Just got back from its screening, talked to some people and
sounds like it might sneak quite a few days prior to August 24! I
think the majority of people will like this movie but there's some
issues with it that are quite jagged and should have been handled
better.
Synopsis:
Kimberly Joyce, an insanely intelligent, wildly funny, shockingly
cruel and sexy-beyond-her-years Beverly Hills teenager will stop at
nothing to become famous. Believing the world is an orchestra and
she is the conductor, Kimberly masterfully manipulates all those
around her. She convinces her two best friends to join her in a
campaign against their befuddled teacher, Mr. Anderson. Kimberly
entangles the entire Beverly Hills community in her carefully woven
web of seduction and deceit.
My Review:
Evan Rachel Wood stars as Kimberly Joyce, an aspiring starlet
gifted with an amazing intellect and killer sex appeal - all while
being a high-school student in a private school. An apparent
culmination of a broken home, a privileged lifestyle and a lack of
parental boundaries, "Pretty Persuasion" maraudes as a satire that
cuts right down to teenage sex issues, racism and media
irresponsibility but its really just a drama with an unhealthy
fixation on comedy and no particular place to direct its send-up
at.
Armed with an acumen for persuasion, Kimberly uses it on everyone,
from her uncouth businessman father (James Woods) to her best
friend, Brittany (Elisabeth Harnois). Lying and manipulation is
second nature to her, she even manages to convince herself from
time to time. Shes an anti-heroine, who youd never root for. Not
even when you learn her motivations. She knows her beauty, although
good-looking, is limited, and does not set her apart from the
competition when it comes to auditions and screen roles. Kimberlys
not the most popular girl either, as she dispenses insults and
backhanded compliments with razor sharp proficiency but she is
promiscuous, trading sexual favours for actual favours. Wary of her
talents are her teachers and principal, as they appear
malcontented at her strong and formidable disposition.
Unfortunately, the English teacher, Percy Anderson (Ron Livingston)
draws her ire when he punishes her and a new student, an immigrant
Arab girl, Randa (Adi Schnall) who was unfairly reprimanded because
of a defiant Kimberly. Randa sticks with Kimberly and Brittany,
although uncomfortable with their licentious behaviour and oh-so
insipid American ways, a true innocent to their immoral antics. At
a slumber party, Kimberly schools them in order to enlist them in
corroborating an accusation of sexual assault at the English
teacher. They go along unwillingly, with the realisation of instant
feminist heroism and increased exposure, in the case of Kimberly
even if they lose. This incident sets off a media frenzy led by
Emily Klein (Jane Krakowski), a lesbian reporter who finds herself
in dangerous Sapphic territory with a master seductress in
Kimberly. Allying herself with her, Emily sets out on a one-sided
crusade against Percy.
What it does well is its careful unwrapping of the truth behind
Percys accusation. It keeps us in the dark on whether he is indeed
guilty. Various instances of Percys behaviour with his wife (Selma
Blair) and furtive looks at girls in the school make us question
the validity of those claims.
Theres a sense of irony in this film, when the filmmakers
themselves make caricatures of the characters in the script. Its
so conceited and self-aware that it lampoons everyone and
everything, from the Columbine shootings to the war in Iraq. The
high-schoolers are either presented as brain-dead but attractive or
sex-obsessed losers, adding to their self-parody. Everyones a
victim in this film and everyone is an object of comtempt. Just as
Saved! (with another rising starlet in Jena Malone) did it heart
and humour, this film did it with condescension and
disrespect.
Despite an uproariously hilarious portrayal by James Wood, in a
role that you might think is actually James Wood as he is, its
still a weak and offensive film that just does not know what it
wants to be. Its social commentary gone the way of opine bashing.
Shame, considering Rachel Evan Woods actually gives a great
performance in this, even more impressive than in Thirteen.
Undeniably, shes one to look to out for in the future.
2 out of 5 stars