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This Filthy World (2006)

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8 out of 8 people found the following comment useful :-
A very gentlemanly dissection! ;-), 12 August 2007

Author: Chris Docker (eyeforfilm) from Scotland, United Kingdom

"Why dost thou converse with that trunk of humours, that bolting-hutch of beastliness, that swollen parcel of dropsies, that huge bombard of sack, that stuffed cloakbag of guts, that roasted Manningtree ox with the pudding in his belly, that reverend vice, that grey iniquity, that father ruffian, that vanity in years?" Shakespeare was no stranger to vulgar elegance. He made an art form of obscenities. It pulled in those (from all classes) who simply wanted to be entertained. Says Waters, "To me, bad taste is what entertainment is all about." We don't always want to have our sensibilities elevated, our higher aspirations appreciated, and our refined tastes developed with dialectic. Calling a spade a spade might even help you avoid treading on it. We talk about the 'shit hitting the fan', but do we ever imagine what that would literally be like? John Waters makes us imagine.

When you ask someone what they like, they will invariably also tell you what they don't like. We justify our taste by expressing selective intolerance. Some people can't stand films with subtitles. Others can't stand the pap of multiplex movies. Some people detest nudity, while others detest censorship. Having defined what we don't want, we sit there in unproductive silence going, "Entertain me!" It could be said that This Filthy World ("Isn't it beautiful?") ignores the list of don't-wants and entertains you anyway. His immaculate and freshly starched style, penetrating insight, wit and gentle but brutal honesty, provide a safety net for us to identify with, rather than running out of the cinema or feeling personally attacked.

Filmed over two nights at the Harry De Jur Playhouse in New York City, the film provides Waters' insights on everything from the director's own childhood to his views on capital punishment, artistic censorship and why Dorothy was crazy to want to return to Kansas. He provides authoritative comment on his films (the most famous and critically acclaimed of which is still subject to the British censors' scissors), and delights us with his gourmet appreciation of all that is 'unmentionable'.

This hour-and-a-half retrospective analysis comes at a time when the 'trash aesthetic' is almost institutionalised. No longer a purely underground force attacking mainstream tastemakers, philosophical Warhol, breast-infatuated Russ Meyer, anti-establishment Troma, and a whole gamut of psychotronic paracinema of 'bad taste' with Waters as its queenly king, is controversially taken seriously. Academic film courses include subjects such as horror and pornography. Waters has exhibited at the Andy Warhol Museum. (Warhol, of course, has long been a respected name in art circles.) Critics regard Waters' outrageous 'Pink Flamingos' highly, even if it is part of the trash aesthetic. Directors like Waters did more than pave the way for trash (in every sense of the word). They paved the way for the intellectual deployment of themes and techniques that break down barriers or entertain in new ways. The vulgarity of the vernacular, expertly translated into images, challenging our established feelings: the 'entertainment' value ensures a steady cohort of supporters.

But we cannot judge a film-about-films on the strength of the films it refers to, or even entirely on the merits of its main protagonist. This Filthy World is not a John Waters film: it is a film of him performing a one-man stand-up show. Fortunately he is a charismatic entertainer. His camp sophistication encompasses a delicacy and charm when he discusses the most sordid of scenes. Immaculately groomed and attired, he looks and sounds the epitome of good taste. It is the actual content that you will find hilarious or offensive.

The film does have some shortcomings. Waters is not primarily a stand-up comedian and his monologue, a steady torrent, could be better paced. He talks precisely and quickly, with good enunciation. But from a purely cinematic point of view, a mixed interview format could have brought more contrasts and made for easier viewing. Although not essential, This Filthy World is best appreciated if you have at least a passing acquaintance with his films, whether the old classics like Female Trouble (which has been re-classified by the BBFC, with previous cuts waived) and the landmark Pink Flamingos (which is only available with cuts in the UK), or his more mainstream offerings such as Hairspray (recently re-made by others), Serial Mom, or Cecil B. Demented.

Even if you are new to the films of John Waters,it is hard not to tickled by his explanations of such strange practices as tea-bagging, or the more extreme practice of helicoptering. His creepily gross descriptions evoke shock and laughter in a way that most stand-up comedians today can only envy.

Professor Susan Hayward has said, "Queer camp is about trashing stereotypes with flash and flounce and dress in excess. It is about ridiculing consumer passivity through deliberate vulgarity." Provocative, vulgar and refined all in one, this film is Waters own take on Waters.

For John Waters fans, This Filthy World is essential viewing. As a commentary on his work, it should find a worthy future home as one of the Extra Features in a fully restored boxed-set of his classics.

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7 out of 7 people found the following comment useful :-
A very different concert film, 18 June 2007

Author: Wayne Malin (wwaayynnee51@hotmail.com) from United States

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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4 out of 4 people found the following comment useful :-
John Waters' Fabulous World, 18 April 2007

Author: bowlofsoul23 from Turkey

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

It's really interesting that my favorite movie in the Istanbul Film Festival so far is the least cinematic of them all. Essentially, "This Filthy World" is just a means of taking John Waters' one-man show to people who can't see it otherwise. And thank God for that! (I can just imagine Waters saying that, can't you?) It's not particularly notable for its use of mise-en-scene, music, or art direction. But it's funny as sh*%.

Waters' shtick is well-known, and I love it. I don't care if he did make Serial Mom, I've always loved his movies. I love Polyester, Pink Flamingos, and Female Trouble. Trash as an art and comedic form just seems so naturally funny to me, as do Waters and his acolytes, or shall I say "tramps"? I think he would like that better.

This movie is his one-man show, stories about the films he saw while growing up (many of which I would love to get copies of), the people he grew up with (Divine, Mink Stole, and more), and numerous mis-adventures. He throws in quips about things that bother him, the humor of people in Baltimore (followed by the best line in the movie, quoted from a fellow Baltimorean: "Because you're an asshole!!"), and the growing outlandishness of sexual behavior, even for someone with John Waters' standards, adult diapers anyone? I never would have thought he was so funny on his own but he truly truly is. This is his torch song I guess, and you can tell he's a nice and loyal guy because he rarely has a mean word for anybody, and even his name-dropping in graceful. He's one of the few famous people that I think I would really love to hang out with. He shows us that not having talent or money can not only be cool but is actually a potential for success. That's comforting.

On one last note, I also found it interesting that Waters' favorite director was Joseph Losey. Never in a million years would I have thought of Losey as a candidate, Ed Wood perhaps, or one of the many other loony directors he mentions in the film. Although of all people he can probably appreciate how under-appreciated Losey was and is, his stubborn scrappiness, and even the importance of this quotation from the master director of Monsieur Klein: "Film is a dog: the head is commerce, the tail is art. And only rarely does the tail wag the dog."

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2 out of 2 people found the following comment useful :-
Inside the mind of John Waters, 18 May 2008

Author: lastliberal from Florida

Coincidentally, I saw this one-man show right after watching Trantasia. How appropriate. Getting to know John Waters and his mind was a worthwhile experience.

He talks about how he got started and gives brief discussions on all of his films, interspersed with some of the things that interest him. Believe me, you will find out about things that you never knew existed! It is not a comedy act, just a chance to see some of the things that make Waters tick. Of course, if you are not a Waters fan, it will bore you, but for those who appreciate his art, it was enchanting.

Check it out.

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2 out of 2 people found the following comment useful :-
Out on DVD in UK ----Hilarious!!!!, 26 December 2007

Author: vinylforever from Germany

Well, this is not what others call "a movie", but for me definitely the very best cinema experience of the year (Berlin Filmfestival)! 450 gags within 84 minutes, if you know his movies-- and still 250, if you're a newbie...for me a definite one to-take-onto-the-island!!!!

This stand-up-oneman-show (John Waters about life and his movies) was recorded for netflix, an American online videotheque (who released it exclusively to its customers first) and was released as a regular buy-DVD in the UK in November. It is worth every cent /penny and contains two very entertaining Q&A sessions, that are nearly as long as the feature itself!

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5 out of 9 people found the following comment useful :-
Worth a watch, 16 August 2007

Author: MonkeyPablo from United Kingdom

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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Offensive yet very clever, 19 July 2008

Author: planktonrules from Bradenton, Florida

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.

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