John Waters: Interviews (Conversations with Filmmakers) by John Waters

Conversations With Filmmakers Series

by James Egan

The films of John Waters (b. 1946) are some of the most powerful send-ups of conventional film forms and expectations since Luis Bu-uel and Salvador Dali's Un Chien Andalou. In attempting to reinvigorate the experience of movie-going with his shock comedy, Waters has been willing to take the chance of offending nearly everyone. His characters have great dignity and resourcefulness, taking what's different or unacceptable or grotesque about themselves, heightening it and turning it into a handmade personal style. The interviews collected here span Waters's career from 1965 to 2010 and include a new one exclusive to this edition.Waters began making films in his hometown of Baltimore in 1964. Demonstrating an innate talent at capturing the hideous and crude and elevating it to art, he reached international acclaim with his outrageous shock comedy Pink Flamingos. This landmark film redefined cinema and became a cult classic. Appearing in this and many of Waters's early films, his star Divine would consistently challenge gender definitions.With Polyester, Waters entered the mainstream. The film starred Divine as an unhappy housewife who romances a former teen idol played by Tab Hunter. Waters's commercial breakthrough, Hairspray, told the story of Baltimore's televised sock-hop program, The Corny Collins Show, and how one brave girl (Ricki Lake) used her platform as a dancer to end segregation in her town.From Serial Mom and Pecker to Cecil B. Demented, Waters continued to infiltrate the mainstream with his unique approach to filmmaking. As a visual artist, he was given a retrospective at the New Museum of Contemporary Art in 2004, which was shown at galleries around the world.

Genres: Film, Memoir, Nonfiction

Paperback

First published September 13, 2011

Reviews

[Anthony · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe wrong to read too much of it at once. In chapters here and there, every now and then, it's pretty great. You get gems about Waters' history, which is always fascinating. But I think when you read too much of it at once, Waters' aversion, or maybe genuine lack of any substantial disclosure, to analyzing his own films, which the various interviewers through history try to do, does get a little boring and maybe at times tiring. I get it, its fine, an artist not having much to say about their own work, or even what an artist DOES have to say about their own work, I don't think matters too much about what the art itself is actually about.


As a reference book, it's perfect because it does exactly what it intended to do. I just didnt enjoy it as an experience.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was great--chronologically organized and a wide range of interviewers...I liked the ones by JT Leroy and Dennis Cooper the best (of course)

[Joe Dean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

A great overview of John Waters and what he has thought about his work and himself over his life and career.

[Think-On-It]

If you'd like to know what I thought of this book, please contact me directly and I'd be happy to discuss it with you.

All the best,

- TB

[E.T. Bowen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very revealing... Strange that there has not yet been a large-scale biographical project about this man... Hmmm...

[Keeley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This collection is great for diehard fans as well as John Waters newbies. The included filmography is informative and convenient but can easily be skipped over if you are well versed in the works. Egan's introduction is great, but the real meat here lies in the candid words of Waters himself.

[Carl · Rating 4 out of 5]

a deep drought of waters visionary approach to life. food for the spirit.

[Hester · Rating 5 out of 5]

John Waters is always a delight.