Crackpot

October 1, 2003
Beneath the lewd exterior of punk filmmaker John Waters lies the discipline of gay novelist Jean Genet, and below that lies a tender humanity that some might even call saintly. In Crackpot, a reissue of Waters' 1986 collection of rants and reviews, originally published in Rolling Stone and elsewhere, the sweetness of the auteur's alleged perversity shines through on every page. Whether discussing the life story of Pia Zadora ("Pia Zadora is my kind of movie star. She's got balls") or the success of "Hairspray" on Broadway ("The real reason I'm praying that Hairspray...succeeds is that if it's a big hit, there will be high school productions, and finally the fat girl and the drag queen will get the starring parts"), Waters exhibits a moral heart buried in the garbage of celebrity culture. In his career as filmmaker, gallery artist, journalist and professional wit, Waters has always championed the loser with irrefutable panache. This document of his clever, searching mind will inspire old fans to laugh with renewed affection, and may win him a few new admirers.

November 15, 2003
Director Waters is known for his flamboyant avant-garde films, and his 1986 book is no less garish. There is no subject that Waters is unwilling to discuss, with most of it fun and nonsense, but his advice on making feature films with almost no money can be taken to heart. This edition has been slightly updated with new material.

Copyright 2003 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.