Hedwig and the Angry Inch Reviews

After a botched sex change operation, glam/punk singer Hedwig tours seafood buffets across the USA on the tail of an ex-lover arena rock megastar who stole her hit songs. Fantastic music, hilarious one-liners and a lovable outsider protagonist make this the best gender bending punk musical cult comedy of all time. Homophobes beware, all others rejoice.

I have put off seeing this film for years because on paper...there is NOTHING that is appealing to me (aside from the fact that Andrea Martin has a role in it). Well I am here to tell you that I was more then pleasantly surprised by just how much I enjoyed it.

Don't let the off putting images of John Cameron Mitchell painted up as Hedwig influence your opinion like it did mine. The character is actually quite endearing once you get to know him/her and on ocassion (usually as Hansel) kind of pretty in a non-traditional sort of way.

While some of the Hansel/Hedwig flash-back stories are clever and creative and there are some real flashes of briliant writing in a few of his/her monologues...the main storyline is sort of vague and poorly thought out. Which is disapointing because with a better narrative storyline this could have been a pretty amazing piece of work.

I won't lie to you, the real stars of this show are the songs. Music and lyrics are really impressive and the animated "montages" are delightful. And coming from a person who LOVES music but (mostly) dislikes "musicals"...that is high praise.

It really is worth a watch. From a creative standpoint if nothing else.

A drag queen rock star escapes from East Berlin and pursues his ex-boyfriend who stole his songs.
I found this film both bizarre and heartfelt. The subject matter lends itself to extremes in both filmmaking and performance, and writer/director/star John Cameron Mitchell commits so fully to these extremes that the film is often so hypnotic that one gets lost in the ride. By the same token, he doesn't deviate from a very human story about the search for love in the face of rejection and alienation.
I did think, however, that some of the songs detracted from, rather than added to, the film's central story, with the main love song being the exception.
Overall, if you have a choice of transvestite rock and roll films, and you're choosing between Hedwig and the Angry Inch and Breakfast on Pluto, choose Hedwig.

Most overrated binary-biased queer film since....well it's still at the top. And good thing Mitchell moved on to work like Shortbus. It's a mirror image of how Neil Jordan did the (second) most (to Boys Don't Cry) binary-affirming ignorant view of trans people with Crying Game, and then struck brilliance years later with "Breakfast on Pluto". I guess you have to make mistakes in understanding your themes as well as implementing your film techniques (at least cinematography in this can't be slagged). Hedwig gave Mitchell a career, but should it have done? Based on story and acting, absolutely not. Based on his eye - maybe okay for the mainstream festivals, but not a trophy film that is touted to be.

what a lovely french-german-british accent you have there. very white, indeed.

If more musicals were like this, then I could consider myself a fan of musicals. Great acting, great direction, great music. One of the most unique and entertaining movies I have seen in a while.

Whilst this film first appears as a quirky musical, there reveals a much deeper side to the story if you look into it, I say that because it's very easy to get wrapped up into the entertainment value this film brings just by the songs alone.

John Cameron Mitchell gives a stunning performance and lives and breathes the character of Hedwig/Hansel.

Whilst it is a smaller role for Michael Pitt, the film and role also suit his unconventional tastes in film.

An instant favourite for me and I'm sure the first watch of many to come.

Probably the only musical that I consider a great movie. It succeeds in giving the music a symbolic and expressive role in the storytelling. John Cameron Mitchell gave an amazing performance as well as a masterpiece bit of directing. Michael Pitt also did a great job at playing such a naive yet wise role and the same time. I don't think it's possible to hate this movie.

This is a great film! Watch the DVD because the documentary on the history of the theatre production is almost as good as the film itself! Brilliant and very funny!

I honestly thought I was going to hate this film. A friend of mine convinced me to rent it and frankly, after reading the synopsis, I was prepared to send it back unopened. I am so glad I didn't. This is a wonderful film. It reminds me of All About My Mother but it's a little more edgy and a lot more in-your-face. Yes, I really couldn't identify with the lifestyles, but that's part of the beauty of film. It allows us to get inside the head of diverse characters and in the end we discover that we're not so different after all.

Mitchell looks amazing, many of the songs are incredibly catchy and/or moving (especially Origin of Love) and the storyline is inspired. Felt the ending could've done with a tad more explanation though.

Prodigious & fascinating, One of those movies that I can't find the right words to describe it, Far better that Mitchell's sex film project,Shortbus, & ofcourse has an amazing soundtrack, Just watch it with and open mind

Fun and well made, one of the few musical films that i can watch with no problem.

For the most part great music, a colorful and even tasty smörgåsbord of images and plenty of off-color humor to go around. My only complaint was the nonsensical ending. Not the best movie I've ever seen but definitely not a waste of time.

A bit uncomfortable at first, but John Cameron Mitchell's Hedwig movie quickly becomes engaging with great rock music numbers and interesting characters along the way. The ending where Hedwig comes to terms with reality was stunning. This movie has a lot of heart and spirit in it.

[font=Arial][color=darkred]John Cameron Mitchell directed, adapted from his stage play, and stars as the sexually confused rock mega-star Hedwig. Hedwig was a boy trying to escape from the constraints of soviet occupied East Germany. His lucky ticket came in with a GI who agreed to marry Hedwig and take him out of the country with him, but Hedwig had to go under the knife and become a proper lady before their escape was to ensue. When the sex change operation is botched it leaves Hedwig with a single nub-like inch left causing gender confusion ("Six inches forward, five inches back"). Dumped by his GI Hedwig turns to song and befriends a lonely and confused boy Tommy Gnosis (Michael Pitt). Their courtship seems to be going fine until Gnosis steals all of Hedwig's songs and uses them for his own superstardom on MTV. Hedwig's defense is to pack up a traveling band and to perform at various salad bars and trucker diners in the same town Gnosis travels to. It's during these performances that Hedwig dishes about her unusual life.[/color][/font]

[font=Arial][color=darkred]Unlike most plays turned into films, 'Hedwig' has been adapted for the medium of cinema. Aniamtions, clever camera tricks and sing-alongs follow our story making it an exhilarating film going experience. 'Hedwig' is excitingly original and spilling over with energy that can't help but seep into the audience. Mitchell proves himself a born filmmaker, but also a rock star. Many of the songs of 'Hedwig' are quite listenable and could be found on some music channels. 'Hedwig' is a transgender hero for all of us and Mitchell delivers a fresh and resoundingly funny, sad, and technical achievement of a movie.[/color][/font]

[font=Arial][color=darkred]Nate's Grade: A [/color][/font]

I loved Hedwig and the Angry Inch for its complete weirdness, the super-catchy and deep rock songs, and John Cameron Mitchell's once-in-a-lifetime, glorious performance. I seriously don't think I could say a negative thing about the film.

The aim of this film is in itself very cloudy... it doesn't completely work as a comedy, drama or musical. However, it's oddly entertaining in its own way, and the music is good enough. Michael Pitt, although playing a fairly minor role, is utterly brilliant. His looks, presence, charisma and raw talent indicate how easily he could become a huge movie star if he wanted to.

Wow! That's all I can really say at this point...

Hedwig and the Angry Inch had been on my must see list for quite some time and I am really glad i finally saw it. The film is funny, touching, and sometimes sad. Was really taken back by how good the movie was...

Absolutely magnificent in any way -- and you can't help falling in love with the soundtrack. features some pretty fucked-up, visceral rock n'roll, the way rock n'roll is supposed to be. simply brilliant !!!!!!

P.S. Notes on the Soundtrack:
If the "Origin of Love"doesn't make you wanna sing or "the angry inch" probe you to dance and jump till you break your neck... then there must be absolutely someting wrong with you. LoL