Director: John Waters

John WatersJohn Waters started causing controversy in Baltimore back in the 60s. A fan of counter culture and gimmick cinema, he began making cheap shock movies with more joy and heart than anyone imagined possible. Together with his drag queen friend Divine and the rest of his ragtag filmmaking group “the dreamlanders,” John Waters lived a life that itself was rather cinematic.

After Divine passed away, Waters continued to find new ways to upset the public and delight fans of subversive film. Each movie continued to push taboos out of the closet and into the spotlight. Oddly enough, the mainstream embraced these movies and they’re among some of the most popular underground and independent films of all time.

 

Gummo + Pink Flamingos

Posted on December 20, 2012

Competing looks at trash culture. Gummo and Harmony Korine. Comparisons to Larry Clark and Kids. What are the similarities and why do they exist? Storytelling sans story. Michael tries to add artistic credibility to mumblecore. Filmmaking nihilism. Making an audience … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Cry-Baby + Roadracers

Posted on August 2, 2012

50′s throw-back films! Greasers. John Waters after Devine. A bit on Iggy Pop. Who is Traci Lords? A confused opinion on hatchet-face. Johnny Depp?! Entire budget of Cry-Baby: $12 Million. Depp’s average Pirates salary: $88 Million per film. Faux jazz … Continue reading →

Hairspray + The Little Shop of Horrors

Posted on December 8, 2011

Cult films that later spawned colossal musicals. Chicago violently floods. John Waters, Hairspray (1988), and Hypnotherapy. What inspires John Waters? The last John Waters Divine film. John Waters without Divine. Competing counterculture. A different type of parent. Finally, other people … Continue reading →

To Die For + Serial Mom

Posted on June 16, 2011

So-called “true stories” of women and crimes. To Die For and Pamela Smart. Gus Van Sant. What was Danny Elfman up to? Tonal shifts. Documentary/mockumentary style. Wait, we’re killing? Idolizing TV life. Questioning motivation. David Cronenberg?! Pretending things are dark … Continue reading →

Look + Pecker

Posted on February 24, 2011

Photography and voyeurism. Where are the cameras?! What people do when no one is looking. The misadventures of Adam Rifkin. The average person vs one example of a person. If you could see the big picture. Events you missed out … Continue reading →

Polyester + Secretary

Posted on March 4, 2010

Bored women surround themselves with deviants! Two films helping society cope with taboos. John Waters exposes America to the unsettling. A rarely talked about sub-genre of exploitation: Women’s Pictures. Odorama, Smell-O-Vision and William Castle. The smells on the Polyester Odorama … Continue reading →

Fur + A Dirty Shame

Posted on November 6, 2008

Arizona Iced Tea. Taboos. Sexual fetishes. Lifestyle fetishes. Non linear story telling. Things you can do with a 50s biopic. Photography. Romanticizing previous eras. 30s sideshows. The 50s family myth. Finding yourself. Flashing back to an even older era in … Continue reading →