Customer Reviews
| Rating |  | | Date | June 01, 2005 | | Summary | Oddly Entertaining.... | Content
 | Angela Arden (Charles Busch) is just another washed up singing sensation of yesteryear.
Although still quite a Diva in her own mind, she lives with her unloving husband Sol (Philip Baker Hall), her metally challenged and emerging homosexual son Lance (Stark Sands), and her prententous Daddy's girl of a daughter Edith (Natasha Lyonne).
The marriage and family are quite a sham, with mother and daughter bitter rivals, as well as father and son. Father and daughter couldn't be happier, and mother and son get along pretty splendidly as well. Angela appears to live the spoiled society housewife life- complete with well-endowed gigolo lover Tony P (Jason Priestley).
When some explicit and nasty pictures surface of the Angela/Tony love tryst- Sol decides to take the marriage into his own hands by announcing that Angela will now be cut-off financially, and that's when the fun starts.
Angela plots to kill Sol by shoving an arsenic filled suppository up his ol' woo-ha.
Mother and son soon rejoice once Sol kicks the bucket, but poor Edith is left alone to her own devices. In steps Tony P to relieve some of the much needed pressure. And of course, keeping it strictly a `family affair", Tony P also takes a shot at poor misunderstood Lance the first chance he gets.
Of course Angela has had more than enough of being a role model and mother, but after being cut out of Sol's will entirely - decides it best to stick around for a while.
There's lots of sub-plots and lot's of comedy throughout....but the real winner in "Die Mommie Die" is the performance of Charles Busch as the aging starlet Angela.
At times outrageous but mostly subtle, Angela is a contradiction of love, motherhood, marriage, and sexuality!!
"Die Mommie Die" isn't slapstick comedy, and the dialogue of the actors is somewhat "over-enunciated", as if they were acting in a play and not a film (the movie is based on the stage play).
But, the comedy and movie is quite original and refreshing, and is definitely recommended for more mature audiences.
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| Rating | | | Date | May 09, 2005 | | Summary | Charles Busch, superstar | Content
| There's never been anyone quite like Charles Busch--he is so superb at campiness and mannerisms that he takes his drag performances to a whole other level, and this film allows the most extended chance to see him close up and in a starring role. Originally a play he wrote very quickly for a short run in Los Angeles, DIE MOMMIE DIE!, is a reworking of Aeschylus's Oresteia as a 60s filmic Grand(e-Dame) Guignol (got that?), centering upon Angela Arde, a faded glamorous Fifties singer along the lines of Patti Page, plotting to murder her elderly wealthy husband. For good measure, Busch throws in as well much of the plot of Bette Davis twins films, and the silliness is really something when Busch can really let loose on the terrific set (a hilariously cheesy pseudo-glamorous actual Hollywood mansion) and in his jawdropping outfits. There are certain moments--such as Angela's piano-accompanied medley at his husband's wake, which culminates somehow in "Spinning Wheel"--where Busch about the funniest thing you'vwe ever seen in your life. Unfortunbately, the director did not have such a sure hand with the other actors, and everyone else seems to either underplay their parts (like Frances Conroy as the maid) or, worse, overplay them (particularly Stark Sands as the gay son). But it's worth it all for Busch. The film gets funnier on repeat viewings, especially if you listen along to the commentary by the film's director, Jason Priestley and Busch himself--his sincere personal graciousness to everyone else and constant self-deprecation is always very winning, and his comments about the various homages to different screen goddesses are always appreciated. |
| Rating | | | Date | April 23, 2005 | | Summary | Love it!!! | Content
| This movie is very Htichcock/Twilight Zone/ Young and Restless-like. Charles is awsome as Angie and Babs. His acting emulates the Baroque way of acting in the 40',50's and 60's. It's actually a dramatic and sad film. I will have you hooked. |
| Rating | | | Date | March 24, 2005 | | Summary | So-so parody of 50's tearjerkers | Content
| As a fan of Charles Busch's work, I really looked forward to seeing this film. I have to admit I was not impressed. I've seen and directed many of Busch's stage plays, and while they are hysterical and fun when live and on-stage, they simply don't translate to film very well. Busch's portryal of Angela is outstanding -- strong yet almost pathetic; however, I felt it was one dimensional. No true highs and lows. After about 30 minutes or so, I kept hoping he would just let loose and go 'Joan Crawford' on us. The supporting cast, with the exception of Frances Conroy (Bootsie) were simply dull and lackluster. I couldn't help but feel that the actors weren't directed very well; they didn't capture the 'over-the-top' attitude that is a necessity in this genre (camp). Certainly, it is a beautiful cast, but I still didn't buy their performances. If you want to truly enjoy Busch's work, see it live and on-stage. Trust me, you won't be sorry! |
| Rating | | | Date | March 13, 2005 | | Summary | IT'S ALL GREEK TO ME..... | Content
| This one really rivals "American Beauty" and has been regaled to being camp, etc. etc. etc.
Look closely .... it IS actually an adaptation of the original Greek 'ORESTEIA' - with Clytemnestra [Charles Busch], Elektra, Orestes [the kids], Aegistheis [Jason Priestly] and the futile husband Agamemnon.
It also compares very favorably to the Jules Dassin "Phaedra" [Melina Mecouri/Anthony Perkins].
and is somewhat 'spot on' since the Ancient Greek theatre only featured male actors, and yep, there is a bow or two in the direction of Crawford and Davis [but weren't they vaguely asexual towards the end, as a matter of fact, with due respect, Crawford began to look more and more like her father, those eyebrows, the jawline, the 'specific' lighting].
Davis? Well, all went 'south' after the Merrill marriage - see for yourself!
THIS one is great fun though ... would like to see the future incarnations of the Busch character [even smatters of Julianne Moore in 'Far From Heaven' remember that delightful comment from, 'tortured' husband Dennis Quaid during the cocktail party].
Doug Sirk would applaud this one!
[Deserves a sequel featuring *Priestly, Busch and a Rock Hudson look-alike - just for fun!].
[PS HUGE nod to the costume designer - fabulous work!]
*Jason Priestly deserved great applause for this performance - now here IS an actor who is totally unafraid to explore and deliver!! |
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