Showgirls

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Movie
German title Showgirls
Original title Showgirls
Country of production United States
original language English
Publishing year 1995
length 131 minutes
Age rating FSK 16
Rod
Director Paul Verhoeven
script Joe Eszterhas
production Charles Evans ,
Alan Marshall
music David A. Stewart
camera Jost Vacano
cut Mark Goldblatt ,
Mark Helfrich
occupation

Showgirls is a 1995 American film directed by Paul Verhoeven and Nomi Malone starred by Elizabeth Berkley . The film describes the story of a dancer in Las Vegas in the sexually charged and violent images typical of Verhoeven.

When it was released in 1995, Showgirls played just under half of its high production costs of 45 million US dollars in the United States and was initially considered a flop, to which the mostly very negative reviews of the film contributed. The film grossed more than 100 million US dollars on the DVD market between 1996 and 2004. Today it is considered a cult film .

action

In the hope of making a career as a showgirl , the young, vagabond Nomi Malone comes from the provinces to Las Vegas . The first misfortune - all her belongings are stolen from her - is followed by great luck: The African American Molly Abrams offers her a place to stay and also proves to be a reliable friend. A first engagement at the Cheetah's strip club comes about quickly. Nomi is talented, but at least as ambitious. A visit to the renowned Stardust casino - Molly works there as a seamstress and costume designer - leads to an encounter with the star of the dance revue Goddess , Cristal Connors. Nomi has to hear that she is prostituting herself at Cheetah's , but Connors' return visit soon follows , accompanied by her lover and entertainment director, Zack Carey. They ask Nomi to do an erotic dance, exclusively for both of them. Nomi is reluctant, but is instructed by her manager to accept the offer of $ 500. Your dance makes an impact. Nomi is on the move to the top.

An alternative to this seems no less tempting. The African-American James Smith, caretaker in a dance club, has also become aware of her talent, persistently pursues her, entices her with the fact that he has created a piece especially for her, and warns her that the same brutal business model is only available in Stardust more cleverly concealing than at Cheetah's . The reality that Nomi experiences when the Stardust hires her is even harder and colder: One expects docility and servitude from the showgirls, selects ruthlessly and stirs up competition. Nomi is very involved. She seduces Carey and becomes the understudy of Connors. With her threat to leave, she reverses the act and humiliates Nomi in the next performance. In turn, she takes revenge by pushing Connors down a staircase from behind. With a concussion and a fracture of the femur, the Revue's diva is out for a long time; management believes the show can't be without a star and chooses - Nomi.

At the glamorous party announced for the occasion, Nomi's only friend, Molly, wants to stay away. She suspects what caused Connors to fall, and speaks this openly in private. Nomi denies the accusation and implores her friend to come. The fact that Molly finally gives in is also because she hopes to meet her idol, the musician Andrew Carver. In fact, she is received by him - and brutally abused: Carver knocks her down and lets his bodyguards rape her. Nomi is horrified and unwilling to accept that the perpetrators should be covered. Carey counters with documents that reveal her secret past: The truth is, her name is Shirley Ann Costello, she came to an orphanage after her father killed her mother and herself, and has multiple criminal records for prostitution, drug possession and willful assault.

Nomi does not allow herself to be blackmailed and practices vigilante justice. Under the pretense of sexual advances, she dupes the smug carver and brutally beats him up. She then makes two farewell visits to the hospital: Molly informs her of the act of revenge, and Connors apologizes. The diva forgives her and admits that she once pushed her career through a similar act and also received a handsome severance payment. For Los Angeles , Nomi leaves Las Vegas as she came: as a hitchhiker. She is taken away by the man who robbed her when she arrived. Nomi pulls out her knife and demands her suitcase back.

background

Charlize Theron auditioned for the lead role of Nomi Malone . However, a decision was made against her because she was “not well known” and “did not fit right”.

Madonna was reportedly considered for the role of Cristal Connors . Also Debi Mazar auditioned for the role before it was ultimately filled by Gina Gershon.

Filming began on August 29, 1994 and lasted until December 11, 1994.

Aftermath

Financial success

The financial result of the theatrical release was "disastrous". The budget was an estimated 45 million US dollars, of which the film grossed only 37.7 million US dollars worldwide. It was only through the good results in video rental and the “respectable” exploitation on DVD that the film became a financial success and grossed more than 100 million dollars between 1996 and 2004.

Contemporary criticism

James Berardinelli described the film on ReelViews as "cold" and "soulless". He criticized the script, the "stereotypical" characters and the representations. He described the last 30 minutes of the film as particularly bad and illogical.

Roger Ebert criticized the film, but described it as "undervalued" in view of the numerous negative reviews.

The lexicon of international films judged: “A kind of musical, which in the erotic dance scenes is more interested in the voyeuristic exploration of the boundaries between eroticism and pornography than in choreographic quality. Not a critical look behind the scenes of the show business, but a film that tries desperately to remove the taboo on sexual representations. "

Later evaluation

For the first ten years after it was released, Showgirls was often referred to as the worst movie of all time, with later reviews rating the film more benevolent. It has now achieved cult status among fans, especially in the queer and gay scene .

Quentin Tarantino praised Showgirls as one of the few great sexploitation films in the Hollywood studio system and was as much a fan of the film as filmmaker Jacques Rivette . The film critics Jonathan Rosenbaum and Charles Taylor defend showgirls as a completely misunderstood satire on show business in the USA.

In the 2016 documentary Paul Verhoeven - Master of Provocation , director Verhoeven explains: “To be honest, it wasn't a really strong script. Perhaps that is precisely where the movie's performance lies. It practically makes the story superfluous. It's not about them either. It is more about the movements, the colors and their staging. "

continuation

When the film was released, Paul Verhoeven and Joe Eszterhas were already working on a script for a sequel called Bimbos . After Showgirls' financial failure , the donors were no longer interested in financing the project, according to Verhoeven.

In 2011, Showgirls 2: Penny's from Heaven was a sequel. The direction was taken by Rena Riffel, who could already be seen as an actress in the first part.

Awards

The Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association named the film the Worst Picture in 1996 .

The film received the Golden Raspberry in seven categories in 1996 , including for Elizabeth Berkley , Joe Eszterhas and Paul Verhoeven . Verhoeven was the first director ever to personally pick up the Golden Raspberry. He was also nominated for six other Golden Raspberries, including Kyle MacLachlan and Gina Gershon , d. H. With a total of 13 nominations, the film has taken the top spot so far. In 2000 it was named the worst film of the 1990s and in 2005 it was named the worst film in the first 25 years in which the Golden Raspberry was awarded.

The DVD edition was nominated for the 2005 Satellite Awards for DVD Extras. In addition to the bonuses on the DVD, the "VIP Edition" included two shot glasses, playing cards and a poster.

literature

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Release certificate for showgirls . Voluntary self-regulation of the film industry , October 2011 (PDF; test number: 74 135 V).
  2. ↑ a b Douglas Keesey, Paul Duncan: Paul Verhoeven. Verlag Taschen, 2005, ISBN 3-8228-3098-4
  3. ↑ http://wieistderfilm.de/showgirls/
  4. ↑ a b c Hendrik Ternieden: Charlize Theron and "Showgirls": Fortunately, a rejection. In: Spiegel Online . October 19, 2015, accessed October 20, 2015 .
  5. ↑ a b c d e Joe Lynch: 'Showgirls' Turns 20: How David Bowie, U2 & Madonna Are Linked to the Cult Camp Classic. In: Billboard.com. September 22, 2015, accessed October 21, 2015 .
  6. ↑ a b Box office / business for showgirls. IMDb , accessed October 21, 2015 .
  7. ↑ Showgirls (United States, 1995) - A movie review by James Berardinelli. Retrieved October 21, 2015 .
  8. ↑ Showgirls. In: Lexicon of International Films . Film service , accessed April 29, 2017 .Template: LdiF / Maintenance / Access used 
  9. ↑ https://www.queerty.com/showgirls-turns-20-but-the-gays-will-love-nomi-malone-forever-20150922
  10. ↑ Paul Verhoeven - Master of Provocation . Documentary by Elisabeth van Zijll Langhout, 2016, 55 min. (Quote from minute 40:40). Produced by Kuiv Productions (Paris), in collaboration with arte France
  11. ↑ James Desborough, Emma Patterson: 'Showgirls' director Paul Verhoeven opens up about how film ruined Elizabeth Berkley's career, and lead role almost went to Charlize Theron. In: nydailynews.com. October 18, 2015, accessed October 21, 2015 .
  12. ↑ Career low? “Showgirls” a flop - and Verhoeven picks up “Goldene Raspberry” personally from news.de, February 9, 2017, accessed on September 11, 2017

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