Kelly WandPink Flamingos
September 16th 2006 01:55
Maybe it seemed too obvious. Maybe it was because it actually worked out quite well for Divine, star of Pink Flamingos.
Pink Flamingos is not a film for everyone. It certainly isn’t the kind of film that is going to go down well at meetings of Conservative politicians, Church groups or sane and reasonable people. Fortunately, I don’t know anyone like that.
If, on the other hand, you have ever been to a party where the cops have showed up to shut you down and you have reacted by killing them, slinging them on the barbecue and chowing down on their smoking remains, this could be the film for you. Even if you have merely thought about it, you might find some satisfaction in these frames.
Do you really want to know the plot? Two families fight over the right to call themselves the filthiest people alive. The rest is all just detail. When 150 kilo plus transvestite Divine goes into the butcher’s shop and shoves a steak somewhere between his/her legs you know where the movie is heading. Out of respect, I’d usually say her but – given the anatomical considerations – one does have to wonder exactly where that steak went. Very little of this film is faked besides the murders and they are so obviously faked that they become funny.
Oh yes, Divine does eat dog shit. Legend has it that director John Waters was so inexperienced, he didn’t even think to fake the scene with a cutaway. John Waters is the Godfather of Gross, The Pope of Puke and the President of the Perverted. I’d rather vote for him than George Bush or Johnny Howard. Besides, he’s been on the Simpsons.
His films are cheap, chaotic and fun. This column is named after the cinematic terrorists from Water’s flick “Cecil B Demented”. Most of his early films are not available in this country but are easily scored on import and I use the word scored knowingly. Waters’ films are like a cinematic junk habit. Your mother warned you there would be films like these. Once you try one, you’ll pretty much pick up a taste for this gear. “Female Trouble” and “Desperate Living” are well worth forking over the thirty five bucks for. If, however, you are going to start anywhere in Waters’ oeuvre, it is probably best to start here. Here you have Edith Massey as The Egg Lady and Mink Stole as the vile Connie Marble…
Wait a minute. I have a better idea. Let me just tell you some of the chapter headings and you’ll get a better notion of what is in store for you. “Home Sweet Trailer”, “The Chicken Fuck”, “Artificial Insemination”, “The Turd is in the Mail”, “The Couch that Rejects” and “Convicted of Assholism”. Are you sick enough to enter here? If you have ever bought a Cramps CD then you probably are.
Atop the DVD cover is a quote from the Daily Variety. It says “One of the most vile, stupid and repulsive films ever made.” Of course, I concur. It’s just I’m not convinced that that is a bad thing.
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Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Cry Baby is due out this month and they have already released Cecil B Demented, Pecker and serial Mom.
Be nice if they released some of his rarities, own most on VHS but they have been watched tomany times.
Comment by Bob Short
Classic Waters!
Pink Flamingoes, Desperate Living, Polyester, Female Trouble and Hairspray have all been fairly easy to obtain on import. I've picked mine up at Hum in Newtown where they retail at around thirty five bucks. Polyester contains the scratch and sniff card.