"We are the ultimate bad review."
John Waters has a special place in my heart.
For John Waters fans and foes alike, this movie will warm your heart and refresh your concept of Waters' capabilities on the big screen.
This film will not disappoint the seasoned Waters viewer, given the sharp dialogue and casting of such favorites as Mink Stole. It's not as campy as, say, Hairspray, but will also contain snippets of Ricki Lake to ease the symptoms of camp withdrawal. It reminds you in very subtle ways, through the catty humor and social comment, that Waters is still hiding inside his atypical masterpiece.
Voici rogue cinema mastermind Cecil B. DeMented! He and his band of celluloid outlaws infiltrate the staff of the historic Senator Theatre in, of course, Baltimore, and plot the kidnapping of Hollywood star Honey Whitlock at the premiere of her latest sappy chick-flick Some Kind of Happiness. They then force Honey to be the star of their indie flick, Raving Beauty. The cast and crew have a soft spot in their heart for Honey, and she comes around nicely with a full-on case of Stockholm Syndrome.
And Hilarity Ensues!
Cast and Crew:
"The rest of our film is shot in real life, with real people, and, yes; with real terror.
--Cecil, played by Stephen Dorff
Cecil is an exaggerated display of Waters' understandable contempt for Hollywood's bastardization of the silver screen to keep the tickets selling. He is true to his namesake in the lengths he will go to in filming his movie, and as the bandleader of this guerrilla cinema movement, will spare no one; headquartered in the ruins of the Hippodrome, he makes Baltimore his cinema bitch.
"The Screen Actors' Guild is going to hear about this, and I mean it!"
--Honey, played by Melanie Griffith
Pretty self-explanatory. A hardcore Hollywood bitch brought into submission and forced to act for Cecil's cause. It's a bit of an extra laugh that Patty Hearst has a role in this film as well.
"PLEASE TAKE OFF YOUR CLOTHES."
--Fidget, played by Eric Barry
The circa 18 wardrobe person can simply be described as a pint-sized testosterone refinery.
"Not even your agent can help you now!"
--Dinah, played by Harriet Dodge
With a Max Casella resemblance and a sprinkling of facial hair, Dinah is also one of the more violent characters, and Cecil's producer. Not one to fuck with. Strangely enough, I personally find her to be one of the more heartwarming characters.
"I see London, I see France, I see Honey's undapants!"
--Lewis, played by Larry Gilliard Jr.
Lewis is one of the "token black characters", and the art director, with a definite gangsta attitude.
"...and remember: Speak up, BITCH!"
--Chardonnay, played by Zenzele Uzoma
Chardonnay is your typical sassy black bitch, also a ninja with her boom mic. She and Lewis are often seen near the turntable, bustin' out freestyle. Sadly, a slight bit stereotypical, but these characters still rock, in my opinion. I would have given them more lines.
"And I must warn you: I HATE FUCKING ROOTS!"
--Rodney, played by Jack Noseworthy
Honey's designated bitchy hairstylist. Hates fuckin' roots. *Keep in mind that the description may be short, but it also does not contain any spoilers
"Tell me about Mel Gibson's dick and balls!"
--Petie, played by Michael Shannon
The very backwoods yet very gay driver. Has the hots for Rodney...
"I've never had this much fun since my last livestock mutilation!"
--Raven, played by Maggie Gyllenhaal
Raven, the make-up artist, is a nice little teenage girl. She's also a satanist. One of the most exaggerated characters, I watch in awe at the sugary sweetness and naivete despite the satanic disposition.
"Do my tits look OK? They're more natural than yours."
--Cherish, played by Alicia Witt
Cecil's girlfriend. She emerged as a porno star from her troubling childhood. Cherish is loved by many in Baltimore; mainly the viewers of, er, "Adult Entertainment." She now has the role of Honey's violence-prone daughter in the flick...
"...and you'd better hit your mark."
--Pam, played by Erika Lynn Rupli
The director of photography, Pam spends most of her role behind the camera, without many lines. She's not completely invisible, however.
"I've never taken this much acid before--so if I forget my lines, cue me?"
--Lyle, played by Adrian Grenier
The resident drug addict, Lyle, is the co-star aside Cherish and Honey in the movie. Another great example of an off-the-wall character, written nicely as to be extreme, but somehow not overbearing.
Cecil B. DeMented is, hands-down, a hilarious film, with unbelievable but very fun plot and happenings throughout the movie. Not only does it prod at Los Angeles' moviemakers, it also makes playful jabs at the Baltimore Police, the Teamsters and "Family" movies. You'll also see parts in the film where Waters (possibly intentionally) makes fun of low-budget films, even, much like those from the genre of Pink Flamingos.
All in all, this movie rides a fine line between Hollywood material and a cult classic. I dig it more as a cult classic, and a nice example of a movie that can make it to national audiences despite its (albeit valid) message.
Be on the lookout for:
- A bedpan
- A man leaving a projection room and suddenly reappearing!
- A target that explodes before the grenade hits it!