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created 12/15/97. |
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review
added: 6/20/02
Divine
Trash
1998
(2000) - Independent Film Channel (Fox Lorber)
review
by Adam Jahnke of The Digital Bits
The
Films of John Waters on DVD
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Program
Rating: B-
Disc Ratings (Video/Audio/Extras):
C+/B/D-
Specs and Features
96 mins, NR, letterboxed widescreen (1.66:1), single-sided,
single-layered, Amaray keep-case packaging, filmographies,
production credits, weblink, animated program-themed menu screens
with music, scene access (8 chapters), languages: English (2.0
Mono), subtitles: none
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It's
easy to see why John Waters would be an attractive subject for
documentary filmmakers. With his pencil mustache and instantly
recognizable voice, he's an extraordinarily charismatic filmmaker.
His favorite muse was a 300-pound drag queen who looked like
Elizabeth Taylor from Mars. And then there's the little matter of
his movies. Love 'em or hate 'em, nobody else before or since has
made anything quite like 'em. Steve Yeager may have been the first
person to realize the potential for a movie about Waters. Back in
1972, he hooked himself to the production of Pink
Flamingos, shooting interviews and behind-the-scenes
footage, as well as appearing as a member of the press during the
climactic "courtroom" scene. In 1998, Yeager took this
footage, conducted a number of new interviews, and produced
Divine Trash, a fairly
comprehensive overview of Waters' career up through
Pink Flamingos.
The backbone of the movie, of course, is the rare footage. In
addition to the backstage glimpse we get at Pink
Flamingos, Yeager also utilizes scenes from earlier
movies like Multiple Maniacs
and The Diane Linkletter Story.
These movies have remained out of circulation for years, so it's of
great value to finally get a peek at something we've heard so much
about. Of the new interviews, only those with Waters and his
friends, family and collaborators are of much interest. Yeager also
includes appreciations by folks like Steve Buscemi, Jim Jarmusch and
David O. Russell (director of Three Kings).
Maybe he did this to pad out the running time, maybe to justify a
documentary on the "shock auteur" to his financial backers
or maybe just to add some "star power". Whatever the
reason, the appreciations are added at odd points in the movie,
distracting from what's most interesting.
Fox Lorber has released Divine Trash
on DVD and, as with most titles I've seen come from the studio, this
is a pretty no-frills, bare-bones release. The picture is grainy and
full of digital artifacts, particularly during the new interview
segments. If you're unimpressed with New Line's transfer of
Pink Flamingos, check out the
footage here to see how bad this movie could look. The sound is
utilitarian at best. Talking head interviews and 16mm footage from
the late 1960's and early 70's don't exactly lend themselves to
sonic brilliance. There are basically no extras to speak of, except
for filmographies for Waters, Divine and Yeager.
Essentially a feature-length "making-of" documentary,
Divine Trash is of interest to
those who want more information on Pink
Flamingos. It makes an interesting companion to New
Line's John Waters DVD Scrapbook,
the bonus disc available to purchasers of Volumes
One through Three
of The John Waters Collection.
While there is some inevitable overlap between stories told on the
two discs, there is very little duplicated footage. The film might
have been better served if Yeager had sold the rights to New Line
for inclusion as a bonus on their DVD of Pink
Flamingos instead of as a stand-alone feature. As a bonus
feature, Divine Trash would
have seemed more than generous. On its own, it's a little wanting.
Adam Jahnke
ajahnke@thedigitalbits.com |
The
Films of John Waters on DVD
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