..a tragi-comedy not to be missed..

Rating: 10/10 (10 October 2006)

As EVERY comment has pointed-out, "Priscilla" is about two drag-queens and a trans-gendered performer who get on the bus in Sidney and take a perilous journey through the outback of Australia to do a gig at "Alice Springs". I won't comment on too much of the plot, because that's the secret of this most entertaining movie. I am DELIGHTED there were so few negative reviews. I am NOT surprised that those who loved it, truly did - they were almost all female or gay, but also a couple of "heterosexual" males....plus some married folk who certainly have open minds and/or know some "dragons".....maybe some plain-ole gays.
I particularly loved the innocent-but-wise attitude of "Mitzi's" (Hugo Weaving) son.....I think there are a lot more little guys like him, but mom and dad just don't know about it. "Mom" (June Marie Bennett ?) certainly was a wild-but-clever enough woman to educate him about his dad - why wouldn't he like him? "Alice Springs" looked a lot like Las Vegas - I think it had some off-color business going-on there; I'm sure you noticed one of the parking-attendants screamed "here are the drag-queens" without batting an eyelash, and the audience wasn't all that excited about the show. The situation between dad and son was one of the "tragi-comedies" which didn't materialize -one of the heart-warming sub-plot of this beautifully-told screamer. "Bob" (Paul Hunter) played his role with ultimate skill; that does happen, as "Brokeback Mountain" proclaims. Female-impersonators have "stage-door Johnnies" you wouldn't believe.......
This is dangerous territory for me to write about: some of you will know from my other reviews that I am a retired drag-queen-female-impersonator......I could write volumes. However, some other "users" have poignantly written about the hidden tragedies in "Priscilla"; I hope others have read those reviews and understood the message. I just want to make a couple of factual remarks.
These performers were outrageous "drag-queens", NOT "female-impersonators". The latter entertainers attempt to look and be as feminine as possible, in every detail - taking themselves dead-seriously. They see "drag-queens" as campy freaks - they seldom want to be associated with them, in comparison. In professional revues, however, it's the "freaks" who usually are most popular, if they get their stuff together. "Bernie" (Terrance Stamp), "Mitzi" (Hugo Weaving) and "Felicia" (Guy Pearce) gave fantastic performances, and would reign supreme in many American clubs, because it was apparent they did-but-didn't take themselves seriously.......in performing. Lizzy Gardner provided costumes ANY "drag-queen" would give their eye-teeth for (and maybe another vital part of their body) . BRAVA, Liz ! How do I know? I performed for decades as an attractive female-impersonator with gorgeous wigs and costumes - and talent - but, discovered how wonderful it was to be a "drag-queen" for the last part of my career (I really don't take that term seriously.) I called myself a "drag-queen", because I had the pleasure of working with many and admired them greatly.
To "Michael-3B", "LesGirls" was a fabulously successful nightclub in Sidney that featured female-impersonators AND drag-queens. It toured all over the Asian-Pacific. There are several more clubs in a certain area of Sidney where "drag" is featured and many gay people congregate. "Bernie" portrays one of the original performers, who actually did become trans-gendered - she visited a club I worked in in Los Angeles. She did a "guest-performance".....a lovely person. That such an outrageous film would ever be filmed in Australia is astounding. Not too many years ago, ANY gay person could not get into that country, as could not Blacks nor Orientals. Homophobia was the country's second name. It wasn't until the AIDS-epidemic did it become acceptable for gays to even be recognized, but it took a lot of screaming and kicking. NOW-A-DAYS, Australia - especially Sidney - is full of "drag'........a second club was opened in Kowloon (China), to which I was going from Hawai'i. Sissy ME in China ? Not on your life.
Americans cannot get it straight about men who dress as women; they are all lumped into the term "transvestites". SURPRISE; "transvestites" are straight men who like to dress-up in women's clothing, and would not dare to leave home in that attire until recent years. SURPRISE NUMBER TWO; their wives couldn't care less, and usually accompany their husbands when they go out into public, especially to gay bars. So, all you macho numbers, we've been onto you for a very long time.
I agree that Terrance Stamp played his role with vivid feeling. There are so many people like that character, but we want to think of them as being eternally, ecstatically beautiful. T'ain't so - the most successful trangendered-sex-changes are the ones you don't know about.
The cinematography of Australia was breath-taking - there was plenty of room for those miles of flying fabric on "Priscilla". I can attest every drag-show in THIS country tried to imitate it. Stephen Elliott certainly brought-out the very best in the entire cast; unlike some "users", I didn't find one weak scene in the entire movie; I DID in that American "Thank You, Julie Newmar" thing. The songs by Abba were so appropriate - who dares to think they're dated? The last song on MY VHS is one sung by Whitney Houston (I think), and is so appropriate. I worked with a performer who sang it "live", just as well. So touching....
I shall inform you I have a "critic" of my reviews, whose opinion of this one should be scalding. "Priscilla" is delicious, may it live forever - yes, it did deserve an Oscar. I also suggest that those folk who didn't enjoy it should watch it several times again, to truly understand the sub-plots - and see Guy Pearce's fine buns.........you know I give it a 20.....