| The winning 10th feature from John Waters straddles a fine and wisely chosen line between the flaunted vulgarity of his early works and the sloppy kindheartedness of his later films. Set, as usual, in Baltimore, Edward "T2" Furlong stars as "Pecker", a sweet-natured young fellow who gleefully fills his days photographing his surroundings with a cheap secondhand camera. Egging him on are his virgin Mary-obsessed grandmother, his kleptomaniac best friend (Brendan Sexton III), and his girlfriend (Christina Ricci) who runs a laundromat with an iron fist. However, when his works are "discovered" by a slumming NYC art dealer (Lili Taylor), Peckerīs simple life and family are turned upside down, and Waters getīs to take some well-deserved and on-target swipes at the pretentiousness of the art world and the true nature of fame. Those familiar with Baltimor culture will be even more richly rewarded. |
