|
MOVIE REVIEW
Hard Candy
Starring: Ellen Page, Patrick Wilson
Written by: Brian Nelson
Directed by: David Slade
Lion's Gate Films
Hard Candy--the film with all the buzz. And I just do not understand why. It is unoriginal and unbelievable. It is about a spunky, gusty 14-year-old girl who meets a 32-year-old man on-line in chat rooms. I was never this bold when I was 14 and I don't know any 14-year-old girls-well, my niece who I have not seen in years but I doubt she is like this now -- but I think from what I read they are a bit more ahead of things than in the 80s when I was in high school.
At first there's this creepy vibe of what is going on here? Is he luring her? Yes. Does he have the hots for young girls? Yes. She goes back to his apartment. Then we find out after she drugs his drink that she had a plan all along to embarrass, expose and punish this pedophile.
As Hayley, Ellen Page does a commendable job. Her performance is one that is pretty believable. She expresses teenager's vulnerability combined with the hyper-fascination with this photographer's lifestyle and his potential attraction to her. And she spurts out all the right lines.
As Jeff, Patrick Wilson is equally good at balancing on the tight rope of being smooth and charming and being creepy and a predator. Hard Candy just does not play out well.
I liked much of the dialogue--many of the things she says to him about being wrong and evil and disgusting are spot-on and sharp-- but then Hayley goes blitzkrieg and decides she needs to perform a castration and force him to hang himself.
Okay, hold on! Is the audience to actually believe that this little 14-year-old girl has the capacity to tie up this man? It just is not possible. Whether he had been drugged or not. The entire concept is preposterous.
Hard Candy turned bitter and silly about a half hour after I started watching it. I just did not get it. I understand that she was trying to avenge all the girls this man hurt etc. but there IS NO WAY she could do it herself. It turned into a cliched, ridiculous encounter. At the end she is even leaving in a red hooded sweatshirt (Little Red Riding Hood anyone?).
Grade D
By Amy Steele
Home |
Actors/Models |
Art |
Books |
Dining
Film & Video |
Food & Wine |
Health & Fitness
MediaWatch |
Money and Business |
Music |
Profiles
Professional Services |
Sports |
Style & Fashion
Technology |
Theatre |
Travel & Leisure
Copyright © 1995 - 2008 inmag.com
inmag.com (on line) and in Magazine (in print)
are published by in! communications, Inc.
www.inmag.com
|
Advertiser Info
Subscription Form
Contact Us
|
