One of the best films of 2003. Evan Rachel Wood gives such an extraordinary performance as the the young troubled teenager Tracy Freeland. Nikki Reed is also really good as Evie Zamora. I thought the story was so real and convincing. I was so enthralled by everything. The only thing that was distracting to me was the camera work, which was really shaky at times. Holly Hunter was really splendid as Melanie Freeland. I thought the ending could of been better. They could of showed Tracy get her life back in the right direction, but they failed to show that. The ending scene was very emotional, and touching in my opinion. I have a few minor complaints about this film, and there's definitely more great things about it. The soundtrack is also very good. Immediately after watching the watching I had to go online, and download most of the songs. It should of made more money at the box office, and should of got more attention than it did, very underrated in my opinion, but still very excellent.

A

Here's a review I wrote when I first watched it ...

Thirteen is a great film, hell, it's a fantastic film. The realism in the movie is shocking. Believe it or not, teenagers actually do drugs, have sex, drink, cut themselves, etc. It's just one of those movies you should show to your kids, and show them how not to act.

Even Rachel Wood plays Tracy, a young 13 year old who basically becomes popular by the clothes she wears. She meets another young girl named Evie who steals, has sex, does drugs, and drinks. Her performance in Thirteen was great. I think it made the movie even better that the girl who played Tracy was near the age of 13, so she kind of knew what the charactor was going through, dealing with peer presure and what not.

Nikki Reed plays Evie, her performances is great as well. She also co-wrote the script, which is actually great since she's only 13 or 14. Her charactor did turn somewhat "bitchy" near the end, which kind of made me not care so much about her anymore, but her performance is what counts, and it was fantastic.

Holly Hunter plays Tracy's mom, Melanie who gets along great with her daughter in the beginning of the film, but near the half hour mark, her relationship with Tracy basically goes to hell. She takes Evie into her home, and still she is treated like a "bitch" because she is just the mom of Tracy. Her performance was great as well, and she deserves the Oscar and Golden Globe nominations she recieved.

I can relate to this movie on so many levels. I can relate to the cutting scenes. When your life feels like shit, you just don't know what to do, you just take out a knife, or something like that and cut your arms, not everyone, but some people like me. You just don't know what to do, and it makes you feel "better" if you hurt yourself, it's not something you can explain. I know a lot of people who would do drugs and 13, and even I tried them, thank God I didn't get addicted to them, I don't know what I would have done honestly, but I still can relate to those scenes. Did I have sex when I was 13? No, I honestly didn't, but I did do "sexual" things, so again, I can relate to those scenes as well.

I love this movie, I don't know how to explain it..I just do. It's so powerful, and just an overall great movie.

9/10 (A-)

I suppose since it's a true story I can't really use the argument that it all went just as I thought it would, but yes, this was a very impactful film about bad decisions teenagers can make and why they make them, at least to an extent. Played it a bit broad, but it was well done. B+

I did not think it was as powerful a film as everyone is stating. It is better than the majority of movies released today but does not stand up with the quality of an Eternal Sunshine, Finding Neverland, Million Dollar Baby etc..

I got the impression that this is a movie that makes older people shudder and go wow, but kids between the ages of 13-20 are not shocked because they live with this. However, it was terrficitly acted, just poor screenwriting and directing.

Incredible acting all around. A great unusual look at teenies in the 21st century. B

*BUMP* for the clone. :wink:

Anyways, loved this film, one of my favorites from 2003. - A

a bit disturbing, but with intense scenes and awfuly dramatic
The acting was Fantastic!
i love the camara work!

A-

one of the best of 2003

C+


What an incredibly overrated movie that is. I mean I was 18 when I saw it, so I should be rather able to identify with the story it is telling, right? Nuh-uh. I found that the movie was trying too hard, that is was exaggerating most of the time and it simply lacked any kind of an emotional impact to me. What saved the movie was the great acting by Holly Hunter and the good interplay between her and Evan Rachel Wood. The supporting actress nomination for Hunter was well-deserved. Ubnlike many who saw this movie, I did not think that it was that close to reality and provided us a "good insight" into the lives of teenagers gone wrong. Movies like that exist, but this one isn't one of them.

Definitely a very depressing experience. Though it was at times exaggerated, it was very powerful. Evan Rachel Wood deserved an Oscar nomination for her performance(maybe even an Oscar win?). Holly Hunter is fantastic as well for Tracy's Mom. I'd give this a B+

Great performances, but the story gets repetitive and begins bashing you over the head with its message. The girl also has one of the most extreme, inexplicable transformations I've ever seen in the movies, it was just a bit much. Still an effective, emotional movie but had they toned it down a bit it or been a little more creative with the plot it could have been more powerful and memorable. Overall - B

Indeed, Lecter.

the movie is definitely not realistic, in the least. it's not "shocking", not just because i know and identify with the behavior (which for the most part, i definitely do)...it's not shocking because it's ridiculous and annoying and fake and stuff. yes, i know/knew plenty of teens who are/were into drinking/drugs/sex/shoplifting/illegalities...but this movie just does a horrible job of capturing what they (and the situations involved) are like.

Pretty much, kypade.

Decent movie with two awesome performances.

B

D-

What a miserable joke of a movie.

I think that depends on where you live and the enviroment you grew up in. I live in New York, and believe me, the movie was an very accurate depiction of what teenagers do around here.

Anyway. I liked the movie a lot. There were great performances all around. I especially liked the Holly Hunter/Evan Rachel Wood relationship. The story could have been conveyed a little better, but I thought it was pretty well down. B+

Those woh don't think it's an accurate portrayal are just plain fooling themselves.


Granted, it is a very rare and extreme case of what goes on, but it's still definitely accurate if people open their eyes to what goes on around them.

Holly Hunter is amazing and I still think Evan rAchel Wood was robbed out of an Oscar nomination.

B+/A-

Those who don't think it's an inaccurate portrayal are just plain fooling themselves.


Nice, eh?