movies that encourages you to want more, and not to let anything stand in your way!

Rating:
Summary: The Wonder of it All!
Review: What do you get when you mix big shot director Paul Verhoeven, powerhouse screenwriter Joe Eszterhas, and a cast that includes Kyle MacLachlan, Gina Gershon, Robert Davi, and "Saved by the Bell" expatriate Elizabeth Berkley? You get the 1995 film "Showgirls," a motion picture about the trials and tribulations of life as a Las Vegas dancer. After popping this DVD in the player, I knew with all of my heart and soul that I had discovered something special with this sprawling two-hour plus epic. It is only natural that the dynamic duo of Verhoeven/Eszterhas should follow up their smash 1992 hit "Basic Instinct" with this magisterial presentation that repeatedly overwhelms the viewer's sensory perceptions. After watching "Showgirls," I can easily tell you that life will never be the same for me.

Elizabeth Berkley plays the archetypical American heroine in the role of Nomi Malone, an enigmatic gal who travels to Las Vegas, Nevada to secure her rightful position as queen of the chorus line. Sure, Nomi faces the usual obstacles any misunderstood genius encounters on the path to greatness: a guy robs her of the only belongings she has in the world, she accepts a job at a seedy strip club to pay the bills, and she has difficulties pronouncing "Versace" and doesn't comprehend the concept of an MBA degree. Fortunately for the seemingly naïve Nomi, a local by the name of Molly stepped in and helped our heroine secure lodgings at the exact moment Malone needed assistance. It isn't too long after this blessed sequence of events that Malone runs into the evil temptress Cristal Conners and her boss Zach Carey. Cristal and Zach are the top dogs at a big stage production called "Goddess" at one of the local casinos. Since Cristal takes an instant liking to Nomi, a series of events find Malone employed in this stage show as a dancer. It is obvious even to an artistically ignorant bumpkin like me that Nomi Malone is a shoe-in for the primary role in the stage production. After all, a girl who can move her arms in such complicated maneuvers as Nomi does surely will succeed where all others fail. In fact, I haven't seen dance moves like this since I accidentally stuck my finger in a light socket while standing in a bathtub full of water.

Nomi's resourcefulness serves her well as she quickly learns you have to break a few hips if you want to make an omelet. Nothing stands in our heroine's way, not a total lack of talent or a tendency to wear make-up that looks as though she used a paint roller to apply it. Not only is Malone a fount of untapped talent, she knows karate, too, as evidenced in her mission to avenge a wronged Molly near the end of the movie. This girl has got it all, folks, and I ought to know because for over two hours I watched in open mouthed wonder as Nomi stuck to her guns and never gave anyone the satisfaction of putting one over on her. This plucky dancer with a pancake face is truly an American heroine of epic proportions. If I had a daughter, I would want her to be exactly like Nomi Malone.

I could go on and on about the top-flight stage shows in the movie, the glitzy costumes, and the soul moving dialogue, but I won't. Human vocal cords cannot produce the sounds of praise that this movie so richly deserves. I will, however, discuss the performances in this movie because I think that every person who appeared in this production deserves proper credit for their work. Kyle MacLachlan works wonders with his portrayal of the smarmy Zach; an entertainment director at the casino who rapidly recognizes that Nomi's ability to thrash about in a swimming pool will easily translate into success as the lead dancer in "Goddess." Robert Davi plays the owner of the strip club where Nomi begins her rise to greatness, and what a stretch for this long time thespian! This actor radiates a warmth and caring in his role that one rarely witnesses in this cynical age. Words cannot describe Gina Gershon's turn as the world weary Cristal Conners. My heart goes out to this modest, nearly prudish dancer with a heart of gold. I believe that every film needs a Cristal Conners so that all peoples the world over will drink of the milk of human kindness. Finally, I would be remiss if I failed to mention the awesome presence of Elizabeth Berkley, whose bravery in even attempting to actualize the Nomi Malone character speaks volumes about the quality of talent in Hollywood today. Did anyone else notice that Berkley played opposite a character named Zach in both "Showgirls" and "Saved by the Bell"? Shame on you for missing this subliminal message embedded in the film!

Alas, the DVD version of "Showgirls" leaves a lot to be desired. The only extras on the disc are a trailer and a very short "making of" documentary about the film. Where is the commentary track for this motion picture? Moreover, where are the multiple commentaries regarding this film? Every soul involved with the production of this movie should stand up and be counted. An even nicer addition to the disc would be the phone numbers and addresses of those responsible for "Showgirls" in case a viewer feels like contacting these people in order to convey their comments in person. There simply isn't enough magic in our day to day lives, but "Showgirls" brought a little bit into mine and maybe it will bring some into yours, too.

Rating:
Summary: Showgirls, A.K.A. How to kill your career in one easy step!
Review: My dad gave me this DVD when he couldn't make it through the first 15 minutes of it. I have to commend him on making it that far. I've tried to watch it three times now, and ten minutes is the most I can take. Sure, it's full of very attractive and very naked actresses, but it's also full of some of the most reprehensible acting and dialogue I've ever seen. It's truly painful to watch. The whole (short) time I spent watching this, I kept asking myself of everyone involved, "What were they thinking?"

Rating:
Summary: Duh....
Review: Pay money to deride a movie? So bad its almost good? C'mon. Lets
be honest here and admit that this flick is a kick to watch. Its
trashy and great eye candy for anyone who likes to watch tight female bodies walk around naked or nearly so through an entire movie. Loosen up and enjoy! ( Besides, if you wanted great filmaking, why would you choose something titled "Showgirls"?)

Rating:
Summary: Verhoeven's post-ironic masterpiece
Review: You can only understand and appreciate this movie in the entire context of Verhoeven's work. I think his mission is to take the formula of the Hollywood blockbuster, which he understands perfectly (Robocop) and push it (Total recall) and push it some more (Basic instinct) until it explodes (Showgirls). What makes Verhoeven truly admirable is that he keeps pushing (Star troopers) until the movie becomes a pastiche of itself and of the genre. [Note: I haven't seen Hollow Man and I am quite curious whether it still fits the equation.]

On this continuum, as I said, all movies fit the blockbuster formula very well: very polished cinematography, great production values, ridiculous plot developments, sex&violence, vacuous acting, etc. Up to 'Showgirls' the formula has the expected effect on the movie-watching crowds; after it (i.e. 'Troopers') the very simple-minded movie-goer funnily enough still likes it on that wham-bang level, but most people perceive it as a satire of sorts.

This leaves 'Showgirls' the odd movie out. The ingredients are the same as, but the dosage is different: it's too much to take but not enough to be truly over the top. The movie hovers in a very precarious region around the top making the viewer very uncomfortable. As most of the reviews will testify, many feel guilty about watching it; many criticize it without giving motives ("the worst movie **EVER**!!"); many give motives that are absurd (plot holes? you need to take a movie quite seriously to dig for plot holes.) or incorrect (poor cinematography? quite the contrary.) or at best questionable (poor acting? not worse than anything with Tom Cruise in it and, besides, a certain mannerism of acting is part of what I call 'the Hollywood formula'.)

The greatness of this movie, or rather of Verhoeven's work as a whole, lies in what it says about the person who watches the film. I wouldn't call Verhoeven an artistic genius, because he might simply work mechanically, increasing the dosage of the ingredients with scientifical precision. He might do it out of curiosity, or maybe he even foolishly thinks the more the better. Alghough I strongly doubt he is a fool. The fact that he accepted the Razzie award for 'Showgirls' in person tells me he's in on the joke.

Anyway, kudos to him for keeping this grand experiment going all the way and not being phased by the critics, the public or the studios. If not a genius, at least Verhoeven is a director of great integrity.

Rating:
Summary: WATCH IT JUST FOR THE NEVER-ENDING AMOUNT OF NUDITY
Review: A GIRL HITCHES A RIDE TO LAS VEGAS WITH THE HOPES OF BECOMING A PERFORMER. VERY DUMB MOVIE. IT'S BASICALLY A BUNCH OF SOFTCORE PORN MIXED WITH A BACKSTAGE DRAMA. GETS 2 STARS ONLY BECAUSE OF ALL THE NUDITY THAT THIS FILM GOT. IF YOU'RE WATCHING THIS MOVIE FOR MORE THAN JUST THE NUDITY, SOMETHING'S SERIOUSLY WRONG. LORD, IF THIS MOVIE DIDN'T HAVE THE AMOUNT OF NUDITY THAT IT HAD, THIS MOVIE BE TEN TIMES WORSE THAN IT ALREADY IS. THE LESBIAN KISS AT THE END OF THIS MOVIE IS A BIG PLUS. 61 SECONDS OF FOOTAGE WAS CUT FOR AN R-RATED VERSION.

Rating:
Summary: Not So Great
Review: So let's face it. This is a movie about strippers and strip clubs. What does that mean? Sex and nudity. The story here is...interesting at best, but nothing to shake a stick at. Verhoeven has made better movies, but he's really a hit or miss director, and I think this was a miss.
Why is this movie famous? Simple, it's the first NC-17 movie to get a huge theatrical release. There's really nothing other than that special here.
The only part of this movie that impressed me was the dancing in the giant Vegas clubs. It was filmed in such a way that reminded of what it is like to actually be onstage performing. Granted, I've never been nude while dancing, but still, the camera is right there with the performers moving with them, rather than the typical camera out in the audience point of view.
In the end, like I said before, Verhoeven is hit or miss, and this is a miss.