Thirteen (2003)

THIRTEEN (2003) / *** 1/2

Directed by Catherine Hardwicke. Screenplay by Hardwicke and Nikki Reed. Starring Evan Rachel Wood, Holly Hunter, Reed. Running time: 100 minutes. Rated AA for mature subject matter by the MFCB. Reviewed on February 29th, 2004.

By SHANNON PATRICK SULLIVAN

Synopsis: Tracy (Wood) has just turned thirteen. A top student, Tracy nonetheless yearns to make friends with the popular girls who wear trendy clothes and have learned how to take full advantage of their maturing bodies. A daring act allows Tracy to strike up a tentative relationship with Evie (Reed), and she soon finds her entire lifestyle changing right under the nose of Melanie (Hunter), her well-meaning but overworked and oblivious mother.

Review: I hope that "Thirteen" is not a representative portrayal of early teen life in this day and age, but I realise that it's faithful to the experiences of far too many. As such, I think it's a film which may be more important for adults to watch than their kids. It's a wake-up call to those too naive or just too complacent to realise that, yes, by the time they hit thirteen most young people do have a fairly in-depth knowledge of sex and drugs and crime, and not all of it is second-hand. And it's a reminder that, in becoming parents, we assume a responsibility toward our children -- for protecting them and communicating with them -- that demands precedence over any of our other concerns. Importantly, though, "Thirteen" conveys these message in a manner that is neither preachy nor gratuitously shocking: it feels genuine, no doubt thanks in large part to the contributions of co-writer and co-star Nikki Reed, who loosely based its events on her own life. Reed's performance is disturbingly good, outshining even Wood who is nonetheless very believable as a nice girl whose hidden problems and thirst for acceptance push her down the wrong path. Hunter is also excellent, playing a woman who's never quite grown up herself, and who hasn't yet learned that her children must always, without exception, come first.

Copyright © 2004 Shannon Patrick Sullivan. Archived at The Popcorn Gallery, http://www.physics.mun.ca/~sps/movies.html

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