Havoc Reviews

Quality film has an awful start

Although the film has simplistic plot-line about rich kids getting into trouble on the “wrong side of the tracks”, this is just the backbone upon which director Barbara Koppel hangs an astute study of false impressions. In some cases these false impressions are created deliberately as in rich soft white kids pretending to be hardened gangsta rappers. At other times they are born of prejudice and misunderstandings.

There is a wonderful scene early in the film when Allison (Anne Hathaway) walks around the kitchen of her home reading the post-its that her parents have left for each other. In those few brief moments we get a wonderful impression of her totally dysfunctional family while later on, when they bail her out of jail, they appear to be the perfect concerned parents.

Allison's sterile family background is in stark contrast to the rich, vibrant family lifethat we later glimpse of the Latino 'bad-boy' who she falls for and who's life she ultimately puts in jeopardy.

The film is very much a vehicle for Hathaway and she carries out her responsibilities with aplomb. Her performance is well worthy of the DVD “Best Actress” award that she received for it.

The much talked about nudity is neither excessive nor exploitative. What we do see is totally in keeping with the story and, if anything, the motel room scene involving Emily (Bijou Phillips) is rather tame by European standards.

The only major fault with the film is the director's brave (foolhardy?) decision to begin with a scene containing appallingly bad dialogue and wooden acting. This gives (ironically) the false impression that we are about to see a particularly bad hip-hop movie. This is a deliberate part of the story rather than a reflection of the script and the actors. The fact that the scene includes a student capturing these antics on video should be enough to alert the viewer to this fact but, judging from many comments and reviews, this seems to have passed many people by (including some so-called professional critics). Perhaps this is one case where non-linear storytelling would have helped the film.

[Highly rated reviewer]

Not fully developed

There are some really good bits in this film (that's bits, not tits, nicely pert though they were). There are the perils, attractions, excitements and wonders of discovering a whole new world just down the road, as the privileged teenagers who are the focus of this film explore the downtown Hispanic quarter. It put me in mind of William Golding’s 'Rites of Passage' and the dangers of straying from your social straightjacket. It also debunked the kids' daft aping of black ghetto talk; it really is childish and ridiculous.

But these are early in the film. Don’t get me wrong, this is a reasonably entertaining three-star film and passes the time; it just could have been so much better. The story and the screenplay were lazy and the dramatic highlights distinctly lukewarm. The mocking of California culture and criticism of current neo-conservative thought were add-ons, lacking conviction. Most of all Anne Hathaway, in playing a girl supposedly almost ten years her junior, was just not convincing.

One of the better films I've seen lately

I found this film very watchable whilst having something interesting to say. Its portrayal of disenchanted and painfully bored youth was entertaining, but more importantly I think it reflects quite realistically the lives of some young people today (granted the minority, but that's what makes it interesting viewing), and gives a little insight into the problems they experience/cause that we see in the papers. I also liked the exploration of the main character, a very troubled and confused teenager. I really enjoyed this film but I guess the subject matter isn't everyone's cup of tea.

Ok film, but left a bit empty!

Anne Hathaway is dreadfully miscast in this movie which portrays the rather bizarre world of rich kids trying to fit into the dangerous world of downtown LA . Although it is entertaining, the whole movie plays the issue of gang culture too safe. There is no new ground broken, no real shocks or anything which makes this movie special. The ending is too ambiguous and your left feeling empty and struggling to find a point to this film. Some performances are laughable and cringe-worthy, in particular Joseph Gorden Levitt. The issue of youth was handled to greater effect in Thirteen. If you want to see gratuitous female nudity then this is the film for you, but if you want to see a shocking film about hedonistic youth in todays society rent Thirteen.

YES I GOT THE IRONIC START...

...but it was still a terrible film.

[Highly rated reviewer]

not worth watching

I could not stand this at all, turned off after 20 minutes

OK but nothing special

Despite the ok acting the script and whole plot are quite shaky. Freddy Rodriguez is the verygood despite his bad accent but overall it seemed very shallow and superficial. It involves rich kids who like to play 'gangsta' who then meet some real 'latino' drug dealers. The story then turns nasty. A good premise but badly excecuted with a bad script

[Highly rated reviewer]

Entertaining but flawed. 6/10

Havoc is a potentially mind blowing film that for us only ever plodded along to eventual disappointment, the plot follows a seemingly ludicrous, simplistic notion of rich white kids wanting to be real ‘gangstas’. Well I do not think it is that ridiculous, they might all look ridiculous but every day in the nicest parts of the country you can not help but find hood clad want to be ‘’gangstas’. Havoc tries to focus on how there is more to the life of these ‘gangstas’ and to a certain extent tries to give you an insight into their lives and ordinary people’s fascination with this lifestyle. With the subject matter and the messages the film has to relay you might hope for a gritty and meaningful life drama however this offering does not really give you anything close. Havoc does contain scenes of tense drama but mostly mixed with weak characters and patchy scenes. Anne Hathaway was entertaining enough in a film that I certainly enjoyed but by the end I could not help but wonder how British cinema and lesser known actors might have approached this film. Entertaining but flawed, contains one quite graphic scene and a fair amount nudity and bad language as might be expected. 6/10. 3 stars

All good in the hood???

To spare yourself the bother of actually watching this , take yourself off to L.A instead to hang about 'the hood' where it is preferable to get shot, mugged, killed than watch this tripe. One star for Anne Hathaway being cast against type and being actually quite good- I'd watch out for my agent succombing to more of this dross though girl- take note!!

Anne have it away

Ok Iknow when a star of a big hit childrens film wants to show everyone shes grown up.Whats the best way to do it.Well if your Anne its find a film that involves dodgy script but means you get to see her naked not that im complaining about seeing her excellent assests why did it have to be the only high point and if its the only high point who needs low points this is one of them films that goes no where fast but trys to explore gang culture and show you how boring it is for rich kids having to grow up without worrying about money so they pretend to be like their heroes in gangster rap until the two females of the cast fancy a bit of rough then realise after they got those bad old poor folk with gangster tiesall worked up thats it not what they really want then cry about it ah well film over boring