The Reeler > 'Trapped in the Closet': R. Kelly Stuffs Stockings, God Knows What Else with All 12 Chapters

'Trapped in the Closet': R. Kelly Stuffs Stockings, God Knows What Else with All 12 Chapters

I had heard about this, but had not been able to set aside enough time to check it out until now. And the rumors have indeed given way to a glorious reality: R. Kelly's Trapped in the Closet--at least the first 12 chapters--is now on DVD.

And how totally fucking peerlessly brilliant is this film? Let us ask the directors' publicist:

What began as a simple music video has become a cultural, cliff-hanging phenomenon. From the first airing of the four-minute video for “Chapter 1” of R&B superstar R. Kelly’s song cycle, Trapped in the Closet, the broadcast of each successive new “episode” went on to become a nationally-awaited event. The two people responsible for turning an unprecedented labor-of-love “urban opera” from one of pop music’s biggest names into a cinematic mini-epic are independent producer Ann Carli and maverick director Jim Swaffield.

The success of the first five showed [Carli and Swaffield] had set the stage for an entirely new take on soap opera, told entirely through song and awash with serialized pulp genre trappings. Suggesting to Kelly that the song was too grand to be given a simple music video wash, Ann and Jim convinced the R&B star to treat the project as an actual independent film. [...] When Trapped in the Closet hits shelves, the next set of secrets in R. Kelly’s ever-expanding opus will be revealed… Yet the creative and dynamic magic that sparks between Ann Carli and Jim Swaffield – like all of their works – leaves us eagerly awaiting their next chapter…

It is all enough to make me want to run down to Swaffield's New York digs and kiss his goddamned ring. And while of course this kind of fulsome hype may rot your teeth, it supplies no match for the brain-cramping blend of camp and narrative genius ("I said 'Why don’t I just go out the window?' / 'Yes, except for one thing, we’re on the 5th flo' ' / Think! Think! 'Quick! Put me in the closet!' / And now I'm in this darkest closet trying to figure out / Just how I'm gonna get my crazy ass out this house") that makes Trapped in the Closet one of the underrated classics of 2005.

Seriously. My tongue is not in my cheek, my irony-ectomy has yielded its gain. If it were not for the lingering three-year hangover of Dave Chappelle and "R. Kelly's Doo-Doo Butter," I would canonize these motherfuckers right now. But is it not enough to just own their film and to stay up at night deconstructing imagination, audacity and its future? I mean, it sounds as though this is a bottomless renewable resource, like Christmas trees or great coffee. Could Kelly's brow-furrowed best really be yet to come? Should I pinch myself or kill myself at the prospect of an infinite "urban opera"? Who can say? All I know for sure is that my holiday shopping just got a lot easier.

Posted by stvanairsdale on Nov 4, 2005 at 11:57AM | Filed under News

Comments

And don't forget the sheer bliss that is R. Kelly's "live" performance at the Video Music Awards: http://www.ifilm.com/ifilmdetail/2678799

Then Cathy says "Rufus!"
Rufus says "Cathy!"
Chuck says "Rufus!"
Rufus says "Chuck!"

Awesome.

Posted by Alison on Nov 4, 2005 at 11:57AM

I LOVE WHAT YOU ARE DOING R KELLY KEEP NO DOING WHAT YOU ARE DOING AND WHO EVER DON'T LIKE HIS SONGS OR DON'T LIKE HIM IS STUIPD YOU ARE THE BEST R KELLY

Posted by Takerah on Nov 4, 2005 at 11:57AM

when is chapter 13-20 coming out?

Posted by kayla on Nov 4, 2005 at 11:57AM

Kelly Is a genious this is something new for a change and something to look forward to. also hes a god ive never seen a hotter man.

Posted by heather on Nov 4, 2005 at 11:57AM

hey R-kelly whats up i love trapped in the closet 1-12 and i cant wait to 12-20 come out well i just wanted to congraulate you okay bye holla at me R-kelly if you need some love iight see yah

Posted by cierra on Nov 4, 2005 at 11:57AM

Hey R-kelly whats up i love trapped in the closet 1-12 and i cant wait to 12-20 come out well i just wanted to congraulate you okay bye holla at me R-kelly if you need some love iight see yah

Posted by cierra on Nov 4, 2005 at 11:57AM

who EVER wrote WHO EVER DON'T LIKE HIS SONGS OR DON'T LIKE HIM IS STUIPD YOU ARE THE BEST R KELLY

Posted by aj on Nov 4, 2005 at 11:57AM

is STUPID

Posted by aj on Nov 4, 2005 at 11:57AM

R. Kelly is the best . His songs are and have so much drama, like a real live presentation. With a lot of turnovers. Keep playin R. Kelly!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11

Posted by Thomas on Nov 4, 2005 at 11:57AM

R.kelly is the best R&B rapper in whoever don't like hhim ain't got taste he a fine men in sure he doesn't care who likes him ...
so all halla back at yo G's
keekee,ashley ,tyona,bre-bre

Posted by Cheyana on Nov 4, 2005 at 11:57AM

R.kelly You know we saw you at Auto zone you know my Grandma was triping you was bout to hit her car ...but anyway's she think you cool but i love all your chapter's there striaght in you are to so halla back at me 13122188781

Posted by Krystal on Nov 4, 2005 at 11:57AM

R Kelly I love your movie trapped in the closet Chapters 1-12. I cannot wait to see Chapters 13-20.

Posted by Nicole Choice on Nov 4, 2005 at 11:57AM

trapped in the closet 1-12 is the urban soap opera that we all have been waiting for. some of us find ourselves trapped in the closet sometimes. and afraid to come out R.kelly was just made it easy for you all, i give it two tumbs up!!!!!!!!!!

hats off to the King of R&B

Posted by Nisha on Nov 4, 2005 at 11:57AM

hi i am so happy that you are making all of these chapter i can not wait till i see the other ones....Anywayz i really want to see all of them

Posted by Megan walker on Nov 4, 2005 at 11:57AM

R.Kelly I love Trapped in the closet chapter 1-12. I can't wait to see 13-20.Keep doing your best. Love u R.Kelly

Posted by Xavier Pickney on Nov 4, 2005 at 11:57AM

can't nobody fuck with him

Posted by aliciaw on Nov 4, 2005 at 11:57AM

man i love what you r doin man tell kathy i love her and i want to fuck the mess out of her

Posted by michael fields on Nov 4, 2005 at 11:57AM

I Love R Kelly period - I wish I could meet him one day!

Posted by MisT on Nov 4, 2005 at 11:57AM

Im R.kellys Biggest fan!!!!!!!

Posted by Greg on Nov 4, 2005 at 11:57AM

I just wanted to say I LOVE all of R. Kelly's music N 2 see his chapters was very good looking out for the other chapters keep doing what you do!!!

Posted by Linda Montgomery on Nov 4, 2005 at 11:57AM

the other chapters come out on late january or early february

Posted by badman on Nov 4, 2005 at 11:57AM

when does 13-20 come out?

Posted by boomer on Nov 4, 2005 at 11:57AM

all of you are fucking stupid..I dont know how this many people like such a unimaginative piece of bullshit.. entertainment as we know it is going to fall even further than it ever has... thanks a fucking lot you ignorant pack of faggots... and comeon, and midget in a cubbard.. iv'e wiped my ass with better pieces of work than that

Posted by nig on Nov 4, 2005 at 11:57AM

you are the first person to think of a music video like that i really like trapped in the closet 1 12 when is 13 to 20 coming out

Posted by Anonymous on Nov 4, 2005 at 11:57AM

when is chapter 13-20 coming out?

Posted by Howayne on Nov 4, 2005 at 11:57AM

Does anyone know when the rest of the chaps comming out? i heard it was up to 22 chapters.. is that true??

Posted by Howard on Nov 4, 2005 at 11:57AM

I just love the chapters all of them especially part 8 and 9 with bridget and james. I love it and I cant wait until 13-20 come keep makin it happen and uh r kelly u can pee on me all you won't

Posted by Sasha Hill on Nov 4, 2005 at 11:57AM

Trapped in the closet chpterz 1-12 were freeky....
Me and My brothers can't wait for chapters 13-20....
U R the king of dramas r.kelly

Posted by Simon on Nov 4, 2005 at 11:57AM

To R. Kelly, Carli, and Swaffield that whole chapter idea was really very clever. The videos captured my attention and I cant wait for 13-the end. GENIUS!!

Posted by Jackie on Nov 4, 2005 at 11:57AM

Trackbacks

Ungawa! > The Neverending Story, with a Midget and a Spatula - For those of you unfamiliar with R. Kelly’s magnum opus, Trapped in the Closet, which presently stands at twelve mindblowing chapters, rejoice! It is now available on DVD. Via The Reeler: What began as a simple music video has become a cult... (11/07/05)