There have certainly been lows (the mean-spirited Hollow Man which doesn't even make the concept of nude Kevin Bacon watchable) and, well, films I've yet to see (Black Book, one day), but for today's underlooked director spotlight, let's raise a Pilsner to one of the Netherlands’ finest--and underrated--imports of the past century.
1. Flesh + Blood
How do you make a period movie inherently interesting? When in doubt, inject a hearty dose of sex and violence or, if you’re stuck the 16th century, Flesh + Blood. Starring a young, oddly Americanized Rutger Hauer as Europe’s premiere mercenary, this superbloody epic follows a band of criminals as they travel the countryside looting and raping most anything in their path. There for the ride is a fresh-faced Jennifer Jason Leigh turning in a naughtily playful performance as an engaged noblewoman taken hostage and quickly learning the art of manipulating the male sex. Not quite as grand or classy as higher profile fare like the Lord of the Rings or Excalibur, but an overall blast that, if nothing else, deserves unmeasurable bonus points for featuring a climactic battle determined by the catapulting of plague-ridden dog meat. Eat that, Spielberg
2. Robocop
Few blockbusters combine action, character, and memorable dialog quite as well as the 1987 cop drama/sci-fi action shootout/Frankenstein tale of corporate power weaseling its way into public policy. In the age of Blackwater scandals and questionable presidential financial investments, the basic premise of Robocop is surprisingly more relevant 20 years after its inception, while the human drama continues to tug at even the most jaded Transformers-weary heartstrings. Some of the stop motion may aged about as well as Belial’s hotel room rampage in Basket Case, but Robocop remains an engrossing and intelligent piece of damn fine, damn fun cinema.
3. Total Recall
Arnold Schwarzenegger‘s best work (I know, that doesn’t say THAT much) but it’s a quite a feat that the Hercules of NY can almost pull off the role of an everyday blue collar construction worker slowly discovering the life he has isn’t real (or IS it?). If the concept of Ahhnold emoting is too much, sit back and enjoy watching a current government official stick a futuristic needle up his own nose, beat up Sharon Stone, turn down a tri-breasted Martian hooker, and use a dying civilian as armor in a shooting spree. A ripe story from the mind of Philip K. Dick goes far, but it’s Verhoeven’s all-out intergalactic party-hard attitude that makes this one of the 90s’ best science fiction extravaganzas.
4. Showgirls
Everybody has dreams, but few pursue them with such aggressive thrusting as Nomi “I’m a dancer!” Malone, as energetically (and insanely) played by Jessie Spano with a tan. When we look back at 1995’s NC-17 rated Showgirls, it’s hard to believe people were hesitant to see what’s become the greatest film ever to emphasize the importance of hamburgers that don’t suck, brown rice with vegetables, and ice cubes at auditions. Showgirls may very well be the trashiest studio film ever released with so much fanfare, and unless your sense of humor is A-cup size, I dare anyone to watch the film without cracking a smile, or, let's face it, breaking into hysterical laughter and resisting the urge to schedule weekly Cheetah parties catered with lots of Cristal and chips. What was Verhoeven actually going for with this Cinderella story for trailer grown ingenues? There's nothing actually sexy about seeing Elizabeth Berkely writhe like an epileptic dolphin in a pool, dry hump Kyle MacLachlan in a dimly lit strip club, or end a romantic evening by proving that it is indeed her time of the month (yes, that's in there), but I like to believe Showgirls is a far more satirical and self-aware cautionary tale about stardom than its Razzie record would contend. Whether Verhoeven knew what he was doing or not, this is one film ridiculously worthy of the cult status it has slowly been building and will still be entertaining well after Vers-ayce is out of style.
5. Starship Troopers
Audiences ignored this 1997 sci-fi actionfest based on Robert Heinlein’s Nazi homaging tale of a future war with ginormous plasma-shooting, limb-tearing bugs occupying a planet in travel distance from earth. Thankfully, it eventually found its audience and spawned two sequels of its own (one lame, one awesome), but it’s this R-Rated theatrical shoulda-been blockbuster that remains one of the most joyously gruesome two hours one can have with Caspar Van Dien. Some quibble with the 45 minute 90210esque opening melodrama, but I’d argue all the coupling of pretty/wooden actors serves to whet your thirst for their impending doom. When the praying mantis-ish warrior bugs start biting their way through soldier’s body parts, we care enough to recognize the bloody victims, but feel rather ambivalent about their personalities to crave their less-than-comfortable fates. Sure, some of the CGI battles are starting to show their age, but all’s forgiven when Michael Ironside gets a chance to be badass. I didn’t even mention the brain bug, tongue-in-cheek newsreels (featuring none other than 90210’s own Principal Teasely) and the fact that Verhoeven cast Neil Patrick Harris years before the rest of the world caught on to just how cool he was.
So there you have my vote for most watchable director of extreme cinema. While I wait for the world to officially recognize the greatness of pasties and the effects of Mars’ atmosphere on human flesh, let’s hope this oft overlooked maestro of nutritious popcorn flicks keeps delivering his joy.
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