Everyone is allowed cinematic vices

Typical. Time magazine film critic Richard Corliss was asked to rank his choices for guilty-pleasure viewing, and fourth on the list is

“Les Diaboliques,” Henri-George Cluzot’s 1955 mystery thriller about infidelity, treachery and murder.

Right. And we’re supposed to think that’s this guy’s definition of trash.

When we’re talking about guilty-pleasure movies, films that get good, even great, reviews – “Les Diaboliques” (DVD, VHS; 1:56; not rated), for example – aren’t even supposed to come up in conversation.

No, the list is something that you’re supposed to feel embarrassed about sharing.

“Showgirls,” say.

Remember that loser? Put out by Paul Verhoeven in 1995, “Showgirls” (DVD, VHS; 2:11; rated NC-17 for nudity, erotic sexuality, graphic language, sexual violence) sullies the very term “exploitation.”

It’s a film that is so, uh, bad that comic/monologist David Schmader described it this way on the film’s actual DVD release: ” ‘Showgirls’ triumphs in that every single person involved in the making of the film, from the writers, actors, gaffers, every single one of them is making the worst possible decision at every possible time, and it’s this incredible density of failure that makes ‘Showgirls’ sublime.”

Now, that’s a guilty pleasure.

I’m thinking about guilty- pleasure movies this week courtesy of Spokane filmmaker Wayne Spitzer, who offered his own recommendation.

”

‘Corvette Summer’ (DVD, VHS; 1:45; rated PG; 1978) with Mark Hamill and an adorable, young Annie Potts would be my vote,” Spitzer said by e-mail. “It’s not even truly a bad movie – it’s just considered one by people who, often, haven’t even seen it.”

Insert an implied pause here. … Then, Spitzer continues, “OK, it’s a bad movie. But it’s a good bad movie.”

Which is what guilty pleasures are, right? Films that for one reason or another we like, often in spite of what the filmmakers actually manage to put on screen.

Another example: My wife likes

Martin Lawrence films. Except in “Rebound,” which is in its own class of badness, Lawrence never fails to make her laugh, especially “Big Momma’s House” (DVD, VHS; 1:38; rated PG-13 for crude humor, sexual innuendo, language, violence; 2000).

She can’t wait for “Big Momma’s House 2,” which is set for a Dec. 16 release. And what a merry Christmas present that’ll be.

Here are a few others:

•

“Switchblade Sisters” (DVD, VHS; 1:31; rated R; 1975): Spokane native Joanne Nail stars as Maggie, the newest member of the Dagger Debs, sister group to the Silver Daggers street gang. Her arch foe is Lace, and as the Silver Daggers head for a showdown with a rival gang, Lace targets Maggie. As critic James Berardinelli wrote, “It’s not just bad, it’s execrable.” Yet Quentin Tarantino chose it to be among the films released under his Rolling Thunder imprint.

As Tarantino wrote in the L.A. Weekly, ” ‘Switchblade Sisters’ has an energy and power all its own that kind of rolls over everything. Once you bite into it, it never stops.”

•

Patrick Swayze films: My colleague Jim Kershner was talking about “Road House” (DVD, VHS; 1:54; rated R; 1989) the other day, and he wasn’t swooning with pleasure, if you know what I mean. But while that sucky piece of celluloid would make any credible guilty-pleasure list, then so would “Point Break” (DVD, VHS; 2:00; rated R for violence; 1991) – which had the added bonus of Keanu Reeves – and the dueling “Dawns,” “Steel Dawn” (DVD, VHS; 1:37; rated R; 1987) and “Red Dawn” (DVD, VHS; 1:54; rated PG-13; 1984).

Of the four, I recommend “Steel Dawn.” Swayze’s character, known only as “Nomad,” helps a band of farmers struggle to keep a bad guy and his minions from stealing precious water. Substitute gas for water and you have George Miller’s 1981 film “The Road Warrior” (DVD, VHS; 1:34; rated R).

One difference. “Road Warrior” is a cult classic, and Miller has actual talent. “Steel Dawn” director Lance Hool … well, he makes a great trivia question.

•Consider these, too:

“Silent Running,” an ecologically preachy sci-fi film that stars Bruce Dern and a trio of cute robots (DVD, VHS; 1:29; rated G; 1972);

“The Quick and the Dead,” which has Sharon Stone and a young Leonardo DiCaprio as gunfighters (DVD, VHS; 1:47; rated R; 1995);

“Commando,” an “I’ll be bock” flick starring the governor of Cally-foah-nyuh doing what he would love to do to his growing list of critics (DVD, VHS; 1:30; rated R; 1985); and, of course,

“First Blood,” in which Sylvester Stallone inaugurates the “Rambo” series (DVD, VHS; 1:37; rated R; 1982).

Send in your own choices. I’ll share them with the world.

Just make sure not to mention anything French – unless, of course, it’s really, really bad.