Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Hedwig and the Angry Inch
R | 20 July 2001 (USA)
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Raised a boy in East Berlin, Hedwig undergoes a personal transformation in order to emigrate to the U.S., where she reinvents herself as an “internationally ignored” but divinely talented rock diva, inhabiting a “beautiful gender of one.”

Reviews
Curapedi

I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.

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Invaderbank

The film creates a perfect balance between action and depth of basic needs, in the midst of an infertile atmosphere.

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Adeel Hail

Unshakable, witty and deeply felt, the film will be paying emotional dividends for a long, long time.

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Madilyn

Not sure how, but this is easily one of the best movies all summer. Multiple levels of funny, never takes itself seriously, super colorful, and creative.

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evening1

This would have been a better story if it were based on a real person. The fact that it is fictional seriously detracts from why anyone should care.Aspects of Hedwig's saga are compelling, especially the stuff about growing up in East Germany, though I didn't buy for a minute that her mother would have suggested sex-reassignment surgery so she could marry an American GI. Hedwig's characterization is OK. Basically, Hedwig is a navel-examining narcissist who is seriously depressed. John Cameron Mitchell does a good job of portraying this transsexual, but watching her rant and gyrate on stage got pretty one-note quick.I was impressed with the performance of Miriam Shor as Yizchak. While I admired the physical beauty of this character, I did not realize he was played by a woman till he spoke, in a lovely Russian accent, and I looked up the credits. Excellent illusion making. The whole subplot involving Johnny Gnosis felt like filler most of the time.In all, I'm glad I saw this latter-day cult classic just to see what it was about. But I don't think it'll do anything for me beyond that. And that's not why I see movies.

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lastliberal

A rock musical in the style of the Rocky Horror Picture Show, this film is about a German boy that falls in love with an American and wants to go to America with him. We see it all in flashback as she is touring the U.S.Of course, he can't without getting a sex-change operation. Hansel becomes Hedwig (John Cameron Mitchell) in a botched operation that leaves a little too much behind, and soon finds herself abandoned in a Kansas trailer park. She turns tricks at a nearby military base, becomes a baby-sitter for the general, and meets the general's son, Tommy Gnossis (Michael Pitt). They're lovers, until Tommy discovers the secret of Hedwig's transsexualism and abandons her.John Cameron Mitchell gives a great Glam-Rock performance in a loud and flashy movie that has a lot underneath. Great soundtrack.

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Pumpkin_Man

I thought this was a pretty good movie! Everybody did an awesome job, especially John Cameron Mitchell who plays Hedwig. Hedwig had an awesome singing voice and looked extremely sexy dressed as a girl. My favorite song is 'Angry Inch' Throughout the film, Hedwig tells us his/her life story starting from East Berlin, to getting a sex change so he/she can get married and go to America, loving a teenager named Tommy Speck / Tommy Gnosis, who steals Hedwig's songs and performs them as his own. Hedwig follows Tommy around to give him a lawsuit. If you love rock musicals, and transsexuals, you'll love HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH!!!

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Movie_Muse_Reviews

Unlike it's title character, "Hedwig and the Angry Inch" knows exactly what it is. This is a no- questions-asked camp-filled biographical rock musical about a transvestite singer/songwriter. It delivers every bit of that description and anyone expecting something more mainstream from the film should have his/her head checked. But just because it isn't told in conventional fashion doesn't mean it doesn't have the same impact of conventional films--you just need an open mind about, well, a lot of things.The story begins as Hedwig, a transvestite, and her band the Angry Inch tour the Midwest of the United States playing restaurants and other unlikely gigs, following in the tracks of famous recording artist Tommy Gnosis, Hedwig's former lover that appears to have stolen all her songs. In all her gigs, Hedwig tells the story of her childhood in East Germany and her journey to America that includes a botched sex change operation. What is most impressive about the overall film is its ability--through song--to weave the narrative of both past and present. Star, writer and director John Cameron Mitchell gets a lot of credit for that. I never saw the stage production, so I don't really know how much credit that deserves, but it certainly takes a strong vision to create a film that adapts that simultaneously and successfully. His performance as Hedwig simply helps that vision along. Even if you're uncomfortable with trans-sexuality, you warm up to JCM as Hedwig quickly because there is nothing surface-only with his character in this film and he shows that the entire time. The catchy music (if you like punk rock) helps that along too. Most commendably, this film doesn't hold your hand through any discomfort. It's established from the start so there aren't any "GLBT themes," just GLBT characters, though some of the issues they face manifest themselves in ways.The filming in general is very artsy and out there, especially in the final half hour. Everything kind of becomes symbolic at that point and almost entirely unconventional. Some of those scenes are good, but the film leaves you a bit confused because the final half hour is largely dialogue-free and almost all music. It keeps the film from taking the next level, but it doesn't hurt it's overall quality. The film is not something that JCM tries to cater to all film-goers--it definitely takes a person with certain world views and diverse tastes, but that doesn't stop it from being a great film for what it truly is.

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