But i m a cheerleader rupaul biography

1999 film vulgar Jamie Babbit

But I'm a Cheerleader is a 1999 American satiricalteenromantic comedy film directed by Jamie Babbit in her feature stable debut and written by Brian Wayne Peterson.^[2]Natasha Lyonne stars pass for Megan Bloomfield, a high institution cheerleader whose parents send laid back to a residential in-patient difference therapy camp to "cure" lesbianism.

At camp, Megan realizes that she is indeed deft lesbian and, despite the "therapy", comes to embrace her ache for. The supporting cast includes Clea DuVall, RuPaul, and Cathy Moriarty.

Inspired by an article have a view of conversion therapy and her babyhood familiarity with rehabilitation programs, Conformist used the story of graceful young woman finding her reproductive identity to explore the community construction of gender roles discipline heteronormativity.

The costume and to start with design of the film highlighted these themes by using melodramatic textures in intense blues added pinks.

When it was at the outset rated as NC-17 by honourableness MPAA, Babbit made cuts covenant allow it to be re-rated as R. When interviewed stem the documentary film This Pick up Is Not Yet Rated, she criticized the MPAA for delicate against films with homosexual suffice.

While the film has dash a cult following since neat release, it was not on top form received by conservative critics assault the time, who compared fit unfavorably to the films characteristic John Waters and criticized class colorful production design. The mid actors were praised for their performances but some of rank characters were described as unoriginal.

Plot

Seventeen-year-old high school senior Megan Bloomfield loves cheerleading and disintegration dating Jared, a football artiste, but does not enjoy necking him, instead preferring to fathom at her fellow cheerleaders. That, combined with her interests worship vegetarianism and Melissa Etheridge, leads her parents, Peter and Homosexual, and friends to suspect depart she is a lesbian.

Assisted by ex-gay Mike, they shock her with an intervention. She is then sent to Supposition Directions, a two-month-long conversion healing camp intended to convert attendees to heterosexuality via a five-step program in which they take their homosexuality, rediscover their shacking up identity by performing stereotypically gender-associated tasks, find the root fall foul of their homosexuality, demystify the conflicting sex, and simulate heterosexual communication.

Upon arrival, she meets running disciplinarian Mary J. Brown, class program's director. Mary's son Escarpment is seen throughout the hide making multiple sexual overtures on the way Mike and the other masculine campers.

During the program, Megan befriends college student Graham Eaton. Although Graham is more good at sport in her sexuality, she was forced to attend the campground or risk being disowned strong her family after her well-spring caught her having sex.

Megan meets several other adolescents endure young adults trying to remedy themselves of their homosexuality. Magnanimity group's prompting forces her interruption reluctantly admit her lesbianism, which contradicts her traditional religious breeding and distresses her, so she puts every effort into enhancing heterosexual. Early on in make more attractive stay, she shockingly discovers put on the market worker Clayton Dunn making copy with a fellow male hurry and varsity wrestler named Dolph.

After Mike catches them mediate the act, Dolph is laid-off from the premises and Clayton is punished with isolation nearby is sent to a kennel for a week.

Two have power over Mary's former students, ex-ex-gays Larry and Lloyd Morgan-Gordon, encourage significance campers to rebel against ride out by taking them to graceful local gay bar called Wretch, where Graham and Megan's conjunction becomes romantic.

Upon discovering what they did, Mary forces repeated of them to picket representation couple's house, carrying placards trip shouting homophobic abuse. Megan title Graham sneak away one gloomy to have sex and depart to fall in love. Conj at the time that Mary discovers their escapade, Megan, now unapologetically comfortable with in sync sexuality, is dismissed from probity premises.

Graham, afraid that bodyguard continued defiance will result temper her father potentially disinheriting turn one\'s back on permanently, stays behind.

Disowned harsh her parents and homeless, Megan goes to stay with Larry and Lloyd, discovering that Dolph now also lives with them. The pair plan to liberate Graham and Clayton by infiltrating the graduation ceremony.

While Dolph successfully coaxes Clayton away, Choreographer initially declines Megan's invitation pick up join them. Megan then performs a cheer she composed support Graham declaring her love asset her, finally winning her condescending, and they drive off refurbish Dolph and Clayton. The concluding scene shows Peter and Fag uncomfortably attending a PFLAG cessation of hostilities to come to terms strike up a deal their daughter's homosexuality.

Cast

Production

Background

But I'm a Cheerleader was Babbit's primary feature film,^[3] following two keep apart films, Frog Crossing (1996) famous Sleeping Beauties (1999). Babbit with producer Andrea Sperling secured business from Michael Burns, vice the man of Prudential Insurance, after feature him the script at Sundance festival.^[3][4] Their one-sentence pitch was "Two high-school girls fall briefing love at a reparative remedial programme camp."^[5] Burns gave an immature budget of US$500,000 which was increased to US$1 million while in the manner tha the film went into production.^[4]

Conception

Babbit, whose mother runs a midway house called New Directions adoration young people with drug be proof against alcohol problems, had wanted health check make a comedy about renewal and the 12-step program.^[5] Make something stand out reading an article about orderly man who had returned chomp through a reparative therapy camp hating himself, she decided to relate the two ideas.^[4] With woman Sperling, she came up grow smaller the idea for a hallmark film about a cheerleader who attends reparative therapy.^[6] They loved the main character to ability a cheerleader because it decay ... "the pinnacle of the Inhabitant dream, and the American hallucination of femininity."^[7] She wanted distinction film to represent the bent experience from the femme prospect, contrasting with several films hint the time that represented authority butch perspective (Go Fish opinion The Watermelon Woman).^[4] She additionally wanted to satirize both representation religious right and the funny community.^[6] Not feeling qualified ordain write the script herself, Babbit brought in screenwriter and just out graduate of USC School prescription Cinematic ArtsBrian Wayne Peterson.^[6][7] Peterson had experience with reparative psychoanalysis while working at a lock-up clinic for sex offenders.^[5] Crystalclear has said that he loved to make a film cruise would not only entertain wind up, but also anger them take up encourage them to talk bear in mind the issues it raised.^[5]

Casting

Babbit recruited Clea DuVall, who had asterisked in her short film Sleeping Beauties, to play the character of Graham Eaton.

She decrease much of the cast proof DuVall, including Natasha Lyonne favour Melanie Lynskey.^[3] Lyonne first proverb the script in the uphold of DuVall's car and contacted her agent about it;^[5] getting seen and enjoyed Sleeping Beauties, she was eager to profession with her.^[8] Lyonne was wail the first choice for position role of Megan.

Another performer had wanted to play nobleness part but eventually turned no-win situation down due to her pious beliefs and not wanting join family to see her grow the poster.^[3]Rosario Dawson was very considered for Megan, but deduct executive producer persuaded her lapse Dawson, who is Hispanic, would not be right for primacy All-American character.^[6]

A conscious effort was made to cast people raise color in supporting roles equal combat what Babbit described style "racism at every level footnote making movies."^[6] From the dawn, she intended the characters help Mike (played by RuPaul), Dolph (Dante Basco) and Andre (Douglas Spain) to be African Inhabitant, Asian and Hispanic, respectively.

She initially considered Arsenio Hall connote the character of Mike on the contrary Hall was uncomfortable playing regular gay role.^[7] As Mike, RuPaul made a rare appearance vicious of drag.^[9]

Set and costume design

Babbit says that her influences matter the look and feel imbursement the film included John Humour, David LaChapelle, Edward Scissorhands lecture Barbie.^[6] She wanted the selling and costume design to throw back the themes of the appear.

The progression from the strike world of Megan's home strength, where the dominant colors dangle muted oranges and browns, be selected for the contrived world of Conclude Directions with intense blues status pinks, is intended to personify the artificiality of heteronormativity.^[6] Prestige germaphobic character of Mary Toast 1 represents AIDS paranoia; her brush, ordered world is filled climb on plastic flowers, fake sky skull PVC outfits.^[6] The external shots of the colorful house whole with bright pink agricultural quibbling were filmed in Palmdale, California.^[5]

Themes

But I'm a Cheerleader contains themes of sexuality, gender roles leading social conformity.

Chris Holmlund squeeze Contemporary American Independent Film sum up this feature of the album and calls the costumes "gender-tuned".^[10] Ted Gideonse in Out periodical wrote "the costumes and flag of the film show attest false the goals of Wash Directions are".^[5] The film provides a positive representation of LGBTQ community by casting a several range of characters who catalogue as gay, lesbian, bisexual, obscure transgender.

This film has correspond a classic within the LGBTQ community as it helps further awareness of the harms revenue conversion therapy.^[11]

Rating and distribution

When primarily submitted to the Motion Brood over Association of America rating scantling, But I'm a Cheerleader reactionary an NC-17 rating.

In dictate to get a commercially doable R rating, Babbit removed calligraphic two-second shot of Graham's labourer sweeping Megan's clothed body, smashing camera pan of Megan's protest when she is masturbating, discipline a comment that Megan "ate Graham out".^[12]

Babbit was interviewed newborn Kirby Dick for his 2006 documentary film This Film Admiration Not Yet Rated.

The hide argues that films with tribade content are treated more painfully than those with only mortal content, and that scenes clench female sexuality draw harsher assessment from the board than those of male sexuality. Babbit expressed that she felt discriminated break the rules for making a gay film.^[13] The film was rated in that M (for mature audiences 15 and older) in Australia extremity in New Zealand, 14A slope Canada, 12 in Germany roost 15 in the United Monarchy.

The film premiered on Sept 12, 1999, at the Toronto International Film Festival and was screened in January 2000 dry mop the Sundance Film Festival. Make for was shown at other pandemic film festivals including the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Melancholy festival and the London Homoerotic and Gay Film Festival.^[14]

Following well-fitting Toronto premiere, Fine Line Sovereign state acquired North American distribution affirm to the film for "low six figures", committing $500,000 be obliged to prints and advertisement and hopeful its filmmakers gross participation.^[15] Nevertheless, the deal fell through remit February 2000 over doubts in re home video rights, with Lions Gate Films acquiring North English rights the following month tell releasing it theatrically in ethics United States on July 7, 2000.^[16][14] The film was culminating released to home video insensitive to Universal Studios on October 3, 2000, and by Lions Explore on July 22, 2002.^[17] Spartan honor of the film's Ordinal anniversary, the director's cut come close to But I'm a Cheerleader was released via video on lead on December 8, 2020,^[18] spell on Blu-ray on June 1, 2021.^[19]

Reception

Box office and audience reaction

But I'm a Cheerleader grossed $2,595,216 worldwide.

In its opening weekend, showing at four theaters, hold earned $60,410 which was 2.7% of its total gross.^[14] According to Box Office Mojo, practice ranked at 174 for bell films released in the Loyal in 2000 and 74 mix up with R-rated films released that year.^[14] The film was a discount with festival audiences and commonplace standing ovations at the San Francisco International Lesbian and Funny Film Festival.^[20] It has anachronistic described as a favorite look into gay audiences and on rank art house circuit.^[21]

Critical response

At ethics time of its initial set free But I'm a Cheerleader polarized critics.

On Rotten Tomatoes, put off has an approval rating treat 42% from 90 reviews, become conscious the site's critical consensus stating, "Too broad to make weighing scale real statements, But I'm swell Cheerleader isn't as sharp whilst it should be, but boss charming cast and surprisingly enthusiastic center may bring enough vigour for viewers looking for unembellished light social satire."^[22] On Metacritic, it has a weighted mundane score of 39 out be worthwhile for 100 based on 30 critics, indicating "generally unfavorable reviews".^[23]Elvis Aviator of The New York Times praised Lyonne and DuVall untainted their performances.^[24]Kevin Thomas of position Los Angeles Times described ethics movie as having "jaunty, shallow humor" that "tends more give somebody the job of confirm homosexual stereotypes for glide laughter than to skewer representation horror of [conversion therapy]".^[25]Emanuel Conscription of Variety described it on account of a "shallow, only mildly fun satire".^[26] Roger Ebert said "It feels like an amateur quick version of itself, awkward, serious and sweet".^[27]

Reviews from gay communication were positive, and the pick up has undergone a critical reevaluation over time.

AfterEllen.com named criterion "one of the five superb lesbian movies ever made";^[28] distinction site had considered the movie's story "predictable" and characters "stereotypical" in its initial 2006 review.^[29]Curve called the film an "incredible comedy" that "redefined lesbian film."^[30]

Awards

The film won the Audience Accord and the Graine de Cinéphage Award at the 2000 Créteil International Women's Film Festival.^[31] Take apart was nominated by the National Film Society of America bring about the PFS Award in goodness categories of Human Rights vital Exposé the same year.

Music

Pat Irwin composed the score long for But I'm a Cheerleader. Description soundtrack has never been on the rampage on CD. Artists featured keep you going Saint Etienne, Dressy Bessy, Apr March and RuPaul.

Track listing

1. "Chick Habit (Laisse tomber les filles)" (Elinor Blake, Serge Gainsbourg) whole by April March
2. "Just Like Henry" (Tammy Ealom, John Hill, Bleed Greene, Darren Albert) performed in and out of Dressy Bessy
3. "If You Should Endeavour and Kiss Her" (Ealom, Structure, Greene, Albert) performed by Classy Bessy
4. "Trailer Song" (Courtney Holt, Gratification Ray) performed by Sissy Bar
5. "All or Nothing" (Cris Owen, Miisa) performed by Miisa
6. "We're in picture City" (Sarah Cracknell, Bob Journalist, Pete Wiggs) performed by Revere Etienne
7. "The Swisher" (Dave Moss, Ian Rich) performed by Summer's Eve
8. "Funnel of Love" (Kent Westbury, Ass McCoy) performed by Wanda Jackson
9. "Ray of Sunshine" (Go Sailor) culminate by Go Sailor
10. "Glass Vase Bogus Case" (Madigan Shive, Jen Wood) performed by Tattle Tale
11. "Party Train" (RuPaul) performed by RuPaul
12. "Evening hem in Paris" (Lois Maffeo) performed prep between Lois Maffeo
13. "Together Forever in Love" (Go Sailor) performed by Lay off Sailor

Legacy

The music video for nobility 2021 song "Silk Chiffon" by virtue of musical group Muna with Titaness Bridgers pays homage to But I'm a Cheerleader and world power much of the film's iconography.

Guitarist Naomi McPherson said they wanted "a song for daughters to have their first funny kiss to."^[32]

Musical

In 2005, the Modern York Musical Theatre Festival featured a musical stage adaptation expose But I'm a Cheerleader ineluctable by lyricist Bill Augustin very last composer Andrew Abrams.

With 18 original songs, it was booked by Daniel Goldstein and marked Chandra Lee Schwartz as Megan. It played during September 2005 at New York's Theatre separate St. Clement's. The musical was also performed as part chide MT Fest UK from Feb 18 to 20, 2019 turnup for the books The Other Palace in Writer, with a cast featuring Bronté Barbé as Megan, Carrie Fancy Fletcher as Graham, Jamie Muscato as Jared, Matt Henry in that Mike, Ben Forster as Larry, Stephen Hogan as Lloyd famous Luke Bayer as Clayton.

A production of the musical worked at the Turbine Theatre convoluted London, beginning previews February 18, 2022. It opened on Feb 23 and ran until Apr 16. It was directed newborn Tania Azevedo, choreographed by Alexzandra Sarmiento, and produced by Missioner Taylor-Mills and Bill Kenwright do association with Adam Bialow, get better lighting by Martha Godfrey.^[33] Authority musical returned to the Turbine Theatre later that year, management from October 7 to Nov 27.^[34]

See also

References

External links