Crackpot: The Obsessions of John Waters (Paperback)

~ John Waters (Author) "Los Angeles is everything a great American city should be: rich, hilarious, of questionable taste, and throbbing with fake glamour..." (more)
Key Phrases: nicest kids, New York, Buddy Deane, Hail Mary (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

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.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

William S. Burroughs John Waters is the Pope of Trash and his taste in tacky is unexcelled. -- Review

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Scribner; Rep Sub edition (October 21, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0743246276
• ISBN-13: 978-0743246279
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #62,430 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in this category: (What's this?)

  #37 in

  Books > Arts & Photography > Performing Arts > Theater > Broadway & Musicals

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Soda will come out of your nose!, September 5, 2007

By	J. Arena (Williamsburg, VA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

I have been a fan of John Waters for years. I read Crackpot: The Obsessions of John Waters while sitting at a coffee bar near Bloomingdale's in NYC. I was surrounded by "the ladies who lunch." The book made me snicker, chuckle, guffaw, and produce a series of embarrassing noises produced when you try to suppress hysterical laughter in an inappropriate place. The embarrassing sounds made me laugh even more, and the looks of disgust from disapproving shoppers ultimately sent Diet Pepsi through my nose.

I could not offer a finer tribute to anything produced by the mind of John Waters. God bless you, John.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great book by the infamous writer, director, pruducer,actor...................... John Waters., August 10, 2006

By	Jacob "Jake" (Arizona) - See all my reviews

A great entertaining litany of odd and fascinating people, places, and things from John Waters home in baltimore to his favorite vacation point in los angeles.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars John Waters is hilarious!, April 16, 2007

By	C. Garcia - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I just finished reading Crackpot last week, and it kept me entertained from beginning to end. I'm not an avid reader, so being able to get through any book is usually impossible for me, no matter what the length. Not only was the book nice and short, but John Waters really does know how to keep your attention. His writings are a great compliment to his films and I can't wait to read Shock Value! I love you, John!