This Filthy World

November. 24,2006      NR
Rating:
7.6
Trailer Synopsis Cast

In this filmed version of cult film director John Waters' popular one-man show, the Pink Flamingos and A Dirty Shame director takes the stage to discuss everything from his early influences, fondest career memories, and notorious struggles against the MPAA rating system. Part endearing memoir and part hilarious lecture, This Filthy World touches on everything from the insanity of contemporary pop culture to the director's unforgettable early collaborations with inimitable Pink Flamingos star Divine.

John Waters as  Self

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Reviews

Matrixston
2006/11/24

Wow! Such a good movie.

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GamerTab
2006/11/25

That was an excellent one.

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Listonixio
2006/11/26

Fresh and Exciting

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Nicole
2006/11/27

I enjoyed watching this film and would recommend other to give it a try , (as I am) but this movie, although enjoyable to watch due to the better than average acting fails to add anything new to its storyline that is all too familiar to these types of movies.

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Steve Pulaski
2006/11/28

Any inspiring film student or anyone who dares call themselves a "cinephile" should feel obligated to watch at least a few of John Waters's films. They're not for everyone without a doubt, but they're a rare breed; well-made shock films. They have a certain style, wittiness, and art that isn't captured enough today. Waters' earliest films, most stamped with an "NC-17" rating, are some of the most wonderfully conducted bad taste films out there. And his style definitely needs to be revived in some way.We don't have shock cinema like we used to. Now, we have films like Hostel, Saw, and those of the torture porn genre. We no longer have films that don't include sex or violence that still achieve an NC-17 rating. Mostly because I think we've reached a void where we believe we have to include at least one of those to be moderately successful.Clerks, the film I still cite as my favorite of all time, was originally stamped with an "NC-17" rating just because of its explicit dialog. No sex, violence, or drug use (minor smoking sequences, but nothing extreme). Just very dirty, perverse conversations conducted in explicit and broad detail. Never have I heard such proudly cruel language in such a film. On top of being proudly cruel, just constant and shameless. There was a movie that wasn't afraid to be daring.But it also captured the way people are in real life. When two men talk about their relationships and sex-life, anything is bound to come up. That is why Clerks is my favorite film. Its captivating realism and its sense of urgency compliment it in a way no film I've seen does before.I've trailed off course. Most likely because when I think of Waters's cinema, I try and think of how it relates to other films that I've developed an increasing fondness for. We have him to thank for threatening the very limits of people, film, and common, adequate decency. John Waters: This Filthy World is Waters conducting his famous "This Filthy World" lecture/standup routine in front of a full house at The Harry DeJour Playhouse in New York City.Waters chronicles his early childhood life, going to drive-ins, talking about films he liked as a kid, underrated directors he enjoys, and his early 8mm and 16mm films like Hag in a Black Leather Jacket, Eat Your Makeup, and Mondo Trasho, those of which are often shown at his festival John Waters: Change of Life. To my knowledge, those short films aren't commercially available, except for some very rare, out of print VHS tapes.He then starts to get into his full length films one by one. But he does them so fast we don't get a very solid understand. It isn't like Kevin Smith's Q&A sessions where we can't possibly leave the room without our question being answered. Though it is more concise than the work of Kevin Smith, it lacks many things I wanted to know.For instance, how did Waters pay for many of his early films back when it was difficult to get money for films that relied on shock aspects? Also, I wanted to hear more about Waters' opinion on the critics when it comes to his films. All of his films have garnered severely mixed ratings from different critics. Some love them, some hate them. I wanted to know what he had to say.Not to mention, some of his later films a lot of his fans say derailed in quality compared to his older films. I hear many fans cite Cecil B. Demented and A Dirty Shame as some of his most tragic works. A Dirty Shame was a too little, too late effort from a man who simply doesn't fit in during the present time. The film focused on fetishes, which aren't really funny because the fact is that some people have the strangest, most incomprehensible desires and pleasures in the world that it doesn't come as surprising or shocking. It just comes off as failed comedy.Thankfully, Waters early cinema was a provocative art form. Somewhere along the way, I believe after Divine's tragic death in 1988 - three weeks after the release of Hairspray, Waters became more focused on serious films that lacked that same sort of shock-art but were still convincing in their role as eclectic and different films. After Hairspray, Waters directed a Johnny Depp film called Cry-Baby which obtained a heavy cult following in later years. After that, many of his films completely abandoned the idea of shock.John Waters: This Filthy World was directed by Curb Your Enthusiasm star Jeff Garlin. The downside is neither of them are seen together, sitting down for an interview, during any time of the documentary. It would have been great to hear how Garlin was inspired by Waters work (he must've to propose and direct a documentary on his standup) and what he personally thinks of Waters. In that respect, the documentary is empty, but holds enough so it can equip a solid recommendation.At one point in the film, Waters states he wants "young people" to look up to him as a "filth elder" because he believes all younger people should have one. I wouldn't know a better name or a better person worthy of that title.Starring: John Waters. Directed by: Jeff Garlin.

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MartinHafer
2006/11/29

I think I have somehow been switched to the Bizarro World--after all, what else could explain how John Waters has gone mainstream?! Back in the 60s, 70s and early 80s, he was the creator of many sick and twisted comedies that most "nice" people didn't go to see. However, over the last two decades, thanks in part to some of his more mainstream films, he has become a very popular director and raconteur.Here in this film, Waters is in the midst of a nation-wide tour where he does, in essence, a stand-up routine. He discusses his films, his life, his opinions and tells stories--most of which are very funny and some of which are very filthy. While this makes this film a bad idea for viewing by kids, it makes it an excellent guilty pleasure for adults to watch while the kids are asleep! Witty, clever and very iconoclastic--it is amazing to see how funny and insightful Waters is--showing he's much more than a talented (but twisted) writer and director.My favorite part? When he talked about Dorothy and "The Wizard of Oz"--priceless!

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Apalerwuss
2006/11/30

Well, what can be said about what is just a stand-up gig...I'm not sure this is particularly suited to the big screen, but that's not to say it wasn't enjoyable to watch.I have to be honest and say I didn't know much about John Waters at all before this, and had only vaguely heard of Hairspray. I'd seen Killer mom as a kid and remember it to be a good movie. So, on to 'This Filthy World'. It started slowly and I thought it was going to be pretty bad, my initial thoughts were he may be a good filmmaker, but he ain't no stand-up. But as it wore on, he warmed on me and found him to be a very interesting guy and I did laugh a few times. He discusses most of his films, how he made them and provides anecdotes surrounding them. John Waters was there himself after the film for a Q&A, and it was the biggest waste of an opportunity I've ever seen. The compere/interviewer asked questions like "so what do you think of the internet" and the audience asked equally as mundane questions. The best question was "what's been your favourite Christmas present ever"...so you can imagine what the rest were like.Overall, I'd recommend this but wait until it's out on DVD.

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preppy-3
2006/12/01

John Waters did a one man show a year or two ago around the country. This film shows the whole show. Basically it's just Waters talking about good (and bad) taste, all his movies, his battles with the ratings board (over "Low Down Dirty Shame"), the actors he worked with, various sexual acts and his life in general. This movie is frequently hilarious and never boring...but not for everybody. The language is VERY raw and Waters doesn't shy away from anything (the comments about fisting got to me a little). This isn't for people who are easily offended but for those who love Waters and his films this is lots of fun. An 8--only because it IS a stage show and gets somewhat stagy a few times.

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