Hedwig and The Angry Inch

( 11 )

Overview

Adapted from the hit off-Broadway musical of the same name, Hedwig and the Angry Inch is the tale of an "internationally ignored" rock & roll singer who hails from Communist Berlin and who dreams of becoming an American sensation. Hedwig John Cameron Mitchell, born a boy named Hansel, is raised by a single mother Alberta Watson who wishes to see her son do better than his poverty-stricken family. Some years later, Hansel is attracted to a good-looking American G.I., who promises a better life overseas for ...
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Overview

Adapted from the hit off-Broadway musical of the same name, Hedwig and the Angry Inch is the tale of an "internationally ignored" rock & roll singer who hails from Communist Berlin and who dreams of becoming an American sensation. Hedwig John Cameron Mitchell, born a boy named Hansel, is raised by a single mother Alberta Watson who wishes to see her son do better than his poverty-stricken family. Some years later, Hansel is attracted to a good-looking American G.I., who promises a better life overseas for young Hansel, under one condition: that he undergo a sex-change operation to become a fully functional female whom he can then marry. The operation is seriously botched, leaving the now-renamed Hedwig with an "angry inch" only to be stranded in a dingy Kansas trailer park on the day the Berlin Wall comes tumbling down. Hedwig then supports herself through a series of ill-fated lounge gigs and side jobs, meeting up with 16-year-old Tommy Gnosis Michael Pitt, a religious type who befriends her and later steals her songs and becomes the rock star Hedwig always dreamed of being. Undeterred, Hedwig continues to perform in the shadow of Tommy's sold-out stadium tour, attempting to make herself whole in spirit, if not physically. The film features several songs by composer Stephen Trask, who also appears as a member of Hedwig's disinterested rock band; Miriam Shor portrays Hedwig's newfound love and backup singer.
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Editorial Reviews

Barnes & Noble
John Cameron Mitchell's thundering, intelligent psycho-comic essay on the creation and deconstruction of a pop persona is the best transvestite rock opera this side of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Based on Mitchell and Stephen Trask's Off-Broadway musical, the film is a reminiscence of the familial and sexual trauma that drove a young German boy to a sex-change operation gone horribly, hilariously wrong. As an adult American divorcée, Hedwig hits the road with her band, chasing down her rock-god ex-boyfriend from one town to the next. The ex plays the stadiums; Hedwig and her band play the dumps. On film, the songs -- vivid refractions of Roxy Music and The Rocky Horror Picture Show, among others, composed by Stephen Trask -- still work overtime to carry the story engine. Mitchell constructs plush visual interiors to illustrate the tunes, with help from dreamy, semi-connected animated interludes by Emily Hubley. Ultimately, Hedwig, with its keen, flashback-fueled grace, could be termed the rock flick's Citizen Kane -- and that's an overstatement you can flick your Bic to.
All Movie Guide - Jason Clark
A mixed-bag effort to translate John Cameron Mitchell and Stephen Trask's ambitious rock musical to the screen, this remains a worthwhile movie experience on any account, successfully opening up its heartfelt, often sad account of an "internationally ignored" rock singer suffering from a botched sex change operation. Mitchell's fierce, hypnotic performance is as indelible on film as it was on-stage -- fearful, hilarious, and moving. His direction is a bit less remarkable, as the movie offers much to look at, but little of it comes through in quite the same way as the music. The filmmakers too often literalize what should be expressed musically, which robs the viewer of some of the discoveries that might have made the film more successful. A few stretches sag as well, but the movie springs to life the most in its final reel -- when the title character takes on a young protégé a quietly effective Michael Pitt -- even if it fails to fully reach its emotional mark. Audiences at the 2001 Sundance Film Festival clearly found Hedwig refreshing: it won the Audience Award as well as a Grand Jury directing prize for Mitchell.
New York Times - Stephen Holden
Mr. Mitchell also sings in a voice whose lofty elocution and frosty, slightly inhuman tone echo Mr. Bowie's as spiked with a tiny whiff of helium. Fleshing out the story is a meaty rock score by Stephen Trask whose reaching-for-the-heavens anthems brilliantly parody Mr. Bowie's songwriting in the Ziggy Stardust era without lapsing into caricature. More than simply telling Hedwig's story, the songs, like Mr. Bowie's early-70's output, sketch an overarching pop philosophy whose conceptual grandiosity harks back to the days when stentorian proclamations about rock 'n' roll saving the world still had some currency.... If the glam-rock era is long gone, "Hedwig" reminds us, its subversive spirit, which has percolated under the surface of rock culture for more than two decades, lives on.
Los Angeles Times - Kevin Thomas
On the screen, the rip-roaring rock musical Hedwig and the Angry Inch retains all the excitement and energy it had on stage while adding depth, clarity and emotional texture. The result is a movie that absorbs its theatricality so smoothly and imaginatively that it never feels merely like a stage adaptation... Strutting through the movie in a dazzling assortment of wigs, and baring gams whose sleek, tapering curves rival those of Marlene Dietrich and Tina Turner, Mr. Mitchell is as imperiously charismatic on the screen as he was on the stage.... His embittered but plucky title character, who makes her way from East Berlin to Kansas and subsequently across America on a no-budget rock tour of tacky seafood restaurants, often suggests Mr. Bowie as a chilly German dominatrix.

Mr. Mitchell also sings in a voice whose lofty elocution and frosty, slightly inhuman tone echo Mr. Bowie's as spiked with a tiny whiff of helium. Fleshing out the story is a meaty rock score by Stephen Trask whose reaching-for-the-heavens anthems brilliantly parody Mr. Bowie's songwriting in the Ziggy Stardust era without lapsing into caricature. More than simply telling Hedwig's story, the songs, like Mr. Bowie's early-70's output, sketch an overarching pop philosophy whose conceptual grandiosity harks back to the days when stentorian proclamations about rock 'n' roll saving the world still had some currency.... If the glam-rock era is long gone, "Hedwig" reminds us, its subversive spirit, which has percolated under the surface of rock culture for more than two decades, lives on.
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Product Details

  • Release Date: 6/4/2002
  • UPC: 794043553431
  • Original Release: 2001

    • Rating:

  • Source: NEW LINE HOME VIDEO
  • Format: VHS

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits
John Cameron Mitchell Hedwig/Hansel
Miriam Shor Yitzhak
Stephen Trask Skszp
Theodore Liscinski Jacek
Andrea Martin Phyllis Stein
Michael Pitt Tommy Gnosis
Rob Campbell Krzysztof
Michael Aronov Schlatco
Alberta Watson Hansel's Mom
Maurice Dean Wint Luther
Michael Stevens HedHead
Technical Credits
John Cameron Mitchell Director, Screenwriter
Michael De Luca Executive Producer
Frank G. de Marco Cinematographer
Therese DePrez Production Designer
Amy Henkels Executive Producer
Emily Hubley Animator
Pamela Koffler Producer
Andrew Marcus Editor
Jerry Mitchell Choreography
Nancy Pankiw Art Director
Arianne Phillips Costumes/Costume Designer
Katie Roumel Producer
Susan Shopmaker Casting
Patrick Tidy Asst. Director
Paul Urmson Sound/Sound Designer
Christine Vachon Producer
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Customer Reviews

Average Rating 5
( 11 )
Rating Distribution

5 Star

(11)

4 Star

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Sort by: Showing all of 11 Customer Reviews

  • Posted October 1, 2010

    more from this reviewer

    I Also Recommend:

    Shortbus

    Put your discomfort over there....on the coffee table

    ...and sit back and enoy the ride. It's not the most comfortable experience for people with any issue about sex or sexuality, but if you can put your discomfort aside (it's not about you!) and take in the story it's the ultimate example of making lemonade when life hands you lemons. And the sound track - though I'm not a heavey rocker - was beautifully written and performed. May also want to look into Shortbus (which is a Mitchell project); not as clear a story, but definitely very interesting.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Posted October 1, 2010

    more from this reviewer

    I Also Recommend:

    Amelie
    Léolo
    The Lady in Question is Charles Busch
    Colma: The Musical

    A true original

    Highly entertaining. The movie is wacky from the start and just gets more wacky and fun by the minute. Brilliant writing and acting (thank you JCM) with songs that would be lame anywhere else, but surrounded by this movie, are fabulous. One of the most entertaining movies I've ever seen.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Best Rock Musical of all time

    Hedwig and the Angry Inch is an amazing movie. Not only is the soundtrack amazing( I feel good everytime I hear ''Wig in a Box''), and John Cameron Mitchell wonderful and adorable as Hedwig, but just the whole movie and theme is awesome. The fact that he doesnt know who he is and is looking for his other half, is something we can all relate to.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    ROCK ON AND ON...

    Although the story is a little bit ''sick'' and,lets face it, rock-singing, Eastern-German transvestites that tour all America for fame is a story board that makes all of us heterosexuals a bit worried but yet...intrested. What I loved in this film is its music. Strong, pure, nostalgic, classic, grunge, hard and hot steamy Rock that shakes my world(along with my appartment). discover the wonderful ''Midnight Radio'', the up-tempo ''Wig on the self'' and the incredible ''Origin of Love''(the melodic Platos' myth) and you will remember me. If you like David Bowie, Iggy Pop, Lou Reed, Kiss, Tommy Glitter e.t.c. you will live and breath for this pure GLAM-ROCK movie...

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    An amazing journey

    Quite a totally unexpected surprise. This film was worth every minute, and did not disappoint. Definitely an underappreciated classic that I feel will never get the credit or viewing it quite deserves. If you're looking for great music and an amazing journey Hedwig will take you there!

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Why I Love This Movie

    I thought this movie was much more than it appeared. There were many hidden themes in it, all good ones. I believe this movie is very deep, and can truly become larger than life. I watch it very often. Each time, I catch something I didn't before and grow to love it more. It also has a fabulous soundtrack.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Great Story, Great Music

    With a lot of funny moments and an underlying serious theme of the nature of love, this movie can be interpreted on various levels. The music is a vital part of the movie and is how much of the story is told, so it stands alone and is absolutely wonderful itself. This movie is a great combination of plot, music, and FUN!

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    A MUST SEE!!!

    Hedwig is a must see movie; The music, the imagery, and the story all come together in in a remarkable way, making it truly a profound experience. It is rare for a movie to be able to capture the feel of live theatre like Hedwig did. I LOVED IT!!!!!

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Unique Artistic Vision..or just strange!

    I have seen Hedwig twice at the movie theater and enjoyed it immensely. Trying to describe it to friends, I found I could only laugh and say, ''It is the product of a truly unique artistic vision!'' It literally swings from punk to pop, plunging into the depths of lost love and lost identity, and yet it is always funny, fascinating, and intimate. John Cameron Mitchell's portrayal of Hedwig is wonderful, and the songs by Steven Trask show an impressive range. If you're willing to go for a very unusual ride, buy this movie. I plan to watch it again and again.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted December 29, 2009

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 31, 2008

    No text was provided for this review.

Sort by: Showing all of 11 Customer Reviews