Thirteen (2003)

THIRTEEN
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Tracy (Evan Rachel Wood, "Practical Magic") is a nice girl who lives with her divorced, recovering substance abusing mother Melanie (Holly Hunter, "Moonlight Mile") and older brother Mason (Brady Corbet), but the beginning of seventh grade brings on an itch to hang with the hottest girl in school, Evie (the film's cowriter Nikki Reed). But Evie is a needy manipulator who quickly brings Tracy on a downward spiral of behavior that's too hot to handle for a girl of "Thirteen."

Art director Catherine Hardwicke makes her directorial debut cowriting with her then thirteen year old star Nikki Reed and the duo, plus stars Hunter and Wood, have created a searingly raw and accomplished piece of work. The film has already won a Jury and Directors prize at Sundance and recently took Best Actress (for Hunter) and the Silver Leopard at Locarno and there is no reason this small independent shouldn't be remembered come Oscar time. "Thirteen" is both a technical and artistic achievement.

The film opens with a devious prologue. Tracy is front and center begging someone to hit her and hit her hard because she can't feel anything. She's giggling and the camera bobbles just enough to suggest that she may be straddling someone during sex play. When the camera goes to a two-shot, we see that Tracy is kneeling on her bed with Evie, huffing from an aerosol can. Then we're sent back in time via a '4 months earlier' title.

Melanie is a youthful, cool mom who runs a slightly chaotic household which includes a hairdressing business. After Tracy deems her wardrobe 'over' (she's been dissed by the cooler chicks at school), Mel's very supportive, buying her daughter new dud's on a budget at a trendy outdoor fair. This catches Evie's attention, but Tracy is shocked to discover that the in clique shoplifts. Her need to belong is strong, though, and she takes advantage of a distracted businesswoman and lifts her wallet. Initiation over, Tracy's entered the club.

Evie initiates Tracy into a world of boys (mostly black), drugs, alcohol, tattoos and piercings, all the while stroking Mel's ego and gaining her sympathy with tales of abuse and neglect. By the time Mel realizes she has a problem, Tracy is out of control.

Hardwicke and Reed have fashioned a strong cautionary tale for both young teens AND their parents. The story they show, while shocking (there is, unlike "Kids" however, no explicit sex shown) is all too easy to believe. The ensemble cast is simply great. Evan Rachel Wood, previously seen only in little girl roles, here is a little girl made monster. This is a star-making tour de force, a Best Actress nomination worthy performance. Hunter is her equal, delivering a mother of much complexity, a woman who pays great attention to her kids but allows her own perceptions to see them with her hippy chick rose-colored glasses. Nikki Reed, who resembles a young Eva Mendes, is also strong as the too old for her years survivor who juggles flattery and lies to attain what she wants.

Support is solid across the board with Jeremy Sisto ("Wrong Turn") playing damaged goods Brady, the ex-addict boyfriend Mel takes back in spite of Tracy's outrage. Corbet is good, horrified to see his sister taking the wrong path, trying to get through to clueless parents. Deborah Kara Unger ("The Salton Sea") is Evie's oblivious guardian, a zoned-out, zombified LA actress/model ('They cut off my ears!' she whispers to Mel in disbelief after plastic surgery, revealing the extent of damage she unwittingly allows for surface show). Kip Pardue ("The Rules of Attraction") has a significant small scene and "24's" Sarah Clarke adds to the general chaos that constitutes Mel's household as Birdie.

Cinematographer Elliot Davis ("White Oleander") uses his camera to relay the emotions of the scene. When Mason physically confronts Tracy in the family's living room, Davis seesaws his camera and the room seems like a ship pitching in high seas. Later in the film, he once again makes us believe Tracy is addressing a sexual partner when she starts talking about marriage because of his camera's POV, only to reveal otherwise. Editor Nancy Richardson ("Why Do Fools Fall in Love?") should also be noted, as her cutting is essential to the film's jangly tone. Costume and makeup are essential as Tracy evolves from a pretty young girl to a tougher, older looking one, although placing former friend Noel in a tee shirt sporting a big-eyed doe was perhaps a bit overkill.

"Thirteen" is about as real a piece of fiction that's come out this year.

A

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