Customer Reviews

Heidi Fleiss: Hollywood Madam

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

It is awful difficult to summarize my reaction to this film. On one hand, it was thoroughly entertaining. On the other, I don't feel like I have any better understanding of what went on in the world of Heidi Fleiss.

From the entertaining perspective... step aside Ms. Fleiss. Madam Alex and Ivan fighting absolutely takes the cake. They act like two 5 year olds as the fight back and forth about who screwed whom out of the hollywood hooker business. One has to wonder how Ivan was able to direct a number of television shows and film after watching him in this.

On another entertaining front... the mysterious man "Cookie." Who was he? Is he real? The interview with Porn Star Tina was interesting. She genuinely shut down the second his name was mentioned.

On the other side, Heidi comes off as being very sympathetic. I mean, what girl is given $1,000,000 as a 21st birthday present, and then runs off to become a leading madam? She was very interesting, but not fully explored. I still don't feel like I have any sense of what made her tick.

Overall, I enjoyed the film. I do feel that I wanted to hear more about people that were her clients. I felt I wanted to know more about how the operation worked. Ultimately the documentary sort of digressed to the lowest level by centering on the three-way fight between Madam Alex, Ivan & Heidi. Worth watching... but not too enlightening.

A straightforward and distinct look into some twisted and singed people. I've never before seen a documentary that so accurately answers the question: But what are they really like? This is especially impressive in the shadow of the fact that the subjects don't always seem to be able to answer this question for themselves.

Nick Broomfield, director, delves as deep as possible to bring to light some of the mysteries of Heidi. He actually spends very little time talking to Heidi, which is somewhat dissapointing. However, Broomfield does make contact with many of her associates as well as her mother. The interviews are all very interesting,the characters seedy enough to really give you the full picture. This movie is a great inside look at the business end of law/escorting relations. The mood is fast-paced and the chance of seeing Heidi keeps you on the edge... END

Anyone from the mid '90's would remember when the story broke that Hollywood's "Black Book" could be exposed when young "Madame" Heidi Fleiss was arrested for pandering to the "Millionaire Row" of Hollywood's elite.

Nick Broomfield's BBC documentary gives you insight into the three major players in this scandal;Heidi Fleiss,film director and boyfriend Ivan Nagy and former Hollywood Madame Head,Madame Alex.Everyone has their own versions of the events,NATURALLY.They all may be lying and they all may be telling some version of the "truth".You will gain some insight, but the documentary is extremely repetitive in it's information and interviews and ultimately quite dull.

A interesting view into the seedy world of prostitution, slimy pimps and the lies and dysfunction that is part of that world. It gives a good overview of what Heidi Fleiss is about. It was very interesting to view her parents and background which to the trained eye, explains how she ended up being who she was. Entertaining and well done.

Never got any clear cut picture of what really went down with Heidi's operation.Still parts of was entertaining.

I loved the intellectual twist to this documentary by British director Nick Broomfield! In an earlier review, escorts were mentioned, but Heidi was in no way connected to the escort business, although some of the clients were the same. She did direct referrals, like Madam Alex.

As someone who could care less about the write and wrongs of the issue, I was fascinated by the brutally honest interviews he managed to get as well as the protrayal of his own reation to these people. After watching this documentary about Heidi's hellish relationships, I was very thankful for the simple, honest, and decent people in my life.

This is a very good documentary. I like how Nick Broomfield got right in and said what he wanted when he wanted. It was very entertaning and funny at some moments. I really liked the home movies of how Heidi really is.

Nick Broomfield professes a journalistic style you either like or hate. He works not unlike Michael Moore, apparently bursting unexpectedly into places with his crew, and you never know how much he manipulates you. In this case the style serves its purpose well. The viewers are allowed to catch a glimpse of the "reverse side" of Hollywood, where dreams might well turn into nightmares. Some protagonists get occasions to air their views ... I could not say they smell like roses (neither protagonists nor views). But the apparent spontaneity of their comments makes you feel that you get some insight into the more sordid corners of Southern California.