Showgirls

I saw this when it opened and thought it was fine then but the people I was with hated it and said Elizabeth Berkley can't act. I didn't see any problem with her acting. I chalked it up to their having watched too much "Saved by the Bell" and then not being able to separate Elizabeth Berkley's character in that show from her character in this show. Me, I'd never once watched "Saved by the Bell" so I just saw Elizabeth Berkley as Nomi Malone and she did fine.

For some reason I recently (2023) decide to watch it again. As far as I can tell there's nothing wrong with this movie. It's interesting all the way through. It's got fun and interesting characters. "Mama" is hilarious. And of course all the other characters are great. All the behind the scenes of the show is super interesting as is Nomi's ascent and education.

It's also pretty unique. What other movie covers a topless revue in Vegas in such a gritty way?

If you go in looking for bad movie maybe you'll find it. If you go in looking for a good movie, you might find that too. I did. Unless you're just not into sex, nudity, and bunch of "bad people" characters. If those things upset you then yea, this movie is not for you. It's not a bad movie though.

Back in 1995 I felt like it was one of the best films I have ever watched, it helped to embrace that what people don't wish to see, there's more life to this film than films like Terminator, ironically so cause it portrays the fakeness of people and the whole showbiz in the film, that contrast of revealing the truth in a fake world is what I believe draws people subconsciously to this film, it's a breath of fresh air.

This is more like an art film that demands the audience to think for themselves by being removed from the familiar archetypes or messages, it removes the anchor for anyone looking to relate to anyone in the fim at a surface level, the same is true about Bunuel or Fellini films, this film doesn't use neorealism to portray the world of the film, it uses the aesthetics of the American cinema, a language under the language, it's not a genre film to thrill in a basic commercial way like Robocop, Basic Instinct or Flashdance, it offers questions and ambiguity, as a little example, what does it suggests with a scene like Nomi and Crystal kissing at the end? What should we feel? For me it demonstrates glimpses of how much different their lives could be, how much there's more to these characters who long for something else, yet everyone seems to show glimpses of how deceptive can be at the same time, people are an enigma here, unaware of their own identity, and lost innocence, nothing is what seems to be, it is a facade that's breaking apart through Verhoeven's lens, using the naked bodies and Goddess show to portray the surface hiding their authentic heart and soul. Nomi's rebellious nature in a sense represents an outsider's look into this world that refuses to be seduced by it, yet it is at one point. There is also a cartoony playfulness and beauty in the way it is made, mainly visually, that appeals to the senses as well, but for me that style represents the seductiveness of this world that Nomi enters.

Another aspect I appreciate about it is how innocently and openly it shows nudity and sex, it shatters our inhibitions. The film goes against expectations often, it subverts the conventions, and that always is bound to be embraced more later in time, cause the conventions have changed, so in a later time the film has lost its potency to challenge our attachments to conventions, once it reaches the safe zone when such conventions/standards being gone years later, the film gets embraced, however its pure function as a medium made for a particular time to shock or make us uncomfortable is no longer there. The same is true for anything that flopped but got embraced much later, Citizen Kane, Wizard Of Oz, Vertigo, Blade Runner, Alexander, Fight Club, etc, none of these films serve the same function years later for the human collective.

Yes Showgirls seemed to be hated by some people at the time, the truth is the more we hate something the more it reveals some aspect of us that we can't stand, it's all a projection, anything that triggers hightened emotions. Some of the most despised art shows me more accurately the greater picture of our collective conscousness, or perhaps subconscious. Often the hated movies reveal the truth of how much people lack the surrender or openness to the unknown, the unexpected, the breaking of their beliefs or standards, the change, etc. It challenges the ego, and the willingness to look into our own shadow side, hence why I love to watch more often things that most people hate, there's always something that shows more originality or individuality of perception than in films that are largely embraced.

This film in particular was daring, going narrativelly forward in unpredictable ways, even though the plot seemed basic.

How I wish I could write this review anonymously. No one should publicly admit to liking Showgirls. There's very little to like about it. Yet I still do. And, looking at some of the other comments on here, I'm not the only one (perhaps there's a secret 'Fight Club-like' organisation out there somewhere for people like us?).

It's about a young woman who drifts into Las Vegas with dreams of being a dancer. She ends up being a stripper. However, her fortunes don't stay that way for long, as she's offered a role in a top Vegas casino's show... which involves taking her clothes off.

In case you've never heard of this film, it does involve a lot of female nudity. Now, this naturally attracted a lot of criticism of the film being sexist. And, in short, it is. However, isn't that the point? We're getting a look into an industry (whether it be the stripping industry, the showgirl industry, or even the film industry) which is heavily male-dominated. It's run by rich middle-aged men who get to decide which young 18-21 year old females get the parts. Of course there's going to be a heavy element of sexism and quite a fair share of sleaze involved.

I won't try to defend Showgirls and say things like 'the nudity empowers the women,' because that would probably be untrue (and rather pretentious). But I will say that the nudity is at least valid. Making a film without nudity about a subject involving strippers and erotic dancers would be like making a film about the Second World War without soldiers.

It's all pretty cheesy stuff. I don't know whether that was the film-makers' intentions when they made it, but that's the end result. Everything is very dramatic. The lead characters dances overly-dramatically, walks overly-dramatically and, if you look closely, even eats a hamburger overly-dramatically. It's kind of like the acting quality you'd expect from an afternoon soap (but with more nudity, obviously).

However, if there's one redeeming feature that can genuinely be talked about, it's Gina Gershon, who plays the femme fatale 'Cristal Connors.' She seems to revel in flitting between evil and seductively charming and is a joy to watch when it comes to baddies.

I don't think anyone should recommend Showgirls to anyone, without knowing what sort of films they're into. You'll either love it or throw a brick at the TV. Best to just tell people you hate it until you meet up with them in some underground car park with the rest of the Showgirls fans. Remember, the first rule about liking Showgirls is that you DO NOT admit to liking Showgirls.

I thought this film was not bad actually, and saw it as a voyage though bitchy sleazy Las Vegas showlife. Everyone goes on about the wildly exaggerated sex by the leading girl, but might that not be her style as a wannabe Vegas showqueen.

I think compared to a lot of films that come out that deserve a one star rating this doesn't deserve one, I found it watchable and I think there's been a kind of herd effect to say it's trash. It's just *about* trash.

So right on Tarantino for coming out alone in praising it I say.

This is expertly made trash, with over the top characters and scenes that don't even have a toe in reality. There's loads of nudity and everything is amped up to 11. That said, it was intended to be sexy and adult and daring but it falls flat on its face. BUT the way it falls flat makes it something to see.