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Hairspray

Adam Shankman, USA 2007, 117’
Cecil B. Demented I Am Divine

The original 1988 Hairspray was, in the words of a ‘Rolling Stone’ critic - a family movie that members of the Manson family might enjoy. Adam Shankman's remake aims at viewers without convictions. The director consciously gave up the original's super campy elements and made the fate of the characters less dramatic. Thanks to these devices, the hymn to freedom and tolerance, audible in every scene of Hairspray, could resound even louder. The film's undeniable success, becoming one of the top ten highest-grossing American musicals ever, would not have been possible had it not been for the all-star cast. Although Hairspray features A-listers like Michelle Pfeiffer or Christopher Walken, ultimately it is John Travolta who steals their thunder. The American star, playing the role of the lead character's overbearing mother, turns out to be a worthy successor to Divine in Waters's original. By the way, he saturated his performance with a large dose of self-irony and proved that even in make-up, a wig and a costume weighing 75 kg, he can maintain freedom of movement straight from Saturday Night Fever.

Piotr Czerkawski

Adam Shankman

Adam Shankman was born in 1964 in Los Angeles. He is a director, producer, actor, writer, dancer and choreographer. Shankman began his show business career as a dancer, appearing in music videos for artists like Janet Jackson and Paula Abdul. He has worked as a choreographer on films such as Boogie Nights and Catch Me If You Can. As a director, he received acclaim among young adult audiences with his cult-favorite A Walk to Remember.

Selected filmography

2001 Powiedz tak / The Wedding Planner

2002 Szkoła uczuć/ A Walk to Remember

2005 Pacyfikator/ The Pacifier

2007 Lakier do włosów / Hairspray

2012 Rock of Ages

2019 Czego pragną mężczyźni / What Men Want

Cast & Crew

director Adam Shankman
screenplay Leslie Dixon based on screenplay of the Broadway musical Hairspray (2002) by Mark O'Donnell, Thomas Meehan and on screenplay of the film Hairspray (1988) by John Waters
cinematography Bojan Bazelli
editing Michael Tronick
music Marc Shaiman
cast John Travolta, Michelle Pfeiffer, Christopher Walken, Amanda Bynes, Queen Latifah
producer Neil Meron, Craig Zadan
production New Line Cinema
sales Warner Bros
language English
coloration colour
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