X
- 1989
- PG
- Corsair Pictures
- 1 h 42 m
- 1989
- PG
- Corsair Pictures
- 1 h 42 m
Summary Carnelle wants to escape her dreary life, so she enters a local beauty contest, much to everyone's dismay.
Directed By: Thomas Schlamme
Written By: Beth Henley
- 1989
- PG
- Corsair Pictures
- 1 h 42 m
- 1989
- PG
- Corsair Pictures
- 1 h 42 m
Miss Firecracker
58
User Score
Available after 4 ratings
tbd
Where to Watch
Summary Carnelle wants to escape her dreary life, so she enters a local beauty contest, much to everyone's dismay.
Directed By: Thomas Schlamme
Written By: Beth Henley
Where to Watch
Top Cast
Metascore
Mixed or Average
Based on 18 Critic Reviews
58
44% Positive
8 Reviews
8 Reviews
56% Mixed
10 Reviews
10 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Metascore
Mixed or Average
Based on 18 Critic Reviews
58
44% Positive
8 Reviews
8 Reviews
56% Mixed
10 Reviews
10 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
What finally makes Miss Firecracker special is that it is not about who wins the contest, but about how all beauty contests are about the need to be loved and about how silly a beauty contest can seem if somebody really loves you.
In portraits bursting with the magic and eccentricities of the same Southern literary tradition that gave us William Faulkner, Harper Lee and Tennesee Williams, Henley has created memorable and rich characters. These are real people, not Hollywood plastics.
The movie definitely belongs to the hyper-kinetic Hunter, who originated the role of Carnelle on stage. Still, no matter how many cartwheels or rifle twirls she gives us, Miss Firecracker never becomes more than a pleasant flash. [12 May 1989, p.5]
It’s a low-budget production with major-league acting by Mary Steenburgen, Holly Hunter and Alfre Woodard. It’s not directed sharply enough; Thomas Schlamme is particularly weak on the fight scenes.
The film seems thin, a set of vignettes about a fairly consistent set of characters. -- but only fairly consistent. [17 May 1989, p.B05]
Ultimately, there's not enough genuine wildness to these dark, passionate and half-crazy people. Miss Firecracker is the South made cute.
Director Thomas Schlamme's unsure handling of scenes and indiscriminate use of unappealing close-ups of actors emoting at full steam only emphasize the material's weakness.
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