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Pecker
1998
The winning 10th feature from John Waters straddles a fine line between the eager vulgarity of his earlier works and the sloppy sweetness of HAIRSPRAY and CRY-BABY. Set, as usual, in Baltimore, the film stars Edward Furlong as Pecker, a sweet-natured young fellow who happily passes the days photographing his surroundings with a .. Read more
| Starring | Edward Furlong, Christina Ricci, Beth Armstrong, Martha Plimpton |
|---|---|
| Director | John Waters |
| Genres | Comedy, Drama, Gay/Lesbian |
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Critics' reviews (6)
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John Waters movies don't come more sweet and adorable than this portrait of a young and ingenuous Baltimore photographer (a rather low-key Edward Furlong) who becomes an instant “art star” after winning over New York's jaded establishment with his neighbourhood snaps. The scanty story charts the eponymous Pecker's rise to fame and the subsequent attempts to pluck him from his proletarian backwater. Waters gently — though at times didactically — satirises the vampiric art world as a frame for a comparatively sympathetic picture of his B-list Maryland hometown. Among the many mischievous delights are a ventriloquist act involving a Virgin Mary doll, Christina Ricci as the launderette operator from hell and Martha Plimpton as Pecker's spunky sibling. Not to mention Mink Stole.
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"...PECKER remains a refreshing reminder of Waters' spunky talents, and offers continued proof that there really is a very thin line between treasure and trash..."
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"...The characters are vivid, and you'll be pleased to know that Waters hasn't lost his taste for outrageous sexual humor..."
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Most helpful members' reviews (3)
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1 out of 1 person found this review helpful
Brilliant, offbeat slice of life
A marvellous feelgood movie portraying the rise to fame of a young photographer and how his fame affects his family and friends.
John Waters' fillums are often meant to shock you out of your view of what's normal in life. This one has a wider appeal and I'd recommend it as an introduction to the great man's work. -
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful
Slow to get going
For around the first 20 minutes, which are fairly repetitive, I wasn't sure whether I'd watch this to the end, but once it hits its stride it makes for a gentle satire on the world of celebrity, art and media, which ends up being warm-hearted, affirming and thoroughly enjoyable. The performances throughout are spot on.
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Great
A real good feel good movie from John Waters. Well worth watching.
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Most recent members' reviews (2)
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0 out of 3 people found this review helpful
Boring
I didn't find this film interesting in any way. The only good thing to say about it is that I didn't turn it off before the end (I was ironing at the time and it helped relieve the tedium). The film is almost totally forgettable - don't rent it if you are looking for an interesting film.
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Feel-good movie but very light touch
Perhaps I was expecting too much from this film. Although it was well acted, it was very much light-touch and woolly. Requires no thought from the viewer. Simply play and switch off.
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1 out of 1 person found this review helpful
Brilliant, offbeat slice of life
A marvellous feelgood movie portraying the rise to fame of a young photographer and how his fame affects his family and friends.
John Waters' fillums are often meant to shock you out of your view of what's normal in life. This one has a wider appeal and I'd recommend it as an introduction to the great man's work. -
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful
Slow to get going
For around the first 20 minutes, which are fairly repetitive, I wasn't sure whether I'd watch this to the end, but once it hits its stride it makes for a gentle satire on the world of celebrity, art and media, which ends up being warm-hearted, affirming and thoroughly enjoyable. The performances throughout are spot on.
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Great
A real good feel good movie from John Waters. Well worth watching.
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Fun, but a little purile
Ok, so I enjoyed watching this film. I'm a photographer anyway, so any film taking a poke at the industry is good in my opinion, but it all seemed just a little too obvious. I enjoyed the first part of the film, but near the end it seemed to me to get lost, and it wasn't sure exactly what the point it was trying to make was.
It is a lighthearted, reasonably enjoyable film, but nothing amazing.
If you have a bit of time spare, watch it. If you have a bunch of other films waiting to be watched; I'd watch those first. -
Quirky but amusing story
This film tells the tale of the rise to fame of a young photographer when he is spotted by a New York gallery owner. He comes from a strange but loving family who never question the unusual activities that each of them pursue, this has to be one of it's most charming features.
It has a lot of subtle humor to it that can be easily missed if you are not concentrating, for example Pecker's friend sitting with them in a restaurant still sporting the security tags on his stolen clothes.
It won't be to everyone's taste, but I certainly found it quite enjoyable entertainment. -
Peckerless
A nice gentle comedy that is mosty inoffensive but the characters, for me, are cliches and as a result I didn't enjoy it that much
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Worth a watch
I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. Its a light hearted tale of a young photographer called Pecker who spends his days photographing people in his small town outside Baltimore. This includes a grandmother who believes her virgin mary doll can talk, his sister who works in a gay table dancing bar and other oddities found in this small town.
A New York Gallery owner picks up some of his shots and suddenly he finds himself exhibiting with guest cameos from Cindy Sherman and Gregg Gorman.
A very lighthearted send up of the photography world, his sudden rise to fame, and subsequently his preferral of his old family life.
Would recommend this, to indie film lovers and photographers alike. -
click..click..click....click...click
turned it off after 15 minutes, couldnt bear to watch him take one more picture! - yeah he's a photographer but we get the point... good story or not it was driving me mad!
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good
love john walters films. love how it's all turned round at the end.
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Feel-good movie but very light touch
Perhaps I was expecting too much from this film. Although it was well acted, it was very much light-touch and woolly. Requires no thought from the viewer. Simply play and switch off.
Critics' reviews (6)
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John Waters movies don't come more sweet and adorable than this portrait of a young and ingenuous Baltimore photographer (a rather low-key Edward Furlong) who becomes an instant “art star” after winning over New York's jaded establishment with his neighbourhood snaps. The scanty story charts the eponymous Pecker's rise to fame and the subsequent attempts to pluck him from his proletarian backwater. Waters gently — though at times didactically — satirises the vampiric art world as a frame for a comparatively sympathetic picture of his B-list Maryland hometown. Among the many mischievous delights are a ventriloquist act involving a Virgin Mary doll, Christina Ricci as the launderette operator from hell and Martha Plimpton as Pecker's spunky sibling. Not to mention Mink Stole.
-
"...PECKER remains a refreshing reminder of Waters' spunky talents, and offers continued proof that there really is a very thin line between treasure and trash..."
-
"...The characters are vivid, and you'll be pleased to know that Waters hasn't lost his taste for outrageous sexual humor..."
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There was never much of a centre to Waters' films, and now he's lost his edge too. Occasional burger bar chef and... read more on Time Out
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"...A broad yet loving satire....Turns your home into a kitschy wingding..." -- Rating: A-
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"...Ebulliently trashy fun..."
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