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Showgirls [Region 2] | ![Showgirls [Region 2]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41SHVKYC53L._SL500_.jpg) | Director: Paul Verhoeven
Actors: Elizabeth Berkley, Kyle MacLachlan, Gina Gershon, Glenn Plummer, Robert Davi
Category: DVD
Buy Used: $33.30
as of 3/21/2010 04:42 EDT details
Seller: valleycd
Rating:  276 reviews
Sales Rank: 296203
Format: PAL
Language: German (Original Language)
Rating: R (Restricted)
Region: 2
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
EAN: 4012050532888
ASIN: B00004RYES
Theatrical Release Date: September 22, 1995
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Amazon.com
When Goldie Hawn recommended Elizabeth Berkley for a small role in First Wives Club, she publicly stated that Berkley deserved the opportunity to redeem herself after starring in the ridiculous Showgirls. That says it all: this sleazy, stupid movie, which mixes soft pornography with the clichés of backstage dramas, is the kind of project an aspiring actress would have to put well behind her to keep a career going (though costar Gina Gershon certainly benefited from her, uh, exposure in the film). Berkley plays a drifter who hitches a ride to Las Vegas, becomes a lap dancer and then a performer, and discovers--gasp!--there's a whole world of sex and violence involved with these things. Gershon is probably the best element in the film, playing Berkley's bisexual rival for the big spotlight on stage. Joe Eszterhas was well overpaid for writing this howler, and director Paul Verhoeven (Basic Instinct) should have known better than to take it seriously. --Tom Keogh
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Showing reviews 1-5 of 276
 Oh, my! Goldie Hawn hates it? March 1, 2010
J. T. Larcade (United States)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I saw this whole movie on my tee-vee without once disgustedly grabbing the remote to angrily look for something else to watch, or even thinking of it. From beginning to end, it was what I have to call a kick-a** entertaining movie: The plot, the action, the acting, the heroine, her rival, the nice-best-friend, the pacing, the originality of everything in it including the approach to cliches. Everything, I guess, except the wannabe club choreographer who seemed only included to broaden the panorama for audiences, but he didn't get in the way too much either. In a "serious" movie, that artsy loser character would have dominated the story, I've seen it happen. There was nothing in "Showgirls" for the viewer to endure in the way of cringe-inducing scenes of men forcing repulsive intimacies on women, sickening and protracted, with the woman pathetically just taking it, as you see in so many "serious" movies. The one horrible scene of force was dramatically significant, anything but gratuitous, and played exactly right, no more or less than what it is, no crawl-under-your-chair prolonged nastiness for shock's sake by a sadistic self-admiring director, as would be the case in a "serious" movie containing such a scene. The retribution for the crime wasn't enough, but it never is, and it was a lot more than we usually get--and probably all our heroine could reasonably get away with. This movie had no tonsil-boxing with amplified slurping noises--I cannot sit through any scene that has that--and gee, I wonder how the director resisted being "serious" by having a slam-up-against-the-wall, groping gasping upright sex scene? No wonder some people just find the movie ridiculous! It lacked so many tired hallmarks of Good Cinema.
Now to the acting: fantastic, Oscars to everyone! The two main (women) characters were great, their lines and interaction fascinating, beautifully subtle, well-written and wonderfully delivered. Nomi's smile right before she let fly with her "reply" to that hypocrite she was having the affair with: PRICELESS! Would that I could smile exactly like that when I'm that hurt and mad. Putting myself in the shoes of the snot-nosed recipient of Nomi's menacing smile in that scene, I quake in my socks, and so should he have. Oh yeah, and the casting was 110%. Everybody rocked, nobody was even one hair off. Another hallmark of the averagely accepted "serious" movie is to miscast for the roles as much as possible, just making sure all the biggies in the business get to be in it, suitable or not. In fact, unsuitable is often better. It's so cool and exclusive to do that. We love looking up to exclusivity. Biggies in the business love looking DOWN FROM exclusivity (Ms. Goldie Hawn and whoever else) at others.
"Showgirls," the whole nudy, soft-porny movie simply was not revolting to me, was the opposite of that, and I'm having a tough time trying to pinpoint why that is. The sheer military-commando physical condition of Nomi Malone in the notorious NC-17 signature scene was more jaw-dropping than shocking. So was the whole fun movie. I'm giving it 5 stars to try and counterbalance a fraction of the pompous snots who hate it just because they think they are supposed to.
Bad Movie, But Great Trash December 22, 2009
Dr. O'Boogie
It's hard to believe that Dutch director Paul Verhoeven actually had serious intentions when making this film. I can only guess that the Duch must have a very different sense of humor to not "get" the joke with this film. Or Verhoven just simply blindly accepted whatever screenwriter Joe Eszterhas threw at him in light of the success they both had with Basic Instinct. No matter, if you love "so bad, they're good" films, you'll love this. With it's over-emphasis on sex and nudity along with some of the most enept and over-the-top dialogue you've ever heard, you can't help but be entertained.
The story is simple, out-of-town girl (Berkley) comes to Las Vegas to try and get in as a big league showgirl dancer. Only she ends up finding out that the backstage politics are a little more than what she was prepared for. She encounters the pressures to sell herself, backstab and suck-up (almost literally) to get ahead. As stupid and ridiculous as the plot is, it's really not that far off from reality. Back in the 80's, I dated a girl in San Diego that once worked as a showgirl in Vegas and she told me some pretty hairaising stories much like what you see here.
The acting is about as bad as the dialogue, campy, over-the-top and I love it! We see Berkley taking her frustrations out by violently squirting ketchup on her french-fries! I didn't think that was possible, but she can do it! About the only casting that's smart here is Gina Gershon who plays the illustrious and egocentric bisexual Cristal Connors, the "star" of the show, who considers all the other dancers as merely hand-maidens. She plays it like some evil intergalactic queen in a bad sci-fi movie. Of course Gershon is a natural at playing Wicked Wandas with those glaring eyes and crooked diabolical grin. Somehow I think she knew exactly what kind of film this was going to end up being, because she plays it to the hilt.
The film is without a doubt destined to be a cult classic along with Rocky Horror and Beyond the Vally of the Dolls. The DVD here is pretty much the same that came out earlier only without the shot glasses, the "pin the pasties on the showgirl" game etc. An audio commentary with Showgirls fan and documentarian David Schmader is included. Only beef is no deleted scenes, and we know they exist. Calling Criterion please!
So go out and pick this up, watch it and stick it in the movie shelf next to The Defilers, Rocky Horror, Linda Lovelace for President and whatever "good trash" cinema you have have!
Showgirls...Schmowgirls!! September 18, 2009
Pen Tameter
I first saw this film at the Theatre about 14 years ago. It has lost none of its "appeal" over time. Kyle Maclaghlin gives a particularly "wooden" performance, following his success in "Twin Peaks"!! ... and before "Desperate Housewives"??!!
One Of The Best Comedies I've Ever Seen! July 30, 2009
YJM (Somewhere In The South)
1 out of 5 found this review helpful
Okay, so I just saw this movie again tonight for the first time in many years, inspiring this review. I have never laughed so hard in my life. What's interesting is I don't believe this film was supposed to be a comedy, but it sure turned out that way.
First of all Elizabeth Berkley's performance is classic, timeless, and will go down in history as one of the worst ever committed to the big screen. She is anything but pretty, tall and lanky with a horse face to boot. In every single scene she is angry and storming out of someplace. I have never seen a character as consistently mad in a movie as this one. I'm not talking a little mad, I'm talking swearing like a sailor (actually she would make a sailor blush), punching and pushing people around, and causing a scene! You want to see what a typical neurotic, crazy American woman is like, this is your movie! She is so whacked out her issues have issues.
Some of my favorite moments:
1. Her lap dance scene with Kyle MacLachlan, it's the stuff of nightmares, and humor.
2. Her pool sex scene is butt gusting funny as you watch this woman flop around as though she's having an epileptic seizure. Even the guy she is with (again Kyle MacLachlan) seems genuinely concerned and confused watching her.
3. Her dance scene with a character named James is also the stuff of nightmares, but also funny.
4. Any scene where she is shoving a hamburger down her throat, and there are many of these. Stripper with a heart of gold who loves fast food burgers!
5. Basically any scene where she is dancing will induce side splitting laughter. Watching this woman pout her horseface trying to act sexy while thrusting her pelvis with such force you think she's going to throw her hip out, is a sight to see!
6. The scene with her and Gina Gershon's character having lunch together discussing how much they like dog food and which brand they like. The scene started out with Gina Gershon's character questioning whether Nomi likes brown rice and vegetables and then moves on to a discussion about dog food.
If you've avoided this film because of all the negative reviews you owe it to yourself to watch it at least one time. It's the perfect film to watch if you're down and out, or depressed, because you will find yourself laughing so hard that by the end of the movie you'll feel much better. Elizabeth Berkley was in some 80's sitcom that I never watched, but I'm thinking if she was as funny (unintentionally that is) in those I need to seem them! Saved By The Bell I believe. This movie destroyed whatever career she might have had. I will give Elizabeth Berkley credit, because if it were me in that lead role I would have committed suicide out of shame.
One of the greatest movies ever July 7, 2009
Kelsey
6 out of 8 found this review helpful
I was at the VHS section of Hollywood Video and saw this movie covered in dust, along with all the other VHS tapes. I thought it was weird because VHS tapes are the latest technology! Anyway, I didn't hesitate to rent this because it was very critically acclaimed and is generally considered one of the greatest films of all-time. The dude at the cash register laughed and said, "This is one of the worst movies ever!" and suggested me some Godfather crap. I told him that I liked movies like SuperBabies: Baby Geniuses 2, Disaster Movie and From Justin To Kelly. He stopped laughing for some reason. So I get home and pop Showgirls into my VHS player and I'm blown away! The unpredictable plot, tasteful use of nudity and good acting really made me wonder why this movie hasn't won Oscars! Recommended for all.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 276
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