Movies - Showgirls

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	Movies - Showgirls

Showgirls is a film directed by Paul Verhoeven and released in 1995 by United Artists. It starred former teen actress Elizabeth Berkley (Saved by the Bell) as a drifter who wanders into Las Vegas and climbs the social ladder from stripper to showgirl. The film was hoped to be a huge success for the film studio, its directors, and stars. Significant controversy and hype about the film's seemingly gratuitous amounts of sex and nudity preceded the film's release. In the U.S., the finally released film was rated NC-17 for "nudity and erotic sexuality throughout, and for some graphic language and sexual violence."

Tagline: Leave your inhibitions at the door. The show is about to begin.

Plot

Sexy and mysterious (if temperamental) Nomi (Berkley) hitchhikes into Las Vegas, but everything she owns is stolen by her driver. While Nomi is vomiting on the side of a car, the car's owner, Molly, a seamstress, confronts her. After talking and discovering Nomi does not have any family, Molly takes her in, helping to get her a job as a stripper at the seedy Cheetah Club. One night Nomi accompanies Molly backstage at Goddess, the Vegas show at the Stardust where Molly is costume mistress. Nomi meets Cristal Conners (Gina Gershon), the irritable star of the show. When Nomi tells Cristal that she, too, is a dancer, Cristal tells Nomi what she does is akin to prostitution.

The next evening Cristal and her boyfriend (and entertainment manager at the Stardust) Zach (Kyle MacLachlan) visit the Cheetah where they pay Nomi US$500 for a lap dance. It turns out that Cristal is bisexual, and Nomi does not want to do the private dance for fear it will prove her to be the prostitute Cristal called her. Nomi later discovers Cristal has arranged for her to have an audition as an ensemble dancer in Goddess. When Nomi is told to remove her bra for the audition, she is upset about that, even though she obviously knows that this is an audition for a topless Vegas show. When Nomi gets the job, she quits her stripping and erotic dancing job. Soon Nomi is flirting with Zach, and eventually, in an attempt to get ahead, Nomi pushes Cristal down a flight of stairs, injuring her badly and sending her to the hospital. Nomi ends up getting Cristal's lead in the show. Nomi also seduces Zach for outdoor sexual intercourse in a swimming pool.

However, at the opening night party, Molly is brutally raped by so-called famous musician Andrew Carver and his two security guards. When Nomi confronts Zach, she is told that they will give Molly some money to "open a little dress shop," and essentially keep quiet. Their primary interest is in protecting their high-profile celebrity client. Zach then presents Nomi with the truth he has discovered: that she is actually a runaway and former prostitute who has been arrested several times. Nomi, confronted with her seedy past (but also frightened at who she has become and what lies ahead), flees Las Vegas (but not before attacking and clouting Andrew Carver with her boots), hoping to try her luck in Los Angeles instead.

Reaction

The film's subject matter was relatively controversial, but relevant: rape, lesbianism, and interracial relationships were just some of the topics explored. However, the frequent and gratuitous nudity and simulated sex in the film, and the writing (the screenplay was written by previously-successful Joe Eszterhas, who had worked with Paul Verhoeven before, and who reportedly received US$1 million for the script), did not lend itself to what might have been an enthralling film. Instead the film was heralded as one of the worst ever written, winning 6 1995 Golden Raspberry Awards. Kyle MacLachlan walked out of the movie's premiere, during which he was allegedly heard exclaiming "I thought this was an art movie." Paul Verhoeven gamely appeared in person at the Razzies ceremony to accept his "award" for Worst Director. Some other lowly films have been described as "Showgirls-bad".

The film essentially sealed the acting fate of actress Elizabeth Berkley, whose most notable appearance since has been a supporting part in the film The First Wives Club
. Somehow, however, Gershon managed to survive the scourge of the film, going on to moderate acting success.

[ Visit the complete Wikipedia entry for Showgirls ]

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Movies - Showgirls

Plot

Reaction

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