Cigarette Girl (2009) User Reviews

A mix of sin city and metropolis set in the bleak Memphis

[tom-3160 · 7/10 · 22 June 2010]

This title set in Memphis against the grungy backdrop of the city with its metropolis style building at its head.

This film tackles the problem of smokers and giving up, with a very sin city like story and fuzzy style filming.

Created by a comic book artist, it feels very much like the sort of comic book feel so associated by the director, who says he is going to maybe make the comic book after the film which is unusual, even for him (he says).

Definitely worth seeing, the best film I have seen this EIFF so far. With good performances by its actors, who were friends of the director. This giving a good connection and thus making the film very engaging and exiting.

two enthusiastic thumbs DOWN.

[redxdress · 3/10 · 23 June 2010]

This movie had many of the problems of low-budget, independent film, but lacked that spark or charming quirkiness that makes the best ones so special. Think early John Waters in terms of the style/quality of acting, delivery of lines, and ridiculous dialogue...but without John Waters' impeccable logic, credible costume choices, or sense of irony. Minus creativity points since a) this is 30-odd years after John Waters made those films, and b) McCarthy was probably attempting more of a Tarantino or Robert Rodriguez script with a Sin City vibe (he mentioned that he was inspired by comic books and graphic novels).

Out of a group of five people, including myself, we all gave "Cigarette Girl" two enthusiastic thumbs DOWN. Incredibly, this version (which felt interminable) may have even been significantly edited down from a LONGER version, unless the plot holes were just there to begin with. The whole experience (seeing this film's European debut at the Edinburgh International Film Festival) might not have been *quite* so cringey had McCarthy not been there in person...his Q&A after the screening must have been very sparsely attended, and not just because of the utter lack of ventilation, which made me wonder whether the whole experience was some strange social experiment. We wonder if it will become a cult classic just for being so bad, like "The Room." Too bad it doesn't have the acting or plot chops of "The Warriors," or the whimsical soundtrack of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show."

We figure *someone* must have liked this movie, in order to have included it in the EIFF. Fair enough- different strokes for different folks. However, something tells me its future as a wider release is doubtful. If it DOES come to a theater near you, I'd advise you to skip it...or at least go on bargain night...

Might have worked as a novel, but not as a movie

[chriscredz · 3/10 · 22 June 2010]

Had high hopes for this film - the notion of dystopia alongside the promise of a graphic novel-style aesthetic was an intriguing mix going in. Sadly the film fails to deliver on an engaging, believe or entertaining plot, doing so with characters (and I'm guessing actors) who would be more at home as extras in a porn flick.

There are moments of hilarity, but unfortunately the laughter is evoked by cheesy B-movie one liners and painfully over-baked acting. I wouldn't be surprised to learn that the film crew had honed their trade in the Australian daytime soap opera game, such was the quality of the sequences.

It's worth a watch for those curious of how the graphic novel/Anime aesthetic can be transposed into cinema, but keep in mind that in this case "underground" is perhaps where this film should have stayed.

Good concept, bad film.

[Duncan_C · 2/10 · 23 June 2010]

Saw this film with reasonably high hopes but it failed to impress. I feel bad as I've heard the makers of the film are nice people but it just did'nt do it for me, or that fact for a lot of the cinema who walked out at various points. It was badly synced, badly acted, badly shot. Some shots were out of focus etc... If thats the style they were going fair enough but it did'nt work for me or a lot of others. I stayed to the end of course and it was a more interesting film that some I've seen but not interesting enough.

The opening credits were great though. Whoever designed and put them together did a good job.

The concept behind the film was a good one just not carried through well unfortunately. I was expecting a sort of 'Equilibrium', 'District 9' type of 'segregation in the future' type of film but it did'nt come. The future for me looked like the past.

A shame. I don't like saying a film is bad but unfortunately I did'nt enjoy this one.

Duncancowles.com Duncansreviews.wordpress.com

Kool lost Flicker by JMM

[Gorgar · 9/10 · 24 July 2018]

An underappreciated and understated molokee by Cult Cinema Icon John Michael McCarthy. Known for his dripping with wacko wetness flaps: TEENAGE TUPELO, THE SORE LOSERS and the best film of 1999 bar none: SUPERSTARLET A.D., JMM delivers this tasty (shoulda been shown in every mall) movie morsel with a stellar cast populated with pro and novice meat puppets alike, a sonically subtle minimalist score and gallons of celluloid cool. A Fantastico concepto, in which, thesps: Cori Dials, Emmy 'The Volcano' Collins and Cowboy Danny Vinson annihilate the camera. Sincerely wish this Deviant Daddio would make anudder feature flapper!!!

Who cares ?

[sonnybeaches · 1/10 · 10 December 2015]

This film is trashy, boring and stereotypical of McCarthy fare exploiting amateur actors, blighted Memphis locations, BDSM, junkies and drug dealers. Each scene is woven together like a 25 cent bronze age comic book. The film score is slow, insipid and deadening. There's nothing memorable about this film other than the anger that manifested itself after I realized I had wasted my money. In addition to this being the slowest 90 minutes of my day, I had a heck of a time trying to stay awake. I'm glad that I did so I could write this recap.

The only good thing about this film was the smell of the crushed Junior Mints on the floor of the theater.