Cecil B. Demented

John Waters's movies are best viewed through the eyes of an autistic child. Please, hear me out before you label this statement as a cruel slur. I was introduced to the world of John Waters by my autistic sister. After suffering though her mechanical spouting of monologues from Uncle Buck,...

By Crystal Preston-Watson

August 2, 2007

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John Waters's movies are best viewed through the eyes of an autistic child. Please, hear me out before you label this statement as a cruel slur. I was introduced to the world of John Waters by my autistic sister. After suffering though her mechanical spouting of monologues from Uncle Buck, Pretty Woman and 101 Dalmatians, I was pleasantly surprised when she moved on to Crybaby and Serial Mom. I was intrigued by movies that could make my sister, someone whose life depends on a static routine, change her habits. After listening to her quote the dialogue for several weeks, I sat down and viewed both films. It forever changed my taste as a movie-goer.

For viewers in the normal Hollywood realm, Waters's films are the textbook definition of camp and kitsch. They tread the thin line between black comedy and vulgarity, but thanks to his whimsical and twisted flair, Waters gets away with it. Though his films are not always a favorite of critics or even of most movie-goers, they are somewhat bizarre, extremely inventive and fascinating to watch.

Don't miss John Waters's screening of his 2000 film Cecil B. Demented, part of the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center's Extremely Grand Opening, on Friday, August 3, at 1 p.m. After the film, Waters will sign books and answer audience questions. For tickets or more information, visit www.csfineartscenter.org or call 1-719-634-5581.

Crystal Preston-Watson

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