Heidi Fleiss: Hollywood Madam

REVIEW
This weirdly funny, satirical documentary -- a perhaps unintentional parody of the exploitative TV newsmagazines whose clips it uses -- is the perfect vehicle for this tale of Hollywood's swarmy excesses. The film concentrates on convicted panderer Heidi Fleiss' relationships with Ivan Nagy, her lover, nemesis and alleged pimp; and Madam Alex, Hollywood's grand madam for 20 years and Heidi's one-time employer and mentor. Each of the three refutes allegations from the other two, yet they all seem inextricably linked. LAPD is represented by Daryl Gates, whose brother is openly acknowledged as using such professional services. Gates details his fervor to prosecute pimps rather than johns. Yet the department has a history of protecting pimps and madams if they're good informants, a role which Fleiss apparently refused to play. Wickedly enjoyable yet ultimately unsettling, it demonstrates wretched excess permeates every aspect of this latest entry into the annals of Babylon. You'll feel the need to bathe after viewing.