Pecker

November 18, 1998

A semi-autobiographical film by John Waters?

Yep. That’s what Pecker seems to be. John Waters examines the effects of fame and money on the life of a teenage photographer and his family. His world is turned upside down, his artwork loses much of its meaning and validity AND there are devasting effects on his personal life…Of course the big difference is that John Waters worked his ass off to get famous and Pecker had it fall in his lap. AND I am positive that Waters wouldn’t give it up for all the trade in the world…

Wasn’t Edward Furlong that kid in Terminator 2? If so, why hasn’t he aged in the 8 or so years since that film was made? Anyway, he wasn’t bad as Pecker, and having seen many of his other films (T2, Pet Semetary 2, Brainscan, Little Odessa, etc…), that is the best compliment I can give. Christina Ricci is getting good at paranoia (see Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas). I think the last thing I saw Martha Plimpton in was Parenthood. Man am I glad she isn’t dating Keanu anymore!

The only Waters film tamer than this one is Hairspray, but hey, shit-eating and blowjobs aren’t everything…

“I’m happier in my life at 52 years old. At 25, when I made Pink Flamingos, I was more insane, angrier maybe, but still happy. It’s 1990 now, not the ’60s, when there was a cultural war going on. Now I’m rooting for the president to get blow jobs! It’s very different. [My new film] Pecker has some of the edge of my earlier movies but a sweeter spirit. The sense of humor is the same. Pecker is a feel-good movie for lunatics.” – John Waters to Salon magazine