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 Many
months ago, I saw the trailer for Hedwig and the Angry Inch
at a local art-movie theatre. From this, I could tell 2 things. First,
that the film is a rock musical movie in the style of "The Rocky
Horror Picture Show". Second, that the trailer left me feeling
pretty ambivilant about seeing the film. It looked tacky and loud,
and left me with little desire to "GET HED" as the short
so seductively offered. Besides, Tim Curry made a more attractive
woman. The "RHPS" comparisons are clear and fair, but "Hedwig"
turnes out to be a much better movie, story and musical experience.
The title character of Hedwig is a drag queen with one inch remaining
from a botched communist Sexual Reassignment procedure. This is important
to the plot, and you are reminded of it often. Seduced by America
and an American GI, the East Berlin boy who would be Hedwig soon finds
himself abandoned in a Kansas trailer park and left with the only
thing he's ever been sure of: Rock and Roll. From there, our protagonist
slowly builds his/her persona and along the way seduces a teenage
jesus-freak Army Brat. In short time, Tommy abandons poor Hedwig,
taking a bustle of co-written snappy rock tunes with him. Naturally,
the Tiger-Beat-ready teenager quickly finds his way to stardom, stadiums
and Rolling Stone covers. And that's where we find Hedwig in the beginning
of the film: angry, rejected and betrayed; shadowing Tommy around
the country. Hence, the major theme of the story: moving from a place
of confusion and dejection to self-acceptance and forgiveness. Rock
and Roll is the hero of this story. Your empathy with this idea is
where the success and failure of the film will lie with most people.
If you've ever been 16, or 21, or otherwise struggling to "find
yourself" - one could find something in common with the damaged
Hedwig. The story is full of metaphor, parallel and hope. To define
it as "deep" may be overreaching a bit - but it can be touching
and endearing if you're open to it. As well, it's cleverly written
and pretty damn funny. (ex: A Drag Queen leading a band of Vietnamese
Army wives playing Nirvana in a Midwestern Donut Shop?)
Another reason the movie works are the songs. They drive the narrative
and add depth to the characters. They rock. The music of the film
evokes and serves tribute to the 70's: Lou Reed, Richard Hell, David
Bowie, and Elton John. They're melodramatic, bombastic, corny and
melancholy; occasionally all at once. And catchy as all hell. If Bowie's
"Heroes" makes you crumble a bit like it does me, then you'll
appreciate the score. This is a story of Rock Music as saviour, and
the music is as worthy of worship as any rock song. This is the best
of what a Rock Musical could be. It's Andrew Lloyd Webber stuck in
a heroin rut in Berlin with Iggy Pop circa 1977.
The film Hedwig and the Angry Inch is based on the Off-Broadway musical
of the same name. John Cameron Mitchell and Stephen Trask wrote the
play and the music - and were lucky to have the opportunity to bring
their baby to the cineplex and Blockbuster. They did so with great
skill, integrity and affection. There's a cultish following of the
many stage productions that have popped up around the country, and
it's nice to see the movie doesn't alienate those new to the experience
- but rather - embraces them.
The movie "Hedwig" is structured like pop rock as re-defined
by Nirvana: "LOUDsoftLOUDsoftLOUDsoft." It's a manic experience,
mirroring the swings of the main character. The set design is clever
and the cinematography is campy and dramatic in equal parts. Visuals
draw you in with flash and fun, Drama keeps you there with the emotionally
textured performance of playwright/director Mitchell as Hedwig. Drag
performance is all about artifice and playing pretend. Mitchell allows
you to connect with the character beneath the wig and falsies. The
cast is generally strong, but it's the main character that drives
the story.
So, after my lukewarm reaction to the trailer, why did I rent it?
A friend called me and was emphatic about its geeky coolness. He had
the songs stuck in his head for days afterward, and bought the DVD
the day after he rented it. I figured, with a reaction like that,
it was worth a look. And it turns out, it was worth several. I still
hate "GET HED", though. But, I forgive them: I can't think
of a better way of marketing a movie as left-of-center as this.
("Hedwig and the Angry Inch" features man-on-drag-queen
kissing and couple shots of a bare man's ass. Generally, there's pervasive
theme of gender-bending, so if that sort of thing bothers you, don't
rent it.)
IAN,
FEB 02, 2003
 
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They
ain't deep, but -no-one- has commented thus far??? Yeesh...
David
M Rogge Jan 18, 03
Dude,
no one reads this website.
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Tom (NSK) Mar 31 03
In
response to your comment on Tim Curry making a more attractive woman
than John Cameron Mitchell (as Hedwig), I'd like to point out that
no one has the grace and femininity of Mitchell in makeup. In fact,
if I were a guy, I'd want to tap that ass. Tim Curry is amazingly
charismatic in drag, though, so I suppose it depends on whether you
were looking for humour or credibility.
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Roxy March 21 03
You
should check out Velvet Goldmine. As far as homosexual glam rock films
go, it's my favorite. Hedwig was OK but I didn't get cultishly into
it.
http://us.imdb.com/Title?0120879
-jsd-
April 20, 2003
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