While many movies try to be all things to all of the people, this approach to playing it safe often results in creatively stagnant features without an identity. It is refreshing when a filmmaker sticks completely to their creative vision and crafts a film that is so specific that only the most narrow of audiences will respond to it, but those who do will absolutely flip for it. This is how we get some of our best, raucous midnight movies that bring together a community of people to revel in the particular oddities that speak to their identity. The most recent likely candidate for future queer cinema cult classic is the debut feature film from D’Arcy Drollinger, Shit & Champagne. This multi-hyphenate (Director/Producer/Writer/Star) has adapted their hit stage show into an homage to throwback exploitation films reminiscent of the work of Russ Meyer, John Waters and a bit of Mel Brooks. The character of Champagne is one that is destined to be an icon for a particular audience for years to come.
Unfortunately for this reviewer, this particular film is not the best suited for my sensibilities. While I love a fun ode to niche cinema such as Black Dynamite, the drag scene is one altogether foreign to me and a viewing of Pink Flamingos at way too young of an age conjured a physically visceral negative reaction to the antics of Divine. Shit & Champagne was not quite to the level of this, but it was not a film that won me over with its viewpoint. Nevertheless, I can see the appeal for many of Champagne Horowitz Jones Dickerson White (“So I’ve been married a couple of times. It’s none of your fucking business!”). This stripper at the Shaboom Boom Room asserts herself from the very eye-widening opening number on stage before crossing paths with a couple of thugs who connect to a larger nefarious plot masterminded by Dixie Stampede (Matthew Martin). This evil figure is planning a global takeover of prostitution and pant-shitting through her corporate empire, Mall-Wart. The mechanics of the plot are appropriately campy and largely unimportant when it comes down to it. This entire project is just an excuse for Drollinger to lovely embrace every classic trope of yesteryear.
The commitment on every level from the writing to the casting and production design is commendable. Each elements is dialed up to the nth degree with jokes being stretched out and repeated, losing their potency before coming back around to being humorous. The heightened elements such as magically appearing spotlight and detours for kung-fu dance numbers add to the insanity of the picture. The one aesthetic element that could have been improved upon to capture of the feeling of the past would be the inclusion of film nicks and scratches instead of the impeccably clean surface we have, but this is a minor quibble. As brash and unapologetic as Champagne is, the character who steals the show is Debbie (Nancy French), the spiritually dead stripper who we would not be surprised to learn has died a handful of times. There are no weak links in the ensemble, though, as everyone is on the same comedic wavelength and nails what they are trying to accomplish. While I could not get on that wavelength myself, the audience who responds to this will be quoting it for many years to come.
Video Quality
Utopia and Vinegar Syndrome bring Shit & Champagne to Blu-Ray with a very pleasing 1080p video presentation. The image is clean with the bright color palette popping off the screen. The film employs nice splashes of color within the production design, which makes for a very striking image. The black levels are appropriately deep and inky with no discernible digital noise. The flesh tones are natural with a magnificent amount of detail present in close-ups, especially. The presentation provides a significant amount of depth on display, especially in the interior shots. The production design from the interior of the club to the period-appropriate apartments, along with the fabrics of clothing, provide crystal clear textural details. This is as solid of a presentation as any modern movie should provide on Blu-Ray.
Audio Quality
This Blu-Ray comes with a stellar DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track that recreates this world perfectly. Dialogue is the driving force of the film, and it always comes through crisp and clear without being clipped by any competing sounds. There is very little in the way of intense action sequences, but the environmental sounds of the world engage the surround speakers in a really pleasing way. The film uses ridiculous sound effects to great comedic effect which come through with a nice fidelity. Ambient sounds are precisely placed in the rear channels. The music in the film fills the speakers in a wonderful, well-balanced way. There are a few exaggerated moments in the film that engage the low end in a really pleasing manner. The audio track is not pushed to the limit with this content, but it nonetheless proves to be an excellent sounding presentation for this feature.
Special Features
- Audio Commentary: Director/Producer/Writer/Star D’Arcy Drollinger provides a commentary track that is informative but not nearly as animated as the character of Champagne. In this track they discuss how moments were inspired by art as varied as Alfred Hitchcock’s Rebecca, Showgirls, the films of Russ Meyer. There are also discussions about the use of a boob double, background gags, performing stunts and much more that makes for a fun listen if you are a fan of the material.
- Deleted Scenes: Nearly ten minutes of unused material is provided here, some of which is presented in an unfinished form.
- Shit & Champagne Live Clips: Nine minutes of footage from the stage show is provided here. Many of the moments included here made it into the feature film.
Final Thoughts
Shit & Champagne is destined to be a cult classic when the right audience is able to find it. It is a unique vision from D’Arcy Drollinger that loads up on camp by the barrel full, and executes the technical elements with deft precision. The fact that it does not align with my sense of humor is no fault of the picture, so if a campy throwback drag comedy sounds like a blast to you, please check it out for yourself. Utopia and Vinegar Syndrome have released a Blu-Ray featuring a stellar A/V presentation and a decent array of special features.
Shit & Champagne is currently available to purchase on Standard Edition Blu-Ray or with a Limited Edition Slipcover exclusively through Vinegar Syndrome.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Utopia and Vinegar Syndrome have supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
