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Thirteen
2002
THIRTEEN is Catherine Hardwicke's explosive portrait of teenage girls at their very worst. Mean, manipulative, conniving, and utterly out of control, these skinny, sexy, drug-addicted, 13-year-old time bombs are nothing short of terrifying. Hardwicke's movie is brilliant in its ability to portray this phenomenon, which comes .. Read more
| Starring | Holly Hunter, Evan Rachel Wood, Nikki Reed, Jeremy Sisto |
|---|---|
| Director | Catherine Hardwicke |
| Genres | Drama |
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Thirteen
THIRTEEN is Catherine Hardwicke's explosive portrait of teenage girls at their very worst. Mean, manipulative, conniving, and utterly out of control, these skinny, sexy, drug-addicted, 13-year-old time bombs are nothing short of terrifying. Hardwicke's movie is brilliant in its ability to portray this phenomenon, which comes off as very real. The skillful photography from cinematographer Elliot Davis communicates the most complicated themes of the film: insecurity, confusion, wanting to be liked and accepted, and feeling like it's time to grow up fast. In an early scene, protagonist Tracy (Evan Rachel Wood), a shy girl and good student, approaches Evie (Nikki Reed), the school's ultra-popular bad girl, and the two size up each other's clothing, jewellery, hair, shoes, socks, and decide to go on a shopping spree. From there Tracy spirals downward, copying Evie's every move in an aggressive game of daring each other to take increasingly dangerous risks--stealing, getting piercings, experimenting with sex, drinking and taking drugs, and much more. All the while Tracy's mother (Holly Hunter) who is a bohemian ex-alcoholic trying to be open-minded and supportive about her daughter's rebellion, slowly loses her authority and her ability to cope with these volatile teens. A booming, excellent soundtrack punctuates the hyper, desperate, manic mood of the girls' behaviour, and catalyses the adrenaline rush that is THIRTEEN.
| Starring | Holly Hunter, Evan Rachel Wood, Nikki Reed, Jeremy Sisto, Brady Corbet |
|---|---|
| Director | Catherine Hardwicke |
| Studio | UNIVERSAL PICTURES UK |
| Run time | DVD: 1 hr 35 mins |
| Certificate | |
| Genres | Drama |
| Language | DVD: English |
| Released | DVD: 01 May 2004 Production year: 2002 |
| Format | DVD |
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Critics' reviews (4)
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Based on the adolescent experiences of 13-year-old Nikki Reed (who co-scripted and efferevesces as vivacious “It Girl” Evie), this frank, emotionally intense drama stars Evan Rachel Wood as a model daughter and student who goes off the rails. Set in motion by peer pressure and family disrepair, director Catherine Hardwicke's spiky character study has low-budget, hand-held panache and creativity (the colour gradually drains from the movie as Wood's mental instability grows). Yet its spark comes principally from the bewitching young leads and a powerhouse turn from Holly Hunter as Wood's bothered and bewildered single mother. To its detriment, the film at times seems to be deliberately courting controversy, as when the two under-age girls attempt to seduce their hunky neighbour, and repetition does creep into the confrontation-heavy second half. Nevertheless, it has more to say than your average teen “chick flick” and leaves memorable calling cards from Hardwicke, Reed and face-of-the-future Wood.
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"...A film that perfectly captures...the devastating allure of cool...."
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Most helpful member's review
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44 out of 73 people found this review helpful
[Highly rated reviewer]
Trust your instincts - maybe I should have...
This is a film about a thirteen year old girl going off the rails within a very short time and the implications this has for her and her family.
Unfortunately I have to admit that I knew I would not like this film with the first scene. It is difficult to explain why but somehow I found it rather hard to believe what was happening and I felt the film disregarded a great deal of the adolescent psyche. It is difficult to explain (hence 'trust your instincts') but a film that shows how bad teenagers are and that they are up for anything without remorse just does not ring true in this crude black and white portrayal of adolescence. I felt there was little sympathy for any of the main characters, too little conscience on the part of Tracy who seems to go from 'good girl' to 'bad girl' almost in an instance without any guilt feelings or inner struggles.
This is rather unfortunate as I believe the story is principally a good one but neither the direction nor the over-the-top acting of the teenagers can bring it across. Even holly Hunter, who does a good job of plying the mother, can not save this film.
Maybe you will like it if you are a teenage girl in difficulties (although you have to be over 18 to watch this) or maybe you have had a difficult adolescence and some of this touches your soul but it certainly didn't work for me. I would also add 'Parents Beware' as most teenagers are not like this and the vast majority of them become well adjusted adults.
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- ThomasKus from Gloucester
- Posted 12 Jun 2004 18:17
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Most recent members' review
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1 out of 1 person found this review helpful
A good movie in which a 'good' girl falls in with the wrong crowd. Great acting especially from the lead and her mother, Holly Hunter, although it seems a bit far fetched that girls of that age are doing all those drugs. Or maybe I'm just behind the times. Worth watching just to see how NOT to talk to your mother
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