Customer Reviews

A Dirty Shame (NC-17 Rated Theatrical Version)

5 star:		(26)
4 star:		(23)
3 star:		(21)
2 star:		(8)
1 star:		(25)

 

 

Don't bother with the R-rated dvd you'll find at most movie store chains. It's awful, with most of the best scenes cut out for whatever reason. Try to find the theatrical release, or just buy it online, well worth the effort if you have a strange sense of humor.

Being an extra on this hysterical film was a true barrel of monkeys. Receiving direction from one of the most notorious cult directors of all-time was quite an experience. A Dirty Shame is yet another twisted Waters' installment from his brilliant and unbelievably retarded mind. Sex addicts run rampant in Hamilton,
a NE Baltimore neighborhood and Johnny Knoxville is the ringleader. This film addresses such sexual fetishes never before spoke of in any previous film. Of course John's most recent films lack the angst of his 70's films, but the fact is
that was nearly 30 years ago and him and his entourage are way past the age of youth rebellion. This is clearly the most outrageous film Mr. Waters' has made since Desperate Living in 1977. Anyone who has been wise to his 70's films will absolutely
enjoy this picture. Folks who are ignorant to Waters' pictures
or those who have never seen one should not see this film without first viewing at least Pink Flamingos(1972) or Female Trouble(1974). A Waters' film you view because OF HIS name. NOT the stars. He is the puppeteer, and they are his marionettes. His recent tango with mainstream cinema and theatre is all well and good but this film proves once again what John Waters' is and will always be.
A Renegade...

Like many John Waters fans, I enjoy his 1970s movies the most. But this one is a lot of fun, and not to be missed. Some say that the last part is overdone, but that's one of his trademarks. Others say that his brand of humor is 30 years out-of-date, but if you like it anyway then see this one.

Before I begn this review, let me say that I love John Waters' films. Especially, the early ones. I feel his best film is "Female Trouble," but all of his films from "Pink Flamingos" up to and including "Hairspray" are great (his pre-"Flamingos" titles, "Mondo Trasho" and "Multiple Maniacs" are rough but have their moments). Then, he made "Cry-Baby" - still very entertaining but a step down from "Hairspray." "Serial Mom" was a step down from "Cry-Baby," for me, but, again, there were great bits. Unfortunately, even though I'm always rooting for Waters, "Pecker" and "Cecil B. Demented" were pretty rotten. So, now he brings us, "A Dirty Shame." The good news is, it's a vast improvment over "Demented" and "Pecker." This is largely due to his strongest cast in years. As much of a novelty as it was to see Kathleen Turner slicing and dicing in "Mom" and Melanie Griffith bitching and cursing in "Demented," those actresses (and others, like Christina Ricci in "Pecker," for example) never quite grasped the way Waters dialogue needed to be played (meaning, really over-the-top and hysterical). However, Tracy Ullmann nails it, milking every scene she's in for maximum comedic value. The rest of the cast is up to par, as well, with Suzanne Shepherd especially standing out in her role as the typical, suburban, outraged prude that Waters frequently writes into his films. The bad news is, it's still a few notches below his greatest work. It's very, very funny for about 35-45 minutes, then it slowly runs out of steam. There is barely a third act to speak of and the payoff is quite weak (the film kinda just stops rather than ending properly). The set-up is great but then it has nowhere to go. However, there a laughs throughout and, even when it begins getting redundant, it manages to coast along on goodwill and energy, so that it is always watchable if not hilarious. So, all in all, I rank this offering as a pretty good return to form. Compared to "Demented," it's genius. Compared to "Female Trouble," it's good to mediocre. For anyone who's never seen a Waters flick, gosh, I don't know how they'll react. Half will love it, half will loathe it, I suspect.

If you want to see the TRUE John Waters VISION you NEED to see the NC-17 version!
The R-rated version was a hatchet job by the MPAA and the studio.
Why is it OK to show people being totured and mutilated in something like Saw but it isnt OK to just have fun?
Please before you pan this movie see the TRUE version, BUY OR RENT THE NC-17 version.

Okay, if you don't know what John Waters' films are like, you'll probably hate this and think it's repulsive filth. If you're familar with his movies, and like them, then you'll enjoy this one as well. In my opinion, Tracey Ullman steals the show. There is one scene in particular where I was laughing so hard I was crying. It's at the old folks home...that's the extent of what I'll say about it. You just have to see it for yourself!

John Waters's films have always been excessive, over-the-top and juvenile. That's most of the fun. However, "A Dirty Shame" suffers from satirical excess and an unrelenting pace that seems forced and overdone. It's laborious instead of fun. The dialogue and script reads like a bemusing encyclopedia of twisted erotic dysfunctions. Tracey Ullman was a good choice, but she's so manic, I wondered if she has a `meth' problem. There were a few moments of inspiration, like the `bears' orgies and the guy who craps in the wrong part of the toilet, but they were few. I suspect this was just a quick mistake for John Waters. The featurette is almost more amusing than the film! I still look forward to his next movie!

I'm a John Waters fan. I was unaware that the R rated version is called the "neuter" version because it has been censored. (Cut scenes and some foul words replaced with more "acceptable" ones.) Now I have to purchase the NC-17 Version to get the true John Waters experience. LOOK CLOSELY AT THE PICTURE, THE R RATED VERSION SAYS "NEUTER VERSION" ON IT!
To add insult to injury, IT WAS MORE EXPENSIVE!

Pure disappoointment. I do not know how John Waters has allowed this "Neuter Version" to be made available to the viewing public.
This is a "Clean Version", almost to the point of many scenes being completely overdubbed with "Neuter" dialogue, and some scenes even deleted. This defeats the purpose of John Waters movies. If you don't like crude and obscene, DON'T watch a John Waters movie. This is a joke, and is nothing compared to the brilliant uncut theatrical version. Avoid this "Neuter Version" at ALL costs.

I enjoyed A Dirty Shame. It is certainly a John Waters film
which meants it isn't going to appeal to a broad audience (and
probably wasn't intended to!) for a variety of reasons, good
and bad.

The premise is that people who have are knocked on the head
and receive concussions become sex addicts. Tracey Ullman
plays Sylvia who is knocked on the head. Chris Isaak has a relatively small role as her husband. Johnny Knoxville is fun as the leader of the sex addicts and Selma Blair plays the daughter of Tracey Ullman and Chris Isaak. She has also suffered from a concussion and is performing as Ursula Udders in a strip club. She is equipped with gigantic prosthetic breasts.
The film is raunchy, and full of naughty language and
simulated sex acts.

It confronts religious extremists and others who oppose
diversity, tolerance, and respect for others. This film is a
real treat for those of us familiar with Baltimore. Harford
Road is a real street and some of the places in the film
really exist.

This is a really well put together film. The songs selected
for the soundtrack are truly amazing. And the use of
erotically shaped trees and shrubs provide a wonderful
atmosphere for a sex comedy.

The greatest appeal for this film is John Waters fans and
those who are fed up with the extremist politics of the religious
right.