Review of Pecker (1998) by Jennifer A — 01 Jan 2007

[b]Boyz N the Hood - 8/10[/b].

Director - John Singleton.

Starring - Cuba Gooding Jr., Ice Cube, Lawrence Fishburne, Morris Chestnut, Angela Bassett & Nia Long.

Spike Lee's controversial masterpiece "Do The Right Thing" opened the doors for many young African American directors to tell stories about African American culture, specifically the urban experience. The one that came closest to rivaling Spike Lee's monumental film was "Boyz 'N the Hood", John Singleton's directorial debut. The films tells the story of three young African American males growing up in South Central Los Angeles. Tre (Gooding Jr.) is a bright young man planning on college. His stern father (Fishburne) tries to steer him in the right direction, but he's easily influenced by best friends Ricky (Chestnut), a gifted athlete who struggles with his studies, and Doughboy( Ice Cube) a drug-dealing gangster with a juvenile record. The violence and tempations of the street always loom closely, reaching a devastating consequence. Singleton does a masterful job of putting the viewer right in the middle of South Central LA. The charcaters are well written and the performances very good to excellent, especially Fishburne and Ice Cube. In retrospect the film may feel a bit heavy handed, but so few films at this point in time had accurately conveyed how it was to grow up in the hood. One could nitpick that every white character in this film (mostly policeman) are evil, but one could counter that since most encounters with whites by young African Americans were with authority figures, hence the mistrust and perception. Nonetheless an important picture and the best John Singleton has made.

[b]Waking Ned Devine - 6.5/10[/b].

Director - Kirk Jones.

Starring - Ian Bannen, David Kelly, Fionnula Flanagan, Susan Lynch, James Nesbit.

This quirky British black comedy chronicles a pair of elderly Irish men who scheme with other townfolks to inherit a winning lottery ticket from a deceased resident. David Kelly and Ian Bannen are charming and the story is geniunely funny although the film sometimes relies on typical British humor.

[b]Office Space - 6/10[/b].

Director - Mike Judge.

Starring - Ron Livingston, Jennifer Aniston, David Herman, Gary Cole, Ajay Naidu & John C. McGinley.

A dark comedy about the indiginity of being a corporate slave that has amassed quite a cult following over the years. Created by Mike Judge (Beavis & Butthead & King of the Hill), it definitely has a "stick it to the man" appeal, yet it walks a thin line between silly and stupid at times. It's harmless fun I guess, just not sure it's deserving of it's cult like following.

[b]Pecker - 6/10[/b].

Director - John Waters.

Starring - Edward Furlong, Christina Ricci, Mary Kay Place, Martha Plimpton, Lili Taylor, & Brendan Sexton Jr.

Quirky comedy about a young amateur photographer who becomes an unlikely star in the Art World. As with all Waters films you have an assortment of eccentric characters. The story itself is uneven but despite all the flaws it's funny and watchable.