Staff Picks: Drop Dead Gorgeous
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Dir. Michael Patrick Jann
1999, USA, 98 min
Rated 14A
In a small Minnesota town, the annual beauty pageant is being covered by a TV crew. Former winner Gladys Leeman wants to make sure her daughter follows in her footsteps; explosions, falling lights, and trailer fires prove that. As the Leemans are the richest family in town, the police are pretty relaxed about it all. Despite everything, main rival (but sweet) Amber Atkins won’t give up without a fight.
Bringing together award-winners and future stars such as Kirsten Dunst, Ellen Barkin, Denise Richards, Kirstie Alley, Allison Janney, Brittany Murphy, and Amy Adams, Drop Dead Gorgeous is an endlessly-quotable black comedy that revels in lampooning small-town Americana, feminine rituals, and documentary conventions.
“There is a profound and unlikely sweetness to the performances in Drop Dead Gorgeous that transforms the material of the script into something resembling the performance of femininity itself. It is offensive, for sure—completely awful, really, and possibly deadly. It is also irreplaceable, hilarious, surprisingly tender, and lavishly, magnificently absurd.” – Jia Tolentino, The New Yorker
Content warning: This film contains scenes with outdated and offensive language. Viewer discretion is advised.
Join us for our Staff Picks series, where our Winnipeg Film Group staff select and introduce new and old favourites. This month’s selection was chosen by Cinematheque projectionist Sharyn Gutierrez. Generously sponsored by IATSE 856 Manitoba.
1999, USA, 98 min
Rated 14A
In a small Minnesota town, the annual beauty pageant is being covered by a TV crew. Former winner Gladys Leeman wants to make sure her daughter follows in her footsteps; explosions, falling lights, and trailer fires prove that. As the Leemans are the richest family in town, the police are pretty relaxed about it all. Despite everything, main rival (but sweet) Amber Atkins won’t give up without a fight.
Bringing together award-winners and future stars such as Kirsten Dunst, Ellen Barkin, Denise Richards, Kirstie Alley, Allison Janney, Brittany Murphy, and Amy Adams, Drop Dead Gorgeous is an endlessly-quotable black comedy that revels in lampooning small-town Americana, feminine rituals, and documentary conventions.
“There is a profound and unlikely sweetness to the performances in Drop Dead Gorgeous that transforms the material of the script into something resembling the performance of femininity itself. It is offensive, for sure—completely awful, really, and possibly deadly. It is also irreplaceable, hilarious, surprisingly tender, and lavishly, magnificently absurd.” – Jia Tolentino, The New Yorker
Content warning: This film contains scenes with outdated and offensive language. Viewer discretion is advised.
Join us for our Staff Picks series, where our Winnipeg Film Group staff select and introduce new and old favourites. This month’s selection was chosen by Cinematheque projectionist Sharyn Gutierrez. Generously sponsored by IATSE 856 Manitoba.
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