Even at 73-years-old, filmmaker John Waters still has the same interests and sensibilities that made him one of the most controversial directors of all time. The man who gave audiences “Pink Flamingos,” “Cry Baby,” and “Hairspray” is known for pushing the limits of taste and delivering some of the most provocative imagery you’ll find in a film that isn’t labeled as “adult entertainment.” So, you better believe that Waters’ favorite filmmakers today are the ones out there doing things that no one else does.
Speaking to Vulture, Waters talked, at length, about his career, his life, and of course, his thoughts on the current state of the film industry. And when discussing the latter, the filmmaker name drops some of the titans of film (at least on this website) that are equally as despised as they are loved.
“So, yeah, I like people doing extremes,” explained Waters. “I went to see the Isabelle Huppert play [‘The Mother’]. I love that she always does extreme things. She’s my favorite actress in the world.”
He continued, “That’s why I still love Lars von Trier. He has one of the best senses of humor of all film directors. My favorite is Gaspar Noé. ‘Climax’ was my favorite movie. I loved it, loved it, loved it.”
“Climax” is the 2018 film that earned some rave reviews after its premiere at last year’s Cannes. The film tells the story of a dance troupe that celebrates at an after-party for a performance. Things descend into chaos when they begin to worry that their sangria was perhaps spiked with LSD.
“Let’s just say it’s a very altered version of ‘The Red Shoes’ as a bad acid trip,” added Waters. “Thank God I didn’t see it before I took acid. I was very startled by the movie. I thought it really delivered.”
The controversial filmmaker goes on to explain why exactly “Climax” startled him. And it’s not because of the extreme content, per se. In fact, it’s the contrast between the Noe film and the typical things that the film industry pumps out on a weekly basis.
“They make $75 million gross-out comedies that nobody thinks are that funny,” he said. “So, that’s over. You have to think of a new way. And it does involve political correctness of all the things you can and cannot do in comedy today. But I think that makes it even more of a challenge to pull it off and startle people today.”
Waters is out promoting his latest book, “Mr. Know-It-All.” And if you want to check out “Climax,” it’s available anywhere you procure films.