Average Rating: 
Rating:  - Marvelous! Hilarious and immensely watchable!
When a film with this title and these characters takes home the Oscar for best Costumes, you know its got to be high camp and maybe a bit light on the side of watchability. Au contraire!When a pre-Hollywood Guy Pierce steps out of Priscilla (the so-named bus) wearing a dress made of pink and blue flip flops, I fell off my chair in fits of laughter. This film came out of Austrailia just before "To Wong Fu, Thanks for Everything, Love Julie Newmar" and is, well, darn it, just 100 times better at a similar theme (picture a Bob Hope/Bing Crosby road movie, with the characters all in drag). The funny lines are hilarious. The acting superb (Oscar winner Terrence Stamp plays a post operative transsexual for heaven's sake!). Pre-Matrix Hugo Weaving must perform a drag show for his ex-wife (real woman). He takes along pre-L.A. Confidential and Memento Guy Pierce, and post Billy Bud/Superman II Terrance Stamp to assist. The three purchase a bus and drive across Austrailia meeting an assortment of characters, both pleasant and unpleasant (the bar scene in their first hotel is an absolute scream!). You must see this film!
Rating:  - Actor's Powerhouse
"Priscilla" is now approaching its 10th anniversary. Rather than comment on the movie itself, I'd like to pay tribute to the amazing triumverate of actors at the center of the story. Because as time goes on, it becomes more and more notable that these three appeared together.Hugo Weaving ("Tick" / Mitzi) - Later becomes Agent Smith in "The Matrix" and Elrond in "Lord of the Rings"...i.e., only becomes a central figure in two of the largest franchises in movie-making history. Guy Pearce (Adam / Felicia) - Later becomes Leonard Shelby in "Memento" (and robbed of an Oscar nomination) and Ed Exley in "LA Confidential" (thought he was better there than Russell Crowe). Plus, he's a legend in Australia for his 1986 - 1990 part in the TV series "Neighbours" (where, most notably) he suited up next to Kylie Minogue). Terence Stamp - (Ralph / Bernadette) - Finest actor of his generation? Perhaps. Later becomes Wilson in "The Limey" (don't miss that), Terry Stricter (founder of Scientology-like 'Mindhead' in the under-rated Steve Martin-penned 'Bowfinger'). Also famous to US audiences as General Zod in the Superman series. Career began as 'Billy Budd' back in the 1962 (!) Peter Ustinov classic. Also here: Bill Hunter, outstanding as usual, as Bernadette's beau "Bob." To me, Hunter was the high point of "Strictly Ballroom" (as Federation President, Barry Fife). Wow, what a great actor. It's wonderful to see this collection of actors, especially in such risk-taking roles. Especially Stamp, whose career has been hallmarked by intensely masculine roles. He has talked at length in various venues (e.g., 'Fresh Air' with Terry Gross) about his trepidation of playing Bernadette & the freedom he felt once he pulled it off. So, if you've never seen 'Priscilla' before or don't think it would be your cup of tea, hopefully, I've given you four reasons here to rent or buy it today.
Rating: - Australia's attitude
The sun shines on everyone, the music rocks, the performances glitter. Have fun.
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