Today, the film Red Riding Hood was released. The film is directed by Catherine Hardwicke, a name that most of you may recognize as that woman that directed the first of the Twilight abomination...I'm sorry, I mean series. My guess is most of you that like good film are less than thrilled with the director and won't be rushing to the theater to see her artistic direction or the non-existent acting talents of Amanda Seyfried. However, Catherine Hardwicke wasn't always so depressing. Once upon a time she directed and co-wrote a little movie called Thirteen.
Let me give you a little bit of background so you can understand why this movie is so awesome. When actress Nikki Reed was thirteen, she became rebellious. Not just a normal teenage rebellion, but one that worried her parents, especially at the ripe, young age of thirteen. Enter family friend Catherine Hardwicke to try and give Reed a little direction. In an attempt to keep her busy with good activities, the two decided to write a teen comedy, however as Reed shared her actual experiences with junior high, the film turned into something incredibly different.
Tracy Freeland (Evan Rachel Wood) is a normal, thirteen year old girl. She lives with her mom (Holly Hunter) and older brother (Brady Corbet). As the film enters, she seems to be going through a transition period. She's a good kid and does well in school, but she is jealous of the popular crowd, one that is led by Evie Zamora (Reed). After a wardrobe change and some robbery, Evie and Tracy become friends. This leads the two of them on a path to destruction as they explore a world all too old for them.
What I love about this film is how in your face and realistic it is. You feel uncomfortable through almost the entire thing, and you should, because these teenagers have problems and need help. Also, Hunter does a brilliant job at playing Tracy's mom, Melanie. You really are able to see her struggle and Tracy's struggle. This isn't a typical teen movie, or even a typical cautionary tale for parents because they're so young, but the film is brilliant and I do think every parent should watch it to understand a bit more about the world their teenagers are entering into.
Catherine Hardwicke also does a great job of speaking with the camera. It saddens me that she has chosen some of the recent films she has, but this is definitely a winner. If you want to watch another great Hardwicke film, check out her second one, Lords of Dogtown.
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