Thirteen

Rating:
Summary: Mandatory Viewing for Parents of Teenagers
Review: A gut-wrenching look at the pressures and temptations that face teenagers in the new millenium. In a family fractured by divorce and drug use, Evan Rachel Woods' character is seduced by the oppressive power of peer pressure and need for acceptance. In the space of 100 minutes, her character arc goes from sweet, needy pre-teen to promiscuous, pierced, drug abusing pal to Evie (Nikki Wood, who apparently co-wrote the drama based on her own experiences) to damaged, jaded teen.

As the parent of a young daughter, it was a good cautionary tale to remind me how careful I will need to be when my daughter reaches that age. I encourage other parents of pre-teens to also view this film and stay involved in the lives of your children. It also reminds us that too much freedom is not always a good thing for pre-teens to have. Rules are important, and parents should not be afraid to say "no" to their children when the children are engaged in the kinds of self-destructive behavior this film portrays.

Powerfully, although somewhat unevenly acted at times, this film is definitely not a feel-good film. The tragedy of the film is increased by its realistic depiction of dysfunctional relationships, and although the film is more of a character study than a story, it is definitely worth watching, especially for parents with pre-teens and teenagers. Perhaps it will open a few eyes as to the pressures children face at the start of the 21st century.

Rating:
Summary: Don't expect to be shocked
Review: "Thirteen" may have shocked some, but young adolescent girls have been acting like this for a long time. This movie was nothing like "Kids." I don't feel that the filmmaker set out to "shock" the audience. It seemed very real. In junior high girls often feel the pressure to fit in and be popular and that often leads them to hanging with the wrong crowd. Basically, that is what this movie is about, the girl who at the beginning seems to be at the extreme good girl end of the specturm starts hanging out with Evie and goes to the extreme bad side. This film was lacking in a few areas. For one, the main character during her transition to the dark side showed very little hesitation to trying new things, things just came a bit to easy for me to find it believable at times. I was waiting for the shocking part of the film, but to me it was just a coming of age story.

Rating:
Summary: Brave, devastating portrait of adolescent angst
Review: "Thirteen" is an emotionally devastating movie. Some girls handle puberty fairly smoothly. For them the transition period from child to young woman is an interesting, informative journey. Other girls, like Tracy [Evan Rachel Wood] in this movie, find the experience so traumatizing that they crash and burn. A form of madness sets in that affects not only themselves but their families and friends as well.

Tracy lives in a lower middle-class suburban home with her mom, Melanie [Holly Hunter], and her slightly older brother, Mason [Brady Corbet]. Her real father could care less about what happens with the family. At her middle school, she attempts to make friends with the beautiful Evie [Nikki Redd], but is rejected as being too childish. Tracy quickly remakes herself by trashing her wardrobe and shoplifting things for Evie. Soon Tracy and Evie are best friends and Melanie, a recovering drug addict, is slow to see the changes in Tracy. When Melanie lets her drug addicted boyfriend move back in, Tracy's rebellion only increases. We also see that Evie is from a dysfunctional family. Together Tracy and Evie go on a rampage of drugs, alcohol, body piercing and promiscuous sex. It is important to note that. while the girls come from chaotic, broken homes, not all teens who get into serious trouble come from such backgrounds.

"Thirteen" does not always work. Some of its characters' actions and reactions sometime seem a little farfetched. Where it does succeed, it does so brilliantly. It definitely gets points for being a brave little movie. Young teens and sexuality is not a subject many American filmmakers are willing to deal with, as if 'sex and drugs with minors' and 'sex and drugs among minors' is the same thing.

Rating:
Summary: a shot between the eyes
Review: "Thirteen" has an impact like few films in recent memory. You almost wish it could be another cheesy exploitation picture, but instead you are left with the impression that you are being told the truth, and it is such a shock. Instead of sitting back placidly, you express strong feelings yourself as Evan Rachel Wood slides into her beautiful nightmare of teenage cool. I even hated her at time for what she did to herself and to others, especially her loving but clueless mother Holly Hunter. But one look at Nikki Reed's smile and you know why people fall into temptation -- you can never be too young or too old. Reed's Evie is downright evil, but it is, disturbingly, an innocent brand of evil because she truly is a victim herself. As for Wood, it is amazing such a young actress can perform with such intensity and brilliance. But Hunter has been given credit for keeping the whole show together, and that is absolutely correct, even though she herself is exploited in a totally gratuitous nude scene. You are left asking, "Is this where are children are heading? Is innocence for a child impossible in our American society of today?" "Thirteen" is a perfect barometer of how steep the slide has been.

Rating:
Summary: a great great story about life
Review: I loved this movie and it touched me very much. I had a friend whom i loved very much that was a lot like tracy the girl evan rachel ward plays. awesome acting by everyone involved.highly recommended...............

Rating:
Summary: "Outstanding"
Review: Few teen problem movies turn out as compelling or as brilliant as "Thirteen". Evan Rachel Wood plays Tracy Freeland who as an emotional troubled 13 year old seventh grader. Tracy develops an out of control relationship with Evie Zamora (Nikki Reed) and she turns to a world of drugs and anger. Her struggling mom Melanie doesn't have a clue on what to do.
Evan Rachel Wood gives one of the most compelling and dramatic performances I've seen in a child star. It's almost hard to imagine such talent coming from such a young girl. Her performances saddened me in many and exposed a horrible truth about teens. If you ask me, it's about time they made a movie like this. Though it may seem a bit exaggerated it really does happen and that's sad, almost frightening. I felt really bad for Tracy and you can't help but feel some compassion for some of the characters. This right here is a true teen movie that doesn't run low on excellence. It's actually very entertaining and makes you think about your life.
Holly Hunter also gives off a great performance that I'm sure some parents can relate to. I felt really bad for her too. Thirteen was co-written by Nikki Reed when she was 13 so you know it's good when it's written by a genuine 13year old. The moment I read about Thirteen I knew it would be good and after I waited a couple of months for its DVD release my waiting paid off.
It was so realistic and depressing and that's the truth. I'm tired of other teen movies that show kids having fun and playing with everything perfect. This right here is real. This is what many teens go through. It's a great DVD to own. I highly recommend it. Thirteen reflects upon every parent's nightmare because of all the emotion and Drama of a good teen gone bad and the director did an excellent job of showing that emotion.
This movie teaches parents and kids a great lesson. It may be hard for parents to see it because it did shock me. You can't help but notice a star being born.

The DVD features are great containing interviews and deleted scenes that are entertaining.
Buy thirteen today. You won't regret it.

Rating:
Summary: Great Film
Review: This film never once got boring it is one of the best films i have ever seen ! What so great about this film is that the actors dont make drugs, sex, etc. look fun it truely looks frightning and that sends out a message to all teens ! Another great thing about this film are the characters that look like there 18 and screw up their lives and there only thirteen thats another reason why this film is schocking . I recomend this to all teens it has a great plot ( tracy a 13 year old girl wants to become popular and with evie a thirteen year old with no mom and bad influences in her life she will become popular but the consequences are too ricky but does tracy care ? no!) and even greater actors and message! Buy or rent this film today it is a mindblower! Brace yourselves for thirteen!

Rating:
Summary: really great
Review: I recommend this movie for girls who are around the age of 13, and for parents who want to open their eyes to whats going on. Its pretty realistic, no matter where you live.

In this movie a girls life is shown, starting at her first day of seventh grade. She meets a popular girl named Evie who becomes her best friend and shows her the ropes doing of drugs, sex, and stealing. Tracie, the main character, is depressed, and cuts a lot. This movie is very depressing, and doesnt leave you feeling happy...but makes you think. (...)

Tracies relationship with her mother (played by Holly Hunter) is heartbreaking, and very realistic.

The acting in this movie is supurb, and so are the cinematics. The colors change throughout the movie, reflecting its mood. It starts out pure and pastel, and moves to vibrant colors as they start the drugs and stealing, and golds at their happiest moments. At the end, its a sickly grey and green.

I really loved it.

Rating:
Summary: A dark "coming of age" film as Tracy transforms...
Review: Thirteen is dark "coming of age" film about Tracy's transformation from being an A-student to an F-student. It all begins when Tracy returns to school in seventh grade with her friends where they notice the attention that one of the "cool" girl's receives from the boys. This attention is something that Tracy perceives as positive, and something she would like to receive as well. She is also ridiculed for the clothes she is wearing, which is hurting her self-esteem. At home Tracy's mother (Holly Hunter) is more of a friend than a mother. Therefore, Tracy seeks out the "cool" girl, Evie, who offers Tracy the affection and care that she wants. However, Evie's coolness brings Tracy down on a dangerous path where she seeks out self-reassurance through drugs, petty-crime, eating disorders, and other delinquent behaviors. Thirteen is a strong film that can be compared to similar films such as Pixote (1981), Kids (1995), L.I.E. (2001), and City of God (2001), which all deal with children and teenagers that have been mislead onto a harmful path in the beginning of their lives. In Thirteen, the cast brings out solid performances to the screen which colors the characters and enhances the realistic environment in which Tracy is growing up. The mise-en-scene and the outstanding cinematography adds extra layers to the film that boosts the overall cinematic experience and it offers a solid cinematic experience to the audience as they can follow Tracy's struggles with growing up.

Rating:
Summary: ROAR !!!IM A LION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Review: this is exactly what you go through in middle school early high school life for me the latter anyone who says this film is to dark or intense is right in one way and cheating themselves in another just please see this film and recommend it to everyone you know who wont shy away from it sidenote to my age group: (late teens 16-19) anyone who thinks this movie will be boring, slow, or lame is wrong this is the movie every teenager has been hoping for when their kinda depressed thinking about their life on the downswing of their weekend