Katie Tippel - Region 0 DVD

Although director Verhoeven, as well as Hauer and cinematographer Jan De Bont eventually became involved in mainstream American movies, Katie Tippel is very much of the European school of filmmaking: episodic and harsh in its depiction of everyday poverty. The dead puppy at the beginning definitely marks it out as being contrary to Hollywood's near-zero canine mortality rate. The sexual scenes are graphic to the point of gratuitousness but always grimly non-titillating. Budgetary limits cramp some of the mass street scenes, but generally the film is beautifully shot and ageless in feel. A far cry, certainly, from Showgirls, for which Verhoeven was later responsible. --David Stubbs