Thirteen

Rating:
Summary: Real life on screen.
Review: Let me take a minute to sigh a few times and do a little coping with what I just saw. This movie could be a TAD more real, possibly by adding some more tears, but other than that; two thirteen year olds rebelling against nearly everything: sounds and looked, and FELT very real to me. I have a younger sister who went through almost exactly what these two girls experienced. The drugs, sex, alcohol, you name it, they were doing it. Some of the scenes in this movie almost felt voyeuristic. And will leave many wondering if it was legal for these girls to do. The two young ladies playing these roles are Evan Rachel Wood and Nicki Reed (who is also the co-writer.) (BEWARE! SPOILER!) There is a scene where these two girls are both making out with one of the girl's next door neighbors, who's character in the movie is supposed to be at least 7 or 8 years older. I checked imdb.com, and the actor who portrayed the neighbor is Kip Pardue, born in 1976. Evan Rachel was born in '87, Reed in '88. Both of these girls were 15 when this movie was shot and he was 25-26. SHOCK AND AWE! How the hell did Catherine Hardwicke (director) pull this little stunt off. Very powerful scene, but will leave you in absolute wonder days after you see the movie.
Other shocking scenes are of self-mutilation. Evan Rachel's character taking razor blades to her forearm. One can only turn away, and just accept what is happening. I know there are other movies out there that are way more gruesome, such as Irreversible, but this was like a "Kids" sequel, except way more dramatic. A very touching deleted scene is on the DVD where Evan Rachel's character (Tracy) comes home to find Reed's character (Evie) and her guardian sitting in the living room with her mother. She leaves to "use the restroom" but the cut part of the scene is when her brother (played by Brady Corbet) catches her in the hallway, and wraps his arms around his sister; letting her know that he loves her very much, and that he knows the fall she set her self up for. Heartwrenching, because I have given the same hug to my sister when she was a VERY rebellious teenager.
I must give credit for the way this movie was shot. It was filmed on a shaky dv cam, with low lighting to give the movie a more dark feel. Which is exactly what is accomplished here, giving the audience a dark feel, and have their emotions run with each scene. I would give this little gem five stars, but it lost one for a bit of quickness to the movie. I felt that they could have spent a little more time in the beginning of the movie with a little more distance between Evie and Tracy, before they started hanging out. It's almost like Tracy was suddenly accepted into a group that wouldn't be caught dead with her. So, it would feel more real, if some more real scenes were going on; and that would make the climax even more emotional.
Over all, wonderful, and touching film.

Rating:
Summary: eye opening
Review: This movie was a good look at the extremes of what today's teens have to deal with. No matter how much people want to deny the presence of sex, drugs, and depression in our youth, it is definitely out there. Being a teen, I definitely related to the film (even if I haven't done half the stuff they do in the movie).

The acting was second to none. Holly Hunter did a great job in the portrayal of a mother who is struggling with her own problems, while at the same time trying to balance between being a friend and an authority figure to Tracy. I have a feeling that this film was Evan Rachel Woods' big break. There are no words to describe the emotion that she could show in her eyes and how she became the character of Tracy. Nikki Reid (also the co-writer) made her stunning debut as Tracy's best friend Evie. She played the role of the friend you hope your daughter is not hanging out with. She drags Tracy (who is desperate for acceptance) into the scene of drugs, shop-lifting, sex, and rebellion.

After watching this movie, I left the theater still thinking about it. The acting was captivating and the story line hit close to home. It is most definitely not the typical teen rebellion movie, so I beg you not to write it off. I recommend this movie 100%.

Rating:
Summary: minus 10
Review: After all the rave reviews I was expecting a lot more than this modern-day update of "Foxes" souped up with a lot of au courant teen deviance like self-mutilation, lesbianism and huffing. If the lurid misadventures of the two central characters (a pair of 13-year-old girls) is unbelievable, the casting is worse. Although both girls are supposed to be in junior high, they're portrayed by two actresses who look like hardened teenage hookers who've been plying their trade for years. A real disappointment.

Rating:
Summary: This is just a BAD movie*
Review: I was expecting much better, probably because I heard what a "good" and informational movie it was. But I do not agree with that now, after seeing it myself.* I saw a trashy movie about 2 trashy- selfish- stupid teenage girls who made very bad choices (& they didn't have too- they didn't even try*)... & that's suppose to be a "good" movie... -?- I don't think so.* Oh, Poor girls, they were under "pressure" & couldn't help themselves! (Is that suppose to be an acceptable excuse for them here?) What will these girls do when they're grown then-?- What kind of bad information is this movie sending out anyway-?- Not all teenage girls are like these girls (fact) & those that AREN'T are the one's that become the great women that we respect one day.*
*In the movie, when the brother calls his sister a "slut" he is exactly right! (one truth- wow*)
*Holly Hunter's acting is great throughout the movie. I saw that even with a story line of such trash. And the girls acting is not worth talking about. But they did have terrible roles to work with - a good excuse -?- Since that seems to be the main idea of the movie anyway.*

Rating:
Summary: Keep dreaming Joe
Review: This is exactly what your daughters are experiencing, you just don't know about it. This film is a raw and honest look at todays youth.
If you liked Thirteen, I'd also recommend Kids, directed by Larry Clark.

Rating:
Summary: FAST TIMES IN JUNIOR HIGH
Review: "Thirteen" is a gut-wrenching and superbly directed film, capturing all the manic, dizzying moments of adolescence in our modern times. The movie is shocking and frightening in its depiction of the secret lives of many of America's children, who turn to lives of drugs and crime to escape emotional turmoil and the break down of the family unit. This could easily have become just an afterschool special with the melodrama of teens shoplifting, drug-using, having sex, self-mutilation, etc but what was actually created and visualized was a very dark and terrifying story with no easy resolutions. Being that the script was co-penned by a fifteen year old who was rumored to have experienced much of what the film explores adds to the chilling tone. Evan Rachel Wood is by far one of the most amazing young actors of our time, she is astonishing as sweet and fragile Tracy Freeland who becomes seduced by Evie Zamora (played by an alluring Nikki Reed) into a world of drugs, sex and crime. The movie has an emotionally violent effect on you and its because Hardwicke as a director works so hard to give us all the ups and downs, highs and lows of impressionable and destructive teens. Holly Hunter as Tracy's mother also gives a noteable performance as she slowly witnesses her daughter spiralling out of control.

There are few films about teens that get this close in the realism of tormented youth culture. Most films either glamorize or make comical all the destructive habits of kids but this film serves as an unflinching eye to a generation of sad, angry, fractured youth.

Rating:
Summary: excellent
Review: I've read the reviews on here about how people said that it seems like the director just took a whole bunch of different peoples worst stories and put them all together and so that makes it unbelievable. Well its not because I lived a life very close to Tracys in the movie except that I started at 15 instead. I was depressed and wanted to be popular. My mom left me and I did drugs, drank, snuck out all night to hang out with guys WAY too old for me. And then my depression got so bad that I began cutting myself as well. When i first saw this movie it scared me so much, because i recognized things in tracy that i saw in myself. i suggest everyone see this movie no matte if ur 13 or 113 male or female cuz this will open ur eyes to the way being a teenagr really is.

Rating:
Summary: One of the All-Time Best Movies ever made
Review: I am a trained actor, having been in the business for some 20+ years. This is without a doubt one of the finest acting performances ever filmed. While most sheep follow the flock of computerized, digitized 100+ million dollar movies and consider them great. A well acted, well writen story about human struggles, to me is the most important. Evan Rachel Wood is wonderful and deserves the Oscar for her performance, which she will not get because the movie was not a overwhelming HIT. It's to bad that society hates to look at reality in films, but will stop traffic to see an accident. I was so affected by this movie, I felt ill when it ended. A Wonderful film. I suggest you see this film.

Rating:
Summary: Lacks realism - a very average movie
Review: I would imagine that are very few thirteen year olds in America could relate to doing and selling hard drugs, slashing their wrists, having sex, shoplifting, and drinking in downtown until dawn.
The two stars (Reed and Wood) are supposed to be 13 year old girls in grade 7. When in reality they look and act like immature 19 year olds headed for prison.
The movie attempts to portray American teenage girls in such a desolate and corrupt position and does so effectively. Woods' acting and emotion is well done but the movie remains unbelievable and too fake to be taken seriously.

Rating:
Summary: Great acting but slow
Review: Summary:
Tracy Freeland (Evan Rachel Wood) seems to have a good life, but apparently she has a secret desire to experience the, how shall we say this, 'hot' life. During her first day of the 7th grade, Tracy sees Evie Zamora (Nikki Reed), the 'hottest' girl in school, and watches as all of the guys drool over her, including her own brother, Mason (Brady Corbet). Even though Tracy has a number of supportive and intelligent friends, her hidden desire to be popular and have guys objectify her wins in the end.

So, the next day, she does her best to put together an outfit she thinks will impress Evie and, to Tracy's surprise, it does, resulting in Evie giving Tracy her cell phone number (at least, so Tracy thinks) and inviting her to go shopping with her on Melrose Street. Tracy proceeds to call it after school, but realizes it isn't the right number. Undaunted, she heads down to Melrose Street anyway and happens upon Evie. She doesn't have much money, but neither does Evie, who doesn't let her lack of funds prevent her from taking whatever she wants. Not knowing what to do, Tracy leaves the store only to happen upon a businesswoman who turns her back on her purse while sitting next to Tracy on a bench. Tracy, stepping over the line between good girl and bad girl, takes the woman's wallet and with her newly found cash, proceeds to become Evie's best friend.

Thus ensues a disastrous four months during which Evie introduces Tracy to her world of drugs, sex, and lies. Surprisingly, Tracy takes to it like an old pro. But there is a hitch... Tracy's mother, Melanie 'Mel' Freeland (Holly Hunter), isn't willing to watch her daughter turn into a drug-using slut. Despite Mel's best efforts, which are hampered by a blemished past of her own and an on again/off again relationship with a reformed dopehead named Brady (Jeremy Sisto), Tracy descends into chaos, only to catch a glimpse of the error of her ways when she realizes she is failing every single class in school and is going to be held back a year.

Trying to put some distance between herself and Evie to pull herself out of the mess she is in only makes things worse as Evie's drug-dealing is finally discovered by her cousin, Brooke (Deborah Unger). But Evie is quick enough to blame Tracy and plant enough evidence in Evie's room to make it seem convincing. The result is a final showdown in which Mel confronts Tracy and they both breakdown, realizing it's time to take care of the problem.

My Comments:
I wasn't particularly excited to watch this movie as I'm a 27 year-old, non-drinking, non drug-using, monogamous male; I really didn't think I would be able to relate at all. And, frankly, I couldn't. But I did at least appreciate what the movie was trying to say.

As far as the story goes, if you allow for the initial suspension of belief required for Tracy to throw away a happy life to become one of the 'hotties', the story works quite well. Some may not think this decision warrants a suspension of belief, but as I never found the 'hot' crowd alluring, I have to consign this decision to the 'suspension of belief' category. Also, what proceeds after this decision (the drugs, sex, etc.) is really like talking the worst of the worst stories from a number of people and putting it all together into one story. At least, that's my take on it. I'm sure some people have experienced something like this, but Tracy had so many things fall apart so fast that it really seemed to be the exaggerated version of what could happen. (I'm sure someone will read this review and say that it wasn't an exaggeration; and to that person I say, "Sorry, but I'm glad I'm not you.")

Additionally, there are a couple of problems with the story, primarily in plot lines and characters that are introduced but never satisfactorily concluded. One particularly memorable one is a scene in which Tracy is accosted by two girls who seem to think she has fronted them in some way. But somebody happens to show up (who that somebody was isn't very clear) and they disappear, never to return again. There are a number of sequences like this when characters are introduced but then never reappear, include a very brief scene with Tracy's father.

But undoubtedly the biggest problem with the story was the pacing. This movie seemed like it lasted three hours. It went on and on and on and in all the places where it desperately needed some music to speed things up, there was absolute silence. Even though the movie was only 99 minutes long, it could easily have been cut 20 minutes and have told the same story.

Where this movie redeems itself is in the acting. I have to admit I was very impressed. The entire cast (with the exception of a couple of the very, very peripheral characters) was very good. Evan Rachel Wood and Holly Hunter, especially, were incredible. Honestly, I wasn't expecting much from Evan Rachel Wood, but she delivered a powerful, convincing, and even disturbing performance. And though Holly Hunter had her awkward moments when I thought her interpretation of the role was a bizarre (e.g., rubbing Tracy's head and body and kissing all the way up Tracy's arm at the end), I have to admit she was very good.

Overall, I'm not sure whether I should recommend this movie. It's tricky because liking it will likely depends your approach to child-rearing. Let me explain. The movie shows people what can (and does) happen. Some people prefer to inform their children and then let them make the decision. Others prefer to keep them ignorant with the hope of keeping them safe. I'm inclined toward the initial approach, believing at heart that rational people will tend toward rational decisions given adequate information, so I guess I would recommend it (though be prepared for a long and drawn out film). But if your considering showing this movie to your teenager and your parenting approach is to keep children naive in the vain hope that they will never discover these things, I'm guessing you'll want to skip this one.