Cecil B. Demented (2000) is a darkly comic cult film written and directed by John Waters. It stars Melanie Griffith, Stephen Dorff, Alicia Witt, Adrian Grenier, Michael Shannon, and Maggie Gyllenhaal. The title (which is also Dorff's character's name) is a play on the name of famous director Cecil B. DeMille. The film is loosely based on the 1974 kidnapping of Patty Hearst and, like many of Waters' films, was shot in Baltimore, Maryland. The film was given a limited release in US cinemas on August 11, 2000.
The film centers on a Hollywood starlet who is kidnapped by a gang of bizarre filmmakers who force her to star in their underground film.
For her role in the film, Melanie Griffith was nominated for Worst Actress at the 2000 Golden Raspberry Awards.
Plot
Hollywood A-List actress Honey Whitlock (Melanie Griffith) is a famous star whose public persona is that of a sweet and considerate woman, but who, in reality, is demanding and mean. While in Baltimore to attend a movie premiere, Honey is kidnapped by the manic film director, Cecil B. Demented (Stephen Dorff), and his band of misfit, Andy Warhol-worshipping artists who have branded themselves "kamikaze filmmakers," going by the group name "SprocketHoles."
Alternate theatrical poster
Honey is introduced to Cecil's eccentric friends (who also act as his film crew) and is taken to an abandoned movie theater, where she's kept captive. Cecil's crew of outlandish followers include a porno star, a gay truck driver, and a Satanist, among others. Cecil explains that he wants to make his masterpiece movie ("I have a vision!") and needs Honey to star as the film's lead. Honey first resists and shoots scenes with no emotion, but Cecil slowly coaxes her into relaxing and truly acting.
As Honey seems to become more comfortable with her situation, she watches a special on TV discussing her disappearance. Persons who knew her are interviewed and come clean about how mean-spirited she truly was. Honey now realizes that her desire to escape would only lead her back to Hollywood, where she is hated for being rude. She decides to finish the film no matter what and declares herself "Demented forever," burning a brand into her arm and officially joining the motley crew.
Cecil, Honey and the crew run around the city, filming movie scenes at real (unapproved) locations, often involving innocent bystanders in the process. Some shooting locations turn into shootouts with police, with crew members getting shot. At the climax, Cecil is shooting the final scene while law enforcement are alerted. He asks Honey to light her hair on fire for the final shot (which she does) before setting himself completely ablaze as police arrive.
Reception
As with most of Waters' work, the film polarized critics. While one half considered it to be a subversive cult masterpiece, others claimed the screenplay and direction were sloppy.
Roger Ebert gave the film 1.5 stars out of four, remarking that it was like "a home movie [with] a bunch of kids goofing off"[1], while others such as Peter Travers of Rolling Stone said "DeMented is Waters the way we like him -- spiked with laughs and served with a twist".[2]
The review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reported that 51% of critics gave Cecil B. Demented positive reviews, based on 77 reviews[3] Metacritic reported the film had an average score of 57 out of 100, based on 32 reviews.[4]
The film was screened out of competition at the 2000 Cannes Film Festival.[5]
Pop culture & film references
All of Cecil's followers in the film don tattoos on their bodies of various avant garde and influential film directors: Cecil himself has a tattoo of Otto Preminger on his left forearm; Cherish has a tattoo of infamous pop artist Andy Warhol on her thigh; Lyle has Hershell Gordon Lewis on his chest; Pam has Sam Peckinpah on her left arm; Chardonnay has Spike Lee on her stomach; Lewis has David Lynch on his knuckles; Fidget has William Castle on his chest; and Raven has Kenneth Anger on her chest; among others.
There are various references to these filmmakers throughout the film as well. Controversial Italian director Pier Pasolini is mentioned during one of Cecil's speeches, as well as being referenced in a scene in Cecil's movie, in which a "Pier Pasolini festival" is taking place at an arthouse cinema. The entire crew also worships and prays to Andy Warhol in one scene.
Cecil B. Demented is also featured as a character in the track "Ursula Kim" by Russian IDM/Alternative Rap crossover act 2H Company, released on their debult album in 2004.
Cast
Cameos
See also
References
External links
