CineVegas Film Festival 2008

Not every strip club fits the mold. Take the Paradise: The dancers are beautiful but ready to go on strike and the infamous buffet includes gourmet free-range hot dogs. That's just the beginning. Now months late on his rent, Ray Ruby (played with genius timing by Willem Dafoe) may see his club turned into a Bed, Bath, and Beyond. But Ray is no ordinary club owner—he is a showman and a believer. And if his gambling dexterity is all its cracked up to be…

Writer/director Abel Ferrara, the king of cinematic tenacity, delivers another powerhouse of sleaze reality, this time with much humor. And his trademarks are here as well—vivid characters reel-to-reel, surreal yet somehow natural dialogue, entertainingly lurid plots, and a killer soundtrack. Few filmmakers could take a strip club and do something new. Ferrara joys in exceeding expectations, and he gets the ultimate performances from his unique actors.