Cry-Baby (Director’s Cut)
written and directed by John Waters
DVD extras are pretty excessive at times, particularly when added to movies that nobody cares about. Aside from those bored enough to watch a self-congratulatory behind-the-scenes look at every movie they buy, a lot of commentaries and supplements are strictly for the fan-boys, movie-geeks and film scholars. For the rest of us cineastes who typically just want to watch the feature, extras can take up time better spent watching more movies.
For myself, though, there is an exception with John Waters. I’ve never really enjoyed the man’s style even while appreciating and understanding its appeal. He isn’t a director that I dislike and ignore. Rather, he makes films that I won’t watch but have great enthusiasm for. He comes from a long line of artists more interesting than their work, and thanks to the DVD he may avail his films to those of us who have no desire to view them.
Universal’s new Director’s Cut release of Cry-Baby includes two items for the Waters fan who isn’t a Waters-movie fan. The reflective docu-special, “It Came From Baltimore”, is a bit long and too inclusive thanks to its abundant remarks from dull cast members, but when it showcases the excited Waters with his relating of biographical inspirations and Baltimore histories, it is easy to forget that his films are some of the silliest tributes captured on celluloid. Without the awareness of his animated personality and glowing passion, it might be difficult to discern how Cry-Baby overcame an association with the soulless camp of Back to the Beach or the thrifty aloofness of most modern B-movies. His solo commentary track is little more than a sedate extension of the special; there is more trivia offered but also a lot of repeated info better experienced with Waters’ physical expressions and visual aids. Plus the commentary doesn’t feature other highlights of the featurette like David Ehrenstein’s discussion of ‘50s teen movies and a lively trio of Waters’ crew-members.
Article comments
1 - Chris Beaumont
The more movies I see, the more I realize that I have yet to see. There are a number of directors of which I am ashamed to say I have never seen the work of, Waters being one of them. I may choose this as my introduction.