Miss Firecracker (1989)

Set in Mississippi, an awkward young woman (Holly Hunter) with a promiscuous past and a bad reputation is determined to follow in the footsteps of her prettier cousin (Mary Steenburgen) and win the Miss Firecracker beauty contest. But the odds of her even getting into the pageant seem insurmountable. Based on the play THE MISS FIRECRACKER CONTEST by Beth Henley (CRIMES OF THE HEART), who also adapted it for the screen, this is a quirky rather poignant portrait of an underdog's determination to get some validation. But this isn't ROCKY. Henley keeps it closer to reality than an audience pleasing dark horse victory. Henley doesn't condescend to her characters. When Hunter does her clumsy tap dancing during the talent competition, you're rooting for her even though you know she's awful. Henley doesn't encourage us to laugh and neither do Hunter or the director Thomas Schlamme. In addition to Hunter and Steenburgen, there's Tim Robbins as Hunter's mentally challenged cousin and in a scene stealing performance, Alfre Woodard as the eccentric seamstress (she makes dresses for frogs) with buggy eyes. With Scott Glenn, Christine Lahti, Ann Wedgeworth, Amy Wright, Veanne Cox and Trey Wilson.