Miss Firecracker

Description

Carnelle isn't happy with her life, so in order to improve herself she enters a local beauty contest, trying to emulate her cousin Elain's win many years ago. Few think she can win, even her closest friends and relatives (e.g. slightly mad cousin Delmount) think she's heading for a big disappointment, but Carnelle is ever hopeful, seeing a win as a ticket to escape her small town in Mississippi.

Customer Reviews:

Hits and Misses.......2006-11-19

This is in fact an art film, featuring splendid acting and a plot that is barely coherent. Two major characters in the story, and several scenes, don't seem to belong at all. Three cheers for Mary Steenburgen and Holly Hunter. The problem seems to fall on the director, whose choppy and confusing style may leave many wondering why they bothered to spend the time with this movie.

Another success!.......2005-08-29

I am pleased with the inventory you keep, I am very happy to have this hard top find DVD. The price was reasonable and the transaction was very quick and easy!

Finally it's on DVD!!!!.......2004-08-15

I love this movie. I don't know why I even ever watched the movie on the first place, I guess just 'cause my mom bought it at a yard sale a few years ago and we had it to watch. Well, it's become one of my favorite movies of all time. The only bad thing is that it's hard for me to see Holly Hunter as anything else but Carnell Scott or Alfre Woodard as anything but Popeye in any other roles. If you like it, the DVD is a must have. I wish it had more features like commentaries by the director/cast. But it's better than nothing.

"There's Always Eternal Grace"-Henley's Play Brought To Life.......2004-07-09

Contemporary playwright, Beth Henley's ("Crimes Of The Heart") "The Miss Firecracker Contest" is brought to life and to the big screen.

The film features an incredible Holly Hunter as the tramp of the town turned wanna-be good girl beauty queen Carnelle Scott. Carnelle was an abandoned little girl who was dropped off at her aunt's house in Yazoo City not more than a year old with ringworm, diaper rash and a bag of dirty rags.

Deeply intense, Tim Robbins as cousin Delmount Williams (recently out of a mental ward) and the beautiful Mary Steenburgen as Elain Rutledge (a forever young beauty queen) grew up with young Carnelle in their household and under their mother's care and Carnelle is more like a sister to them than a cousin.

After Carnelle works on her talent routine for FIVE years and then dyes her hair a bright red, she gets up enough gumption to enter the Yazoo City Miss Firecracker Contest!

Enter Alfre Woodard as Popeye, the local seamstress that learned her trade at the tender age of four - sewing costumes and clothes for the Yazoo City's neighborhood bullfrogs! Carnelle hires Popeye to help her with her costumes for the beauty pageant. All Popeye wants to do is move to Elysian Fields (a funny and touching scene inthe movie) to forget about her troubles and eat ambrosia all the live long day.

A week before the pageant, the carnival shows up in town with all it's pretty lights and fun rides. Scott Glenn as the carnie, Mac Sam has a romantic history with Carnelle and is certainly dying of lung and kidney failure when he shows up in Yazoo City in the year 1988. This year will be his last for a Firecracker Celebration.

It seems Carnelle has a reputation around town and that she slept with any guy that crossed her path just so they would tell her that she was beautiful back in her younger years. EVEN a YOUNG Mr. Richard Fish from Ally McBeal (Greg Germann) makes an appearance as one of Carnelle's old lovers and is a total hick of a peanut throwin', hootin' and hollarin' idiot, by the name of Ronnie Wayne. Ann Wedgewood as emcee, Miss Blue and Amy Wright (Rose Leary from The Accidental Tourist) as hunch-backed beauty contestant Missy Mahoney also have small but great parts!

If only Carnelle wins the Miss Firecracker Contest, she will finally feel the acceptance and satisfaction she has longed for all her life. Is it Carnelle's chance to shine? What happens between Popeye and Delmount? Does Elain leave her husband?

Turn on, tune in and watch to see what happens!

This movie isn't a chick flick by any means. It's really a TRAGECOMEDY with happy, funny, sad, and downright depressing moments that make you think...Hmmmmmm.

Happy Watching!

Holly Hunter, Tim Robbins, and Mary Steenburgeen are great.......2004-05-03

This movie is so funny and at the same time very sad. It takes
place in Yazoo City Mississippi. Every year there is a big fair
and the high point in the Miss Firecracker Contest. Holly Hunter
worships her cousin Elaine played to perfection by Mary Steenburgeen. Elaine was once a winner in the Miss Firecracker
Contest, and Holly Hunter wants to enter. Elaine has come back
to deliver a speech as she has moved on and made a successful
life for herself. Holly Hunter has no confidence and it means
everything to her to win. The movie is full of crazy characters
and really shows southern life. Tim Robbins plays Mary Steenburgeen's brother and Holly Hunter's cousin. He is so
funny in this movie. Holly Hunter is great as the girl trying
so hard to win. Mary Steenburgeen is beautiful as a past winner
but her character is vain and selfish. This movie is so funny
and you will love it. Great acting,story, script, and cast

Average customer rating:

Hits and Misses
Another success!
Finally it's on DVD!!!!
"There's Always Eternal Grace"-Henley's Play Brought To Life
Holly Hunter, Tim Robbins, and Mary Steenburgeen are great

Miss Firecracker
Starring: Holly Hunter , Mary Steenburgen , Tim Robbins , Alfre Woodard , and Scott Glenn
Director: Thomas Schlamme
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

( M ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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ASIN: B00005Q3XX