HOORAY FOR DREAMLAND!
Added 2/4/2009
This is my favorite of all the early John Waters films. I have it lovingly ensconced in my DVD collection, in my Dreamland section. Liz Renay was so good in this! And Susan Lowe was fantastic! Despite the absence of Divine in this one, it was wonderful.
If you're a Waters fan like I am, this is a must-have.
Thank you, Amazon, for having what Columbia House doesn't have.
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Top Notch Sophisticated Adult Humor
Added 1/7/2009
This is a true "CULT CLASSIC". I'd heard about it several years ago and it is every bit as funny as I had heard. Keep in mind it is very adult.
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Best JW Film Ever
Added 7/22/2008
The first time I saw "Pink Flamingos," something seemed oddly familiar. I later realized it was the "acting." The actors delivered their lines with the conviction and subtlety of a Jr. High School play. This element coupled with the cruelly insightful, almost profound nature of what is being said is a trademark of John Waters. It softens the blow somewhat.
"Desperate Living" still delivers an abundance of Waters' trademark irony in action, but, there's a catch. Two catch's, really. Firstly, there is somewhat convincing acting from several key roles. It might sound like a letdown, but it actually enhances the story. The second aberration is the absence of Waters' workhorse Divine. Proving that he could succeed on his own wit alone, Waters made his funniest film ever.
Fans of "Flamingos" might be disappointed by the lack of "real" shock material. (Most of it comes via "special effects") Those who enjoy the softer approach of Polyester and later may find it a bit much. But for those who tune in for the strength of concepts and quotable one-liners, this is by far the deepest Waters experience out there.
Hard to believe, but the lesbian community at the time attacked the film for it's 'male-sponsored' perspective. It has since been embraced with open arms as a classically hilarious piece that highlights Waters iconic status in the gay and underground community.
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it's a terrible play--but it makes a wonderful rehearsal
Added 10/8/2007
Desperate Living was made by John Waters before he truly entered the world of mainstream cinema--and it looks it. With sets that look like garbage pulled from the city dump so that they wouldn't have to pay for it, this movie really takes a strong stomach to enjoy--if you enjoy this sort of thing at all. Its real redemption is in the acting of the cast; their script ain't too hot but the actors sure do a fine job acting!
The action starts in the Gravel household. Peggy Gravel has just returned from a psychiatric hospital and her naive husband seems to think it's going to be all right even though she's still crazy like a fox! Bosley Gravel (George Stover), Peggy's husband, wants to give her a medication injection. However, when Peggy fantasizes that Bosley is trying to kill her, their very obese maid Grizelda Brown (Jean Hill) accidentally kills Bosley by sitting on him.
Of course, they know they're in hot water for having murdered Bosley--ands Peggy and Grizelda flee in Peggy's car. After an unusual (ahem) scene in which a cop lets them get away, they know that they can only go to Mortville where murderesses are tolerated without being punished under the law.
And what a dump Mortville is! Full of trash, poor people and ugly shanties, Peggy and Grizelda don't like it. They stay, however, to avoid the law. They soon rent a room from Mole McHenry (Susan Lowe) and her female lover Muffy St. Jacques (Liz Renay). They also discover that Mortville suffers under the reign of wicked Queen Carlotta (Edith Massey), who delights in torturing people, having her citizens killed and making them walk backwards one day or be murdered on the spot.
So where does the plot go from here? Does Mortville work out for Peggy and Grizelda? What if Muffy and Mole want money--lots of money--to give them room and board? Will Muffy or Mole make a pass at either Peggy or Grizelda? Will Queen Carlotta remain unchallenged? Watch the movie and find out!
The DVD has a commentary by John Waters; but that's really it for the DVD extras.
All in all, Desperate Living is a film you're either going to like or dislike. It has tons of filthy lines and scenes that could make a grown man choke with disgust. That's exactly what director John Waters wanted for this movie; so he accomplished his goal. As for me, I didn't think it was worth two bits--except for the acting. That alone redeems the movie to some degree; so I will take off two and one-half stars and give this movie a two and one-half star review.
Hope you enjoy it more than I did!
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"Desperate" to see this after the remake of HAIRSPRAY:THE MUSICAL!
Added 9/1/2007
After seeing the newest reincarnation of HAIRSPRAY:THE MUSICAL I needed "desperately" to return to original roots! Face it....there really is only one John Waters.(As a small child,John and his "cast of cohorts" were regulars at our home as they were all friends of my older sister!)
DESPERATE LIVING is supposed to be shocking,ridiculous,gross and in bad taste, and Waters has always had the right stable of stars (grade B and lower!) to pull off his warped visions .What we call "great actors" usually cannot play the demented and depraved characters that Waters writes; but Mink Stole, Edith Massey, Liz Renay and Susan Lowe are soooooo good at spoof films, just as the Christopher Guest clan is for SPINAL TAP et al.
The story is too ridiculous and absurd for me to even recount.Others have already reviewed the "plot" to perfection.I laughed...I was grossed out....I winced....and then I remembered what makes John Waters' films so much fun; they are cheesy at best and loads of fun and require no thought.John's earliest films need to be watched with someone that is "safe" and will get his sense of humor.Anyone else will run for the door!
John's earliest works all contain the edgy and perverse.Once you reach HIS HAIRSPRAY, the gross is gone and a different,yet still wild-and-wonderful oddness is still there.
Why 5 stars? It is perfection for the kind of genre film that it is. I compare it with only other films like it.AMADEUS it's not!
My old vhs copy states "this film is not rated".....now there is a kick in the 'nads! Waters would be offended!
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For John Waters fans ONLY!!
Added 11/12/2009
This isn't the kind of movie you blind-buy. You need to make sure you're into this kind of thing first, because this movie is way out there.
There aren't many features other than a commentary, but the quality is fine and as long as you're paying a reasonable price for the film, you have nothing to worry about. Be sure to check out 'Pink Flamingos' too.
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great movie,Wonderful buy
Added 9/13/2009
Anyone who is a John Waters fan or just likes to watch shock value movies...This is the movie you'll love. I love this movie, Its perfect to watch with friends or when alone and in need of some filthy fun laughs.
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Hairspray without the music and production values, or any values
Added 10/21/2008
Divine is a goddess of crime and beauty. Mink Stole steals every scene she is in (for 14 taffy you don't look so good). There are many elements that made there way from this film to Water's big budget Hairspray. Mostly the teenage years. Not for the faint of heart but so funny. This may be Waters first film with a plot.
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