Showgirls (1995)
Directed by Paul Verhoeven
The notion that this is a “so bad it’s good,” “unintentionally funny” campy fiasco is the kind of smug common wisdom that’s based on a lack of imagination, herd mentality and ignorance. No one with any appreciation for the genius ironies of Verhoeven films like Robocop or Starship Troopers should fail to see that the same wit and sophistication (abetted, as in Basic Instinct, by Joe Eszterhas’s sleaze poetry) are fully functioning, and intentional, in this deadpan-outrageous portrait of a hooker-turned-dancer (Elizabeth Berkley) in glittering sham city Las Vegas. Shower it with Razzies all you want, chuckleheads—Showgirls is smarter than you. Justin Stewart (Apr 19, 26 at Nitehawk)
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