Review of Showgirls (1995) by Parker M — 27 Jun 2010

2: The advertising campaign for Showgirls was spectacular. I think it probably made every teenage boy and young male in America want to see the picture. I was one of them. It's one of the only advertising campaigns from that time period that comes immediately to mind, apart from Terminator II and maybe Jurassic Park.

The film itself isn't that great of course. I don't think its nearly as bad as the critics of the day made it out to be though. There is of course a large amount of nudity, but it's definitely nothing shocking to me at this point, especially after seeing films like "In the Realm of the Senses" and "Caligula", among others.

Elizabeth Berkeley's performance is interesting to say the least. There is absolutely nothing subtle or nuanced about it. I'd say this is why most critics disliked the film so much, but I also feel choosing an actress like her - who is known for being a wholesome teenage star in a wholesome television series - was vital to the films allure, if not to its effectiveness.

It's a gaudy and overdone spectacle that doesn't measure up to Verhoeven's better work, I'm thinking of films like Black Book, Basic Instinct, Total Recall, and Starship Troopers. However, it is in no way inconsistent with his oeuvre.

I'd even go so far as to say it's a somewhat valuable addition that will be looked upon slightly more favorably in the future.