Prime Video: Ravaged by critics upon release, this film is a misunderstood masterpiece

In Hollywood, industrial accidents are not forgiven. Filmmakers see their careers go up in smoke, but often the movie stars pay a high price. Many will never recover. This is the case of Elizabeth Berkeley.

In 1995, the actress, who appeared in the TV series Saved by the Gong, is the hero of the $45 million major production: Showgirls. After the smashing success of Basic Instinct, Paul Verhoeven directs this satirical drama that follows the journey of Nomi Maloney, a young woman who dreams of becoming a dancer. To do this, he goes to the city of all excesses: Las Vegas.

An outrageous, provocative and absurd film explodes the codes of Hollywood cinema. The director, known for his sultry works, is aiming for the heart of the American entertainment industry. In ShowgirlsThe world of the stage is as bright an arena as it is dangerous. All shots are allowed without morale.

The extreme character of this world, Paul Verhoeven uses it in his staging, very picturesque and in the games of his interpreters. on the screen Elizabeth Berkeley He puts all his energy and anger into an over-the-top hero, at the risk of appearing a caricature. This risky style, which turns bad taste into its power, will put the fate of the film in jeopardy.

critical and commercial disaster, Showgirls It grossed only $20 million in the United States. The feature film was immediately ridiculed upon its release. The following year, it won 7 Razzie Awards – an award ceremony that honors the “worst films of the year”. Elizabeth Berkley gets Worst Actor, as for Paul Verhoeven, he’ll be coming to get the statue back himself.

Twenty-seven years later, Showgirls continues to get people talking, the only difference being that it is now receiving praise from many critics and business professionals like Quentin Tarantino. The transgressive drama has been rehabilitated many times through university essays or documentaries such as You Don’t Nomi, which recounts Elizabeth Berkeley’s journey. A true disaster or an avant-garde masterpiece, the only way to decide is to form your own opinion.

Showgirls Available on Amazon Prime Video.