A witty homage to women's films of yesteryear, all tied up with a big gender-bending bow.

Why is it that the most banal and straightforward films get lauded by the Motion Picture Academy, while films that push boundaries and take risks, especially if comedies, get ignored? And why is it that there is no separate category for comedies and musicals for the Oscars? In watching the DVD of the 2003 Sundance channel film Die Mommie Die! I could not help but have these thoughts. It's a truly brilliant film, with an Oscar caliber performance by Charles Busch, playing a Joan Crawford/Susan Hayward/Gloria Swanson/Bette Davis/Doris day-like hybrid character in a spoof of the Grand Dame Guignol classic films of the 1960s that inspired such 1980s television soap operas as Dynasty and Dallas. What makes it so brilliant, aside from the dominant performance by Busch, is that it works both as camp, in the vein of the films it parodies, and also as a lampoon or satire of camp. Achieving excellence in one of these veins is difficult enough, but to go two for two in the same film is damned near miraculous. And given that the Grand Dame Guignol genre is so campy to begin with, it's even harder to achieve than in parodying other stock forms, such as science fiction, in the recent The Lost Skeleton Of Cadavra, itself a terrific spoof of 1950s sci fi, but far easier to pull off than this film's aims were. The moments that are the most memorable, and which make this film soar, are the not quite sure if one should laugh moments, because there is a sense that there is genuine emotion being felt by the ridiculous characters within. This is brilliance, and it all goes back to a terrific screenplay written by Busch, a renowned drag queen, who adapted the screenplay from a late 1990s one man show. Busch, in a red wig, also looks remarkably like Eve Arden, and although it's been years since I saw 1960s sitcom The Mothers-In-Law, which starred Arden and Kaye Ballard, I'm sure that Busch loaded a few sly references to the actress upon whom both the name and look of his character is derived.
The basic premise of the film is that Busch is washed up actress/singer Angela Arden, in a loveless marriage, who takes on many lovers. Her twin sister Barbara died years earlier, her movie producer husband, Sol Sussman (Philip Baker Hall), is failing in health and business and manipulates their maid Bootsy (Frances Conroy), who is in love with him, her daughter Edith (Natasha Lyonne) is a bitch who hates her, and her son Lance (Stark Sands) is a mentally unbalanced homosexual. Add in Lothario tennis pro Tony Parker (Jason Priestley), who also wickedly savages his own tv soap opera persona, and the makings of a fun film abound. He also seems to be channeling a poor man's Peter Lawford in his brim hat, tennis shorts and penny loafers.
There are numerous greatly funny sex scenes.... This is a film that never, in a billion years, would get nominated for an Oscar, the way Brokeback Mountain has, but it represents everything artistically that Brokeback Mountain is bankrupt of- originality, daring, humor, humility, and terrific writing. The same sad fact of neglect also unfortunately applies to Busch's great performance. There will come a time, though, when injustices like this even out, and when film lovers who are speaking of this film draw a blank when Brokeback Mountain is mentioned. Let's hope that we're all alive and kicking when that day comes.

This is one of the campiest movies I've seen since Mommie Dearest. And speaking of which, you'll recognize bits and pieces from Mommie Dearest, Whatever Happened To Baby Jane, All About Eve and a host of other classics. I've seen the movie several times and purchased it for a friend this past Christmas!

Charles Busch is FANTASTIC! Lana turner , move over. I believe there is not one female actress in Holywood today thant can ACT! Charles can act at being all these awesome women in a drop of a pin. The movie has some flaws but they makeup with all the great talent and the FUN. This movie is Fun and if your in for laughs and DRAMA check it out. Great to see at a dinner party.

Charles Busch, who wrote the script for this film as well as plays the lead, has produced an odd soap opera with appeal to gay audiences. I had never heard of Charles Busch but he obviously is the penultimate drag queen in his outlandish flowing gowns, wigs, and dalmation pantsuits.

The story is actually based on Greek tragedy but in the hands of Charles Busch, it becomes a camp classic. The story is based on the Greek myth of the twin sisters, Helen of Troy and Clytaemnestra. Clyteamenestra is married to Agamemnon. Agamemnon has sacrificed his oldest daughter in an effort to change the course of the Trojan War, which he wins. However his wife Clyteamenestra has taken a lover, Aegisthus. He has another daughter, Electra, and a son, Orestes. In the hands of Charles Busch, these Greek mythology characters come to life in a sordid tale of Hollywood murder, incest, and all kinds of other sexual oddities.

Jason Priestly plays the bisexual gigolo lover who seduces both the son and the daughter in the story. One well acted character is the maid, played by Francis Conroy, the mother from "Six Feet Under". Natasha Lyonne plays the role of Electra seeking revenge on her mother. Phillip Baker Hall plays the role of Agamemnon, the Hollywood producer.

Charles Busch, playing actress/singer/dancer Angela Arden, is on camera about 90% of the time and carries the film with his costumes and hairstyles. The clothes he wears are outlandish but entertaining. After I saw the DVD with a group of guys, it was interesting how they described all the outfits you will see in this film.

Some parts of the film move more smoothly than others but overall it is entertaining and a bit over the top.