Episode 89 You Don’t Nomi with director Jeffrey McHale

Zack Carey: Nice dress. 

Nomi Malone: Thanks. It’s a Ver-sayce. 

Zack Carey: It’s “Versace”. 

Nomi Malone: What? 

Zack Carey: It’s Versace. It’s pronounced “Versace”. 

Nomi Malone: Oh. 

Zack Carey: You have great taste and you look beautiful.

This legendary exchange in the 1995 movie Showgirls is just one of many, many seemingly ridiculous conversations and scenes in the film. Heralded as one of the worst films of all time, the film has found new life thanks to a cult following across the globe.

As it becomes more and more beloved for all the right reasons or all the wrong ones, a new quandary has arisen about the film. Was it really that bad by mistake or completely on purpose? Did director Paul Verhoeven and script writer Joe Eszterhas know exactly what they were doing in making this film or was it a vision that fell flat? And what about Elizabeth Berkley and the rest of the cast?

This week we interview filmmaker Jeffrey McHale. His new documentary You Don’t Nomi explores the love/hate relationship the world has with the film and how it came to its place in the annals of pop culture.

The documentary, which is available to rent now by clicking here, is so so good and takes a unique approach at looking at the film’s history, its creators and its fans. No matter how you feel about Showgirls, we recommend you give it another watch (it’s currently on HBO) and then check out Jeffrey’s film. You won’t regret it, we promise. Have we steered you wrong yet? Well, maybe once or twice, but not this time!

Our conversation with Jeffrey was a great one as he shared how he first saw the film and what compelled him to make You Don’t Nomi. He talked about his approach to the film and why he chose the interviewees that he did as well as some of the fascinating stories behind the movie.

We talked about everything from why Showgirls is the most unsexy film about sex of all time and that legendary dolphin scene as well as what he thinks the motivation was behind the film.

You Don’t Nomi takes a deep look at the other works of Verhoeven and how Showgirls fits in or doesn’t fit in with the likes of Basic Instinct, RoboCop, Starship Troopers, Elle, and countless others. Viewers will be captivated by the comparisons as well as the interesting conversations with those who have made Showgirls a big part of their lives. You Don’t Nomi was an official selection for the Tribeca Film Festival in 2019 and received rave reviews. Let us know what you think after you’ve seen it and what you’re take is on where Showgirls should be categorized- is it a disaster or a masterpiece?

Be sure to check out the documentary’s social feeds on Instagram- @youdontnomifilm and Twitter- @youdontnomifilm.

And never forget, there’s always someone younger and hungrier coming down the stairs after you.

This week we talk to filmmaker