Filmed in 2003,
Havoc is a film with a lot of controversy behind it. The first blow came when the original screenwriter Jessica Kaplan died in a plane crash shortly before it began shooting. It was then that Stephen Gaghan (the writer of
Traffic and the recent
Syriana) stepped in and completely rewrote it - making the story his own. But the biggest publicity this film has recieved is due to the presence of
The Princess Diaries star Anne Hathaway. Previously thought of as a Disney cover girl, it was quickly reported that Hathaway was nude in
Havoc - a fact that angered many. This was one of the reasons it had such a hard time finding a distributor. It was eventually purchased by New Line Cinema and was released straight-to-DVD this past November. Now here's what the real question is. Amidst all the controversy and all the publicity, is this film actually any good? Yes, it is.
The story follows Allison (Anne Hathaway), a rich teenager from California. Unsure of who she really is, she attempts to join her friends in embracing the hip-hop lifestyle - trying to act like a gangster without really experiencing any of it. However, things change one night when she goes downtown with her friends looking for drugs. An encounter with the violent drug dealer Hector (Freddy Rodriguez) both fascinates and excites her, and her curiousity causes her to visit the area again once more. But as she gets deeper and deeper into this world of sex, drugs and violence, Allison must decide whether to continue on this downward spiral or finally get her life together.
This film works primarily due to Anne Hathaway's great performance. It shows that she can excel in a wide variety of material and she pulls off the role with great ease. Her character is an interesting and complex person, strangely likable despite many of her actions. She is the driving force behind the picture and it wouldn't have worked as well without her.
The supporting performers are a mixed bag. Bijou Phillips is alright as Allison's best friend Emily, nothing excellent though. I liked Freddy Rodriguez's portrayl mainly because you could never tell what he was thinking. At times he would seem sympathetic, but then he would turn around and become cruel and unlikable. Mike Vogel is decent as Allison's boyfriend. The worst performance comes from Joseph Gordon-Levitt. He was given very little to do and what he does do is incredibly grating. I didn't buy his character and found his performance completely unconvincing.
I thought the cinematography of the film was great and gave it a gritty feel. It shows the glamour and the trash of the California area and many shots are very interesting to behold. The screenplay by Gaghan is also good, especially in the scenes focusing on Hathaway's character. The gangster scenes early on are some of the weaker moments, but when the film becomes more personal, that is when it succeeds.
Havoc isn't a fantastic film, but it was really interesting and well-made. Anne Hathaway does a great job and the film is worth watching for her excellent performance.
8/10 (B+)
