Favorite John Waters Film

[DodgingGrunge]

In honor of the theatrical release of the musical version of Hairspray, starring one John Travolta in a fat suit, I've decided to see where we stand on the real works of the Prince of Puke, John Waters.

There are bad movies and then, well, there are John Waters movies.  It certainly requires a certain kind of sophistication to fully appreciate the sapid tastelessness of his trashy satires.  I was exposed to Pink Flamingos in my grammar school days and as such I attribute most of my social malformations to his genius.  If I'm prodded to choose a favorite (which I guess I am since I am starting this thread...), I'd have to go with Multiple Maniacs.  This black and white monstrosity is delightfully blasphemous, offensive, and riotously funny.  And Lobstora certainly doesn't hurt its appeal.

[youtube=319,263]http://youtube.com/watch?v=RWmbwJ_iyzc

[lester1/2jr]

I really liked pink flamingoes.  But I haven't seen alot of them.  dirty shame was underrated I think "let's go sexin!"

[AnubisVonMojo]

I just watched Female Trouble last week and enjoyed the Hell out of it. 

[RCMerchant]

SERIAL MOM,by default because,well,it's the only one I have seen all of,and not just parts. But I enjoyed it! And I really would like to see his others,mostly the notorious PINK FLAMINGOS.

  Oh...just watched the clip...did a giant lobster just do the hibbity -jibbity with a transvestite? Or did I die and go to hell? YIKES!!!!
I don't know whether to laff or...puke.     

[The Burgomaster]

I voted for PINK FLAMINGOS, but MULTIPLE MANIACS is a close 2nd place.  I still need to see a few of his movies like SERIAL MOM and PECKER, but I've seen most of the others.

[mrgb46]

For me,it's Polyester,Cry-Baby and Serial Mom.I've seen Pink Flamingos,but I don't think I could watch it again because I would know what to expect.I rented it,knowing what kind of movie it was,but my girlfriend didn't and to this day,it gives her nightmares.I could do without seeing Divine eating dog s**t again.No thanks! I appreciate and respect what Waters set out to do,but one time was enough for me....Hairspray was good.I'd rather watch the original than see the remake with Travolta in a fat suit.There's only one Edna Turnblat and her name is Divine!!!!

[Allhallowsday]

To me, there are two John Waters, first, the supertrash auteur he was, particularly in films like MULTIPLE MANIACS (great clip!  revolting, disgusting, disturbing, hilarious...I got a sweet tooth for that crap...) and PINK FLAMINGOS, FEMALE TROUBLE...
Then, starting with POLYESTER, which is not nearly as radical as the earlier films (despite "Smellovision" ) Waters became a more mainstream filmmaker with HAIRSPRAY, CRY BABY, even SERIAL MOM, to the point where PECKER is remarkably free of the trash and cheese, though the influence is apparent and it is inherently silly, it's surprisingly introspective, has no real shocks, and still manages to be an edgy John Waters movie. 

I feel like I should be able to vote for two!  I really like several of those early films (can't believe I wrote "like") but, I'm voting for HAIRSPRAY because I really love that movie and the wonderful music selections.  Unlike so many 80s movies these are not just nostalgic, but are relevant to the film, and several are rediscoveries, forgotten and dusted off by JW. 

[DodgingGrunge]

John Waters is my hero.  Truly.  I was first exposed to his works as an impressionable (and under-supervised) ten-year-old.  Since then, I've read all of his books, even gone so far as to drive 14 hours (roundtrip) in a single day just to see him speak.  I debated getting my first ever copy of Pink Flamingos autographed, but I opted just to shake his hand and thank him instead.

I agree with Allhallowsday (and I think most fans would), that there are really two eras of Watersdom, and each are impressive in their own right.  Personally, I tend to skew to his earlier works because of the damaging (and strengthening) affects they had on my character, sense of humor, and overall identity.  While most kids struggled to imitate the behaviors and attitudes of established cliques, I learned the value of independence and originality.  And really, when other kids admire astronauts and presidents and your idol happens to be a 300+ lbs transvestite, there really isn't much choice. 

I also credit his early works with helping me understand allegory and metaphor.  English teachers will take students through rote interpretations of Of Mice and Men, but it seems many people never get it on any meaningful level.  The tree symbolizes life, OK, great.  But take a movie like Female Trouble.  At face value, you have an exploitative picture about Dawn Davenport, an overweight single mother and petty criminal, made famous through a series of photographs chronically her atrociously amoral acts.  Not exactly your typical "lesson learned" story.  But underneath the explicit facade, you have an insightful (and in many ways prophetic) statement about the phenomena of celebrity criminals.  While our society is quick to condemn the acts of Charles Manson, Paris Hilton, etc., the rampant media indulgence can't work fast enough to satiate our curiosity.  Waters' films aren't glorifications of taboo, they merely use taboo to dress difficult and profound implications about ourselves.

Or so says I.  Andrew (and others) will maintain a different position on the subject.  One more along the lines of, "That's great, but eating dog sh!t is eating dog sh!t.  Entertainment is a dish best served dookie free."    To each his own, right?

[Scott]

I really have to take a second look at all of the John Waters films. Saw parts of his films during the 80's and wasn't that crazy about them back then. Only two I've seen all the way through and

Polyester (scratch and sniff in the theater was fun. I remember it the most.)
Hairspray (seen parts of it)
Pink Flamingos (seen parts of it)
Cecil B. DeMented (watch the whole thing and liked it.)

[zombiedudeman]

I have the John Waters boxset, so far seen Pink Flamingos and Female Trouble, Pink is my favorite cause the whole concept is hilarious, one of the sleaziest films ever 

[Ash]

I chose Serial Mom because it's the only John Waters film I've seen in its entirety.
You've gotta love Kathleen Turner as a psycho mom!

Beverly's Prank Call
(not safe for work!)
[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCR7WZkXVMA

[RCMerchant]

I saw part of an interview with Waters on on of those Sunday Morning news shows...you know...the 'feel good' shows that show clips of seagulls and sh!t before the commercial breaks? Jeez...how times have changed. Once it woulda been a guy like Jimmy Stewart,or Burl Ives ....John Freakin' Waters! Haha.

[Torgo]

Pink Flamingos.

I still don't think that that film has ever been topped for sheer audacity and poor taste.

[RapscallionJones]

Pink Flamingos.

I still don't think that that film has ever been topped for sheer audacity and poor taste.

I'd say Meet The Feebles is up there in the higher tiers with it, but then again, that one doesn't have anyone eating dog s**t.

I'm going to have to go with an underdog.  I'm a big fan of Hairspray.  It was the first movie Waters made in 6 years and showed that he had learned a few things about telling a story.  It's MUCH tamer than anything before and after it but it's also really funny and I love the music.  Never saw the musical and I'm not sure how I feel about this remake.  Is it even a remake or is it an adaptation of the broadway show?

[Raffine]

Is it even a remake or is it an adaptation of the broadway show?

It's an adaptation of the Broadway musical.

MULTIPLE MANIACS ("You are all part of the plot to deliberately get on my nerves!" is a line I use often) and DESPERATE LIVING  are very high on my Waters scale, but I think FEMALE TROUBLE is Waters' masterpiece. There are so many hilarious lines terrific performances from the old Dreamland crew, and Divine's Dawn Davenport is one of my favorite performance in any film. Few film comedians since the days of the silents has had such a hilariously expressive face. The look Dawn gives the girl for ratting her out for "eating a meatball sandwich right out in class!" still cracks me up.

Funny: the only early film of his I'm not a big fan of (and I've seen MONDO TRASHO  ) is PINK FLAMINGOS.

Other than SERIAL MOM and HAIRSPRAY I'm not a huge fan of Waters' post-POLYESTER films. What is screamingly funny coming from Edith Massey or Mink Stole just doesn't work for me when it's Melanie Griffith or Christina Ricci.