Teenage Jezebel!

Oscar... Now With More Spirit Fingers

Shankman's got spirit!

Do you follow the Oscar show news in the way you follow the Oscars? I don't so much, despite this life I lead constantly writin' about the awards themselves. I care who hosts to some degree but I tend to ignore the rest. But I found it interesting this week when director Adam Shankman (Hairspray) was named as one of the producers and his choreography skills were noted as a reason to be enthused about this assignment. At least he has a sense of humor about his, um, limited history with the big event

I was one of Paula Abdul's 'Under the Sea' pirates," Shankman said. "The last time I was at the Oscars, I was in Lycra, with a pirate hat on.

Shankman's presence must mean more musical numbers. I'm all for musical numbers provided they rehire Hugh Jackman as host. He was so fine last year.

But Shankman's involvement suddenly had me worried that John Travolta would present Best Picture or something. If any Shankman connected star gets that honor, it sure as hell better be Michelle Pfeiffer (look how cute they are together).

I am so sick of the lack of imagination the AMPAS producers have when it comes to the Best Picture presenters. They don't give directors the honor all that often but even if you're an actor it's not even a matter of being a legendary A lister. Some people, for what we assume must be insider reasons, have a stranglehold on this particular honor on Hollywood's High Holy Night.

Seriously, this is how it's gone done in the past 20 years:

2008 Steven Spielberg
2007 Denzel Washington
2006 Diane Keaton and Jack Nicholson
2005 Jack Nicholson
2004 Dustin Hoffman & Barbra Streisand
2003 Steven Spielberg
2002 Kirk & Michael Douglas
2001 Tom Hanks
2000 Michael Douglas
1999 Clint Eastwood
1998 Harrison Ford
1997 Sean Connery
1996 Al Pacino
1995 Sidney Poitier
1994 Robert DeNiro & Al Pacino
1993 Harrison Ford
1992 Jack Nicholson
1991 Elizabeth Taylor & Paul Newman
1990 Barbra Streisand
1989 Warren Beatty and Jack Nicholson

Yes, Jack Nicholson has had the honor 20% of the time in the past twenty years. 20%! I love Jack as much as anyone. It's great to see him sitting in the front row with his shades on each year ... but there are other legends in the house. Let's show some imagination, not to mention respect. Once you get past Jack (7 times altogether) you're still stuck with Spielberg, Streisand, Douglas or Pacino lately, you know? Enough.

In 81 Years of Oscar Nights...

Minorities (all 4 of them) who've had the honor
Akira Kurosawa, Eddie Murphy, Sidney Poitier and Denzel Washington

Actresses (all 14 of them) who've had the honor
3 times: Elizabeth Taylor and Audrey Hepburn
2 times: Julie Andrews and Barbra Streisand
Once: Ethel Barrymore, Mary Pickford, Janet Gaynor, Ingrid Bergman, Olivia de Havilland, Lillian Gish, Loretta Young, Carol Burnett, Diane Keaton and Cher

Important actors and/or mega stars who have not presented Best Picture and wouldn't any of them be fine choices (hint hint... things I'd most love to see in red)?
Meryl Streep, Michelle Pfeiffer, Vanessa Redgrave, Julia Roberts, Catherine Deneuve, Nicole Kidman, Tom Cruise, Bette Midler, Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, Maggie Smith, Goldie Hawn, Jodie Foster, Sissy Spacek, Christopher Plummer, Will Smith, Mia Farrow, Liza Minnelli, Drew Barrymore, Joan Fontaine, Cate Blanchett, Johnny Depp, Sally Kirkland*, Joanne Woodward, Peter O'Toole, Glenn Close, Jessica Lange, Julie Christie, Mickey Rooney, Judi Dench, Helen Mirren, Susan Sarandon
_____________________ ... and a little nobody named Jane Fonda.

Breathe deep Oscar. Be brave. Envision a world beyond Jack. Spread your golden wealth.


This post is a few months too early, yes. I hear you. But please stop interrupting my lucid fantasy that Shankman and other movers and shakers read this blog daily, poring over its every awards culture command. 'Yes, Nathaniel, yes. We shall obey!'

Who would you love to see close out the 82nd Oscars with an enthusiastic line reading of "and the Oscar goes to..."

*just wanted to see if you were paying attention
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I've Linked You So Long

popbytes Grace Jones licks Joseph Fiennes. Whaaaaa?
My New Plaid Pants new pics and new new on Spike Jonze Where the Wild Things Are
ModFab declares undying love for Kristin Scott Thomas
People Hugh Jackman: Sexiest Man Alive
The Wicked Stage Desplechin A Christmas Tale collects another fan
Twitch thinks Star Trek is relevant again. It is? I guess I missed the part where people are excited for this one. Or maybe it's just my lifelong teflon like resistant to the franchise
Kenneth in the (212) "Face Dances" with Ethan Hawke
Fire of Spring HBO is finally doing a fantasy series. Yay!
Voynaristic more on the Prop 8 fallout at the Los Angeles Film Festival
Buzz Sugar a new Pinocchio (Just how many hours does Guillermo Del Toro cram into one day... 42?)
Out in Hollywood Both original stars are coming back to Hairspray for its final weeks on Broadway. Yay. I saw Marissa and Harvey in previews years ago and I wasn't "Without Love". In fact it was pouring out of me. Joy.


And Reports From the Edge shared this Fine Bros 4 minute video which "spoils" 100 movies. You've been warned.


Watch 100 Movie Spoilers in 5 Minutes - NAKED VERSION in Funny Videos, Entertainment Videos, and Webisodes | View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.com

Good Morning Baltimore

...and other cities!

at some point in the next 24 hours I leave DC and head back to NYC. I'm so happy I feel like singing. Not that DC wasn't lovely... it's just time to go home.
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TTT: Movie Posters of 2007

tuesday top ten: For the list lover in you and the list maker in me

I know I'm supposed to be thinking about 2008 by now, but I've been extremely busy with corporate work and freelance work. The annual film experience awards jamboree is suffering from the slow crawl. My apologies but I'm only one man. So let's throw out one more category ... or two.

Top Ten Movie Posters of 2007

If I had seen Hannah Takes the Stairs (left) it would have made the list (for my own awards I don't allow myself to nominate films I haven't seen. Even for categories that don't require the seeing. Like "best poster" and "tag line") I really love the color, the composition, whatnot. DIY movies, mumblecore, what have you...these movies aren't supposed to have advertising budgets and terrific posters. How'd they afford it? Was there a crew member involved with a cobweb gathering BA in design?

10 Tease it up! I wrote about the Michelle Pfeiffer Hairspray poster previously. The trend of individual "introducing..." posters is now old hat but I thought this joyous musical was an appropriate one to work that widespread marketing angle. And in Hairspray's case the "who's who behind the do?" poster made punny use of the very idea of a 'teaser' poster

09 Question: Why are international posters so regularly superior to their American counterparts? Have they done research to determine that Americans really like to stare at photoshopped movie star faces that have been awkwardly forced into a frankenstein group candid? It sure seems like they have. Anyway, I like the puzzle / symbol Zodiac poster much more than the vague dark bridge version that we got in the States. It shouldn't be creepier (bright white and all) but it is.


08 The one thing 300 had going for it was the visuals, inspired by and faithful to comic giant Frank Miller. Dig that odd thrusting composition, forcing your eye diagonally up left to a jutting cliff (will a Disney heroine be singing up top?) Then, just as violently, it lets your eye fall with the doomed warriors and a spray of blood. Now I technically know that this is a battle sequence and these are the losers of said battle. But I like to think that it's just an honest depiction of 300's masochism (machismo? just scramble the letters a bit). Watch beefy anthropomorphic lemmings march off a cliff together. Apparently that dinner in hell is tasty.


07 There were some busy posters that tried to convey the collage / multiple identity thesis of Todd Haynes Dylan biopic but the best ones were the near silhouette portraits of the film's stars. The "...is Bob Dylan" and "...are Bob Dylan" tag lines were pleasant complications to ponder while settling into the simple images.

06 It's easy to hold grudges against Bug's marketing campaign for foisted the big lie that a generic horror movie was opening. This secured the movie an OK opening weekend but a lot of walkouts, too... and disgruntled audiences means no word of mouth for future weekends. But away from the commercial (the true fraudulent culprit) the first poster is still a pretty accurate snapshot of Bug's psychological disturbances. And it's memorable too. This is a movie that gets under your skin.

and for the top 5 (i.e. the nominees) "Posters of the Year", you'll have to click over to the FB Awards.
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Naked Gold Man: Song and Dance

He's 13 1/2 inches tall. He wears only a sword. He's shiny. Everybody wants him. This is a weekly Sunday series --keeping the Oscar discussion corraled in the weekends until the precursors begin.

Previously: Early Birds and Phoenixes

As daily readers of the blog know, I’ve been in a sour mood lately. In trying to shake it and perusing possible topics for this week’s naked gold column I had a flash of inspiration: musicals! Is there any surer over-the-counter remedy for a bad mood? Just pop one in and thrill to a little song and dance. Suddenly instead of waking up on the wrong side of bed and glowering into your coffee, you’re singing in the shower. Musicals = better moods. It’s a fact. Even depressing ones lift spirits … on account of all the serotonin locked inside of showtunes.

This year three musicals are in the mix: Once, Hairspray and Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. Before we consider each, let’s take a quick trip back through Oscar history. Do the Academy voters love musicals? Certainly a lot of musicals have been nominated but this was a fairly common movie genre for many decades. Just how much does the gold man prize singers and dancers?

Read the Rest for more on...
If John Travolta is nominated could he be a threat to win?
Can Once's musical affect bring it gold?
Why the quality of Johnny Depp's singing won't affect his Oscar's chances
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"Good Morning Moviegoers" Hairspray is here

Oh, oh, oh Woke up today
Feeling the way i always do
Oh, oh, oh Anxious for something
I rarely screen: A musical’s first scene!

The rhythm, the gowns --my frown’s upside down
It's like a message from high above
Oh, oh, oh Pulling me in
To the story, this genre I love

Good morning moviegoer
Each new Hairspray’s an open door
Each new Tracy a fantasy
Each new version a symphony

You’ll excuse this corny oversell opening because we’re talking about musical comedy. You gotta sell it! [Read my full review @ Zoom In]
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Like Mother Like Daughter?

It's Pfeiffer Week!

This Friday when Brittany Snow will be joining a line of 18 other young actors who've pretended to be birthed from the glorious DNA of Michelle Pfeiffer. Brittanny plays Amber Von Tussell, Tracey Turnblad's chief rival for dancing glory and Link's heart in 60s Baltimore. Here's the thing: If you remove the matching hair and outfits, the frothy pink lipstick, and sourpuss demeanors, Michelle and Brittany don't really look like mother and daughter.

This is exceedingly minor quibbling, yes. It's nowhere close to the egregious "huh?" that greets a lot of parent/child casting (the most recent horrid example was in The Upside of Anger wherein not one of Joan Allens' daughters looked anything like her or anything like each other) and it's better than the mother/daughter casting of White Oleander, which was La Pfeiffer's last foray into the realm of matched set performances. Truly Alison Lohman didn't match her looks at all: Alison's eyes are close together, Pfeiffer's are wide set, the faces and lips are very different shapes. It was sort of the point of the film that Lohman wasn't alien gorgeous like LaPfeiff, but still...

Here's my ideal casting for a mother/daughter combo in a future film --yes, I'm a giver. Free Advice! to Hollywood's casting directors even though I covet their jobs-- this is Pfeiffer and Amanda Seyfried (Mean Girls, Big Love) pictured @ roughly the same age.


Wide set blue eyes, flattish blonde hair, full cheeks and lips. Plus: both talented. It's not an exact match but it's closer than the movies have gotten with the exception of Jonathan Jackson (geez, what happened to his career?) who was exceedingly believeable as her son in The Deep End of the Ocean: same angularity of beauty and good chemistry in performance, too, both of them tight skinned with unarticulated rage and sadness.

The other actors who've played Michelle's children are Saoirse Ronan (from the eternally unreleased I Could Never Be Your Woman and soon to challenge Dakota Fanning's throne with a bunch of film projects), Claire Danes (To Gillian on her 37th Birthday), Chase Mackenzie Bebak (I am Sam), Katharine Towne (What Lies Beneath), Jake Sandvig and Casey and Dylan Boersma (The Story of Us), Cory Buck and Ryan Merriman and Michael McElroy (Deep End of the Ocean), Alex D Lindz (One Fine Day), and five towhead blond tykes (The Wiches of Eastwick --her character "Sukie Ridgemont" was very fertile, part of the plot) who were mostly never seen again.

But anyway. This is all just me blabbering about casting because I like to champion Amanda Seyfried (who'll soon be playing Meryl Streep's daughter in Mamma Mia! ) but here they are again... like (fictional) daughter like (fictional) mother.

An Angel at My Subway

Sometimes the (cinematic) Gods have a strange sense of humor. Greeting me each morning as I trudge off to work: La Pfeiffer. Right there just steps away from the subway entrance. What were the chances? They could have put any of the Hairspray posters there. Something told them ... Michelle. That poster right there is easily an extra cup of coffee's worth of energy. I hate my non-writing job so the pick me up is greatly appreciated as I face rush hour.

Yet out of context of this fan/star love it's a weird choice for a bus stop directly across the street from the Schomburg Center on Malcolm X Blvd. LaPfeiff's character Velma Von Tussle is a nasty racist after all. (Michelle's thoughts on playing this type of villain) The poster was probably chosen randomly but I assume that if it wasn't, it was chosen for Michelle's urban appeal. Her first great performance was in Scarface (on t-shirts everywhere round here), her daughter is African American and she also headlined Dangerous Minds (1995) and starred in that awesome "Gangsta's Paradise" video. In 99/00 I worked in an small office with two black women and we were discussing Michelle one day --this is the actual conversation, I remember it well:

Nathaniel & Cathy: yakety-yak-yak Michelle Pfeiffer
Kerline: Who?
Nathaniel: [stunned silence]
Cathy: You know... Catwoman. That movie with Bruce Willis? She's famous. Michelle Pfeiffer...
Kerline: [still drawing a blank]
Cathy: ...Dangerous Minds.
Kerline: OH! Michelle Pfeiffer. Yeah, I saw that movie Dangerous Minds
Cathy: Look at you, ghetto fabulous!

We had a good laugh. Back to the present: after five years of pfamine, Michelle is back on the big screen where she belongs on July 20th. We'll kick off Pfeiffer Week right here on July 15th to celebrate.

Reader: Isn't it always Pfeiffer Week at the Film Experience?
Nathaniel: Shut up.

tags: Michelle Pfeiffer

Hairspray @ Pride

This past weekend Adam Shankman, Hairspray's director and choreographer, introduced Nikki Blonsky at San Francisco's Gay Pride and she performed "Good Morning Baltimore" for the crowd. I'm sure it was a highlight of the day and I'm also sure that the west coast gays can't get that song out of their head this week (that song is so damn sticky)

Speaking of sticky. This photo op. Oh the levels...


The out gay director of a very gay project that's under threat of ban by some pockets of the gay community takes his young starlet to Gay Pride. So far it makes total sense. But they brought along cutouts of their two closeted *ahem. allegedly closeted, sorry, movie stars with them? To Pride (!) ??? What was the impulse? I'm not sure whether to giggle, get snarky, or feel slightly embarassed for all. I mean couldn't the cutouts have been someone less mixed messagey? Pfeiffer, Walken, that boy who performs in high school musicals... no, wait.

(As for those wondering what I thought of Hairspray... I'll review soon but in short: a ton of fun)

Links Episode #301

The Hairspray Blog isn't interesting or anything... just press updates. That's a pity because they could've gone in a million creative directions with it. Think of it: Dance lessons with Tracy, fashions from Edna's youth, Wilbur's gizmos... (c'mon New Line. Hire some writers: like me! Care a little) a gazillion things they could've done, sigh. But though it is dreadful dull it does offer up shots of Pfeiffer at a press conference. Mmmm, Pfeiffer.

and now, zeeee links
Sunset Gun top 10 trilogies -cool but where is Baz' 'Red Curtain'?
WOW Rufus Wainwright's "Rules & Regulations" video
Michelangleo Signorile Travolta / Hairspray queer scientology controversy
Kenneth in the (212) drools on Daniel Craig's Interview shots
ONTD Kate Winslet's new ads for Lancôme
Crumb by Crumb offers Ewan Macgregor the best 3 words of advice ever

Big Dollhouse

What are John Travolta and Nikki Blonsky doing here exactly?

a) rehearsing their Hairspray lines
b) making fun of Marissa Jaret Winokur & Harvey Fierstein
c) undergoing couples counselling...with props
d) auditioning for Todd Haynes next feature
e) none of the above (explain in the comments)
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Hairspray's Original Songs

Those three of you interested in the "Original Song" Oscar category --arguably the Academy's strangest category: song writing is a skill worthy of the movie industry's highest award but casting and stuntwork are not (?) --should take note: Hairspray's soundtrack listing shows three songs that weren't in the Broadway show. Only one song, "The Big Dollhouse", has been cut. It was a comedic number sung in prison by Tracey Turnblad (the hero), her mother Edna and various other female characters. Contrary to original rumors there's no new song for villainess Velma Von Tussle (Michelle Pfeiffer) though her equally evil daughter Amber (Brittany Snow) gets one, "The New Girl in Town". This leaves Pfeiffer with the Broadway show's least successful song "(The Legend of) Miss Baltimore Crabs" --the tune is weak and applause was limp the night I saw it on Broadway --the other songs tended to provoke berserk applause.

The other two new songs have gone to Tracey's beau Link (Zac Ephron) who gets a ditty called "Ladies Choice" and there's a group number led by Motormouth Maybelle (Queen Latifah) "Come So Far (Got So Far To Go)" Maybelle already has one inspirational tune. Now she'll have two? Seems like overkill... especially when you stop to consider that another new song "I Can Wait" written for Tracey has been cut from the film and the CD. Essentially the important supporting players have been given an extra number but there's no new songs for either the heroine or villain. I've listed the characters in rough descending order of their importance to the show and in parenthesis their number of solos/duet or group songs. Tracey Turnblad -Nikki Blonsky (2/5), Edna Turnblad -John Travolta (0/3), Link Larkin -Zac Ephron (2/3), Amber Von Tussle -Brittany Snow (1/0), Velma Von Tussle -Michelle Pfeiffer (1/1), Motormouth Maybelle -Queen Latifah (2/2), Wilbur Turnblad -Christopher Walken (0/1), Penny Pingleton -Amanda Bynes (0/2), Seaweed -Elijah Kelley (1/3) and Corny Collins -James Marsden (2/0). Alison Janney plays Penny's hysterical conservative mother (one variation on a stock character in John Waters ouevre) Prudy Pingleton but she has no songs.


The coolest track of the CD is likely to be "Mama I'm a Big Girl Now" given that it features three Traceys: the original Ricki Lake (from John Waters classic 1988 comedy) Marisa Jaret Winokur (a TONY winner for creating Broadway's Tracey) and this film's debuting big girl Nikki Blonsky. What does that mean? I'm guessing that it's been cut from the narrative and it's the closing credits song. But still, that's a potentially awesome number and a nice tribute to Hairspray's long journey from wonderful cult comedy to moneyed mainstream musical.

Oprah Loooooves Hairspray. Michelle Still Hates Interviews

Sometimes you see something that sets off so many different feelings in you that you don't even know where to begin. Such was the experience of watching Oprah's gushfest with the cast of Hairspray last week. She gushed so much I feared she would be rushed to County General for dehydration treatment.

She didn't just love the movie. She loooooooovvvvveed it. She loved it with several exclamation points. Either that or she owns stock in it. See for yourself...

Oprahcrazed

I rarely watch Oprah but now I understand why Tom Cruise was jumping on couches. I thought she might be impersonating Arsenio Hall what with all the artificial whooping. John Travolta, a close personal friend of Oprah... and she wants you to know it, charmed the crowd and himself. He loves the accent he created for Edna Turnblad. He loves it so much that even after spending an inordinate amount of time talking about it, he brought it up again after the commercial break. Unfortunately one of Edna's most famous lines --the one about her diet pills wearing off --is almost unintelligible under the affected Baltimorean. I love what he says about the difficulties of musicals, that's a smart answer. But when he's talking about the accent all I can think of is the scene in Waiting for Guffman where Corky St. Clair tries an accent on for size.

Oprahtravolta

Based on the scenes shown we know Hairspray is colorful and bouncy. It looks like a lot of fun if suspiciously frantic in proving itself so (breathe a tentative sigh of relief). Musical comedy works best when you can't feel the heavy lifting. Hopefully the fatsuits, accents, wigs, and uneven score won't cause the talent to sweat.

Following Travolta was Michelle Pfeiffer. Ahem. After my heart stopped pounding (SO good to see her again. It's been years) I started giggling and feeling for her. She still hates to be interviewed. She hates it with exclamation points. She is one of the great movie stars but when it comes to playing herself? That aint her forte. She can't form sentences. She doesn't want to answer questions. She was not made for forced patter. My mind lept back to her very uncomfortable interview with Barbara Walters back in the day. It was chilly in there. And here on Oprah, sandwiched between the eager to please Travolta and the warm charisma of Queen Latifah, the temperature dropped a bit, too.

Here is the Michelle portion plus a bit o' Queen and Nikki Blonsky.

Oprahmichelle

My favorite part is the last bit. Oprah realizes Michelle has been quiet and no one has been addressing her and she tries for an olive branch. The response is the most relaxed Pfeiffer gets. "Someone has to play the villain."

Indeed.

They're beating the drums early for this potential crowd pleaser, aren't they? It doesn't open until July 20th and it got a full hour on Oprah two months prior. That's a lot of time to fluff some cotton candy. It better be sweet.
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Character Posters: A Satisfying Trend

I don't recall exactly when the multiple character poster trend began. I want to say with The Lord of the Rings trilogy but it was probably much earlier. Now it's de rigeur for would be blockbusters: a variety of teaser posters must introduce the principal cast. Here's one from Hairspray for "Velma Von Tussle" (you can see the others here) . You know I chose this one because it reintroduces my personal goddess. Appropriately enough this posters tagline is "tease it up. " Pfeiffer is a tease too, you know, what with all the semi retirement and cancelled projects. This role was originated by Debbie Harry in the 1988 John Waters comedy (those who haven't seen it, do so might quick. You won't be disappointed) Hairspray has since been adapted into a Broadway musical and now makes the trek back to film. Wish it better luck than The Producers had with the same doubled adaptation process. Anyway... if anyone can own a role already superbly realized by another icon, it's La Pfeiffer. For all her skittishness about actually working, she's a fearless actor once the camera is on.

The Simpsons Movie is also coming out this summer and we keep hearing outrageous things. As if to say 'I told you so' here's Bart ---> (you can see the rest here). I did a double take when I saw it, it's so out there. That never happens looking at movie posters. Hilarious.

Most advertising trends get annoying through repetition but I love this particular fad. I only wish we could travel back in time and get posters for other movies that totally deserved the "introducing..." approach. The ones that came instantly to mind for me were Boogie Nights , The Breakfast Club and Clue --maybe one of the Christopher Guest mockumentaries. They would have totally lent themselves to this marketing routine.

Amber Waves "the foxiest bitch in the world"
Rollergirl "she never takes her skates off!"
etcetera

Think of the posters to frame or otherwise cherish. Your favorite movie character all by his or herself on your wall.

ReIntroducing: Velma Von Tussel

Here are your first images of Michelle Pfeiffer in next summer's musical Broadway-to-screen transfer Hairspray [click to enlarge]


For those of you who aren't familiar with Hairspray: a) what's wrong with you? and b) get thee to the John Waters 1988 classic immediately. It's so great. I always wanted Michelle Pfeiffer to play Debbie Harry in a movie (a job for Kiki apparently) but it looks like reinterpreting Harry's role in a movie is the closest that Pfeiffer will get to that.

I'm more than a little worried about this movie. In it's previous incarnations as a cult comedy classic and as a hit Broadway musical it's been endearingly goofy, a touch perverse and wildly entertaining. But this film replaces the queer genius of Divine and Harvey Feirstein with (gulp) John Travolta. The new typeface at the official website doesn't help instill confidence either. Instead of the Broadway musical's bright airy logo, this one is all garish with black outlines and darkened colors. Ewww.

Plus it's directed by Adam Shankman. Now he knows from choreography, his credits there are abundant and that helps in dance musicals a genre to which Hairspray> easily belongs. In addition to numerous movies he also choreographed one of Buffy the Vampire Slayer's finest moments ever: the musical episode "Once More With Feeling." You know how I feel about Buffy so it's really hard to hate on him. (here is Shankman with Buffy herself --->)

But so far as a helmer... unless you count Shankman's The Wedding Planner, A Walk to Remember, Bringing Down the House, The Pacifier, or Cheaper by the Dozen 2 as classics, ...er... you're probably thinking that Hairspray just might suck. Or at least it will be closer to the Rent school of mismanaged musical properties and far from the land of the Chicago bullseye.

But: Michelle Pfeiffer is in it!

Tags: movies, cinema, Hairspray, moviemusicals musicals, animation,film, Michelle Pfeiffer, Divine,John Waters, hairspray