Hedwig and the Angry Inch (2001)
Last Watch Date - August 31, 2023
Total Times Watched - MANY times
Comments
I don't remember the first time I saw this movie, nor why it was even on my radar really. My assumption is that my girlfriend at the time was much more into movies that were off the beaten path, if you want to phrase it that way. I also think there was a time there where "non-traditional" movies were booming. Lots of indie movies or smaller budget movies that weren't part of the status quo. I guess. I don't really know how to explain this. I'm a plain ol' hetero dude and always have been, so I had no special interest in the deeper themes of these movies.
SO ALL OF THAT SAID, let's get on with it. The music in this movie is phenomenal and the story is both funny and sad at times. John Cameron Mitchell's voice is great, although Stephen Trask's leaves something to be desired. I wish they let Michael Pitt sing his stuff even if he was terrible, it would've been an interesting contrast. Trask sings backup for Hedwig in her songs and main vocals for Tommy Gnosis, so you've got the same voice happening there. It's maybe nitpicky, but it always annoys me.
I don't want to go too deep into the themes of this because it's loaded with spoilers. I think it does a good job showing the oddness of love, human emotional contact and longing, and gender as a whole. Both Hedwig and Yitzhak have similar journeys that maybe don't fully resolve within the context of the movie, but I think you can draw conclusions based on events that are shown.
It's a funny movie, though. It takes some serious topics and gives them a humorous lens that I appreciate. There are some great one-liners, outlandish costumes, and over-the-top theatrics, but also some really funny "small-time band" moments that are pretty easy for anyone to relate to. DANGLE THAT PARTICIPLE.
Recommended?
Yeah! It's a fun movie. The soundtrack is GREAT, by the way. Highly recommend listening to it.
