Arts Nomi Versus the Nazis?
posted by on January 29 at 11:35 AM
Legendary Showgirls auteur Paul Verhoeven is making his way back into U.S. cinemas with Black Book, a World War II period piece charting the saga of a beautiful Jewess—who’s also a singer—on the run from the Gestapo.
Initial contact with the film’s website suggests the movie marks Verhoeven’s return to artsy European filmmaking, after a decade devoted to ludicrous American filmmaking: The film took top honors at the Netherlands Film Festival, and was the official Dutch entry for this year’s Academy Awards.
Still, Black Book failed to net a nomination for Best Foreign Language film, and today the New York Post’s Page Six offers some usettling specifics of the plot:
Is the director of notoriously trashy “Showgirls” about to top himself? While it doesn’t open here until March, Paul Verhoeven’s war drama “Black Book” is already gaining notoriety in Europe. Its over-the-top scenes include star Carice van Houten dying her pubic hair blond and getting human waste dumped over her head while half-nude. Cosmo Landesman of London’s Sunday Times writes: “Call me old-fashioned, but when it comes to Second World War yarns about the brave men and women who resisted the Nazi occupation of their country, I don’t want to see sexy shots of pubic hair.”
Speak for yourself, Cosmo Landesman.
Black Book opens in the U.S. in March.
Maybe these people don't know Paul Verhoeven's work very well, but it's his director's trademark to have nudity. Everyone mentions Showgirls, which is the easy example. Robocop has the coed shower scene. Total Recall has the alien with three boobs. Hollow Man, Starship Troopers and Basic Instinct as well. I've never seen any of his European movies, but I can't imagine that he started that trend with Robocop.
I'm excited to see what he does with this movie.
Go rent his international breakthrough film, Soldier of Orange NOW.
Powerful. Thrilling. Definitive.
Thank you, LB. I've been meaning to watch one of Verhoeven's 'good' films for years, and never knew where to start..
Out of curiousity, just what is
"sexy shots of pubic hair"?
TIA for any and all replies.
---Jensen
I'm a huge fan of Paul Verhoeven's whole career. He's always had a weird blend of European artiness and trashiness in all of his movies. In some the balance works better than others.
I'm very excited about him going back to smaller European movies as I think that should get his bearings in better shape after just a little too much straight Hollywood influence has made his last couple of movies pretty flaccid.
"Out of curiousity, just what is
"sexy shots of pubic hair"?"
I recommend that you Google for your answer. Especially if you're at work!
Jensen - get with it
The view from the end of your nose. With added impact from motion round and round or up and down .... or ....
You are an avid Danger reader and have learned nothing? Poor Dan.
WOW 389,000 possible sites......added the word gay, less sites, oh well.
Honestly, had never thought of this fine use for Google.
Need never buy a skin mag again.
No wonder high school kids are almost non educated.
"Dear, what are you working on? Oh, just my research project mom."
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