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''If everybody married someone from a different race then in one generation there would me be no prejudice.''
A thirteen-year-old girl's relationship with her mother is put to the test as she discovers drugs, sex, and petty crime in the company of her cool but troubled best friend.
Evan Rachel Wood: Tracy Freeland
First of all, Thirteen is a story of characters, a story true to life that doesn't hold back on the punches. Scenes contain the truthful grit of desperation in this web of conceit surrounding the main female lead, Tracy Freeland, amazingly played by a favourite of mine, Evan Rachel Wood. I mean Thirteen really gets across the troubled angst of teenage behavior especially in certain girls at this crucial stage in life.
Performances are really above par here in Thirteen, whether its Holly Hunter playing Tracy's troubled, vulnerable mother Melanie Freeland, or her psychotic, unruly, trouble-maker best friend Evie Zamora played by Mikki Reed. There really is alot to think about in Thirteen and the performances combined with a story and script everyone can relate to, a story which echoes realism and struggle in dual doses.
As Thirteen progresses so do we as we see the evolution and change of a girl, in this circumstance, Tracy Freeland, she begins as an innocent, intelligent girl. We see her doing well at school, civil friends, and a stable relationship with her mother and family. Then as fate has it, an equation comes along that tips all these proceedings on there head, the catalyst in question, a girl. The girl being, someone Tracy finds enticing, someone she wants to know and be noticed by, this girl Evie Zamora a beauty but trouble. So Tracy proceeds to change, to be accepted by this Evie and thus herself changing, as always for better or for worse. Just in this case for the worse.
Scenarios show her divorced parents, her mothers ex-drug addict boyfriend, her friend Evie's bad ways.
We really begin to see Thirteen deliver rebellious ways of both girls, Tracy reverting to her attraction to Evie, Evie teaching her bad ways without even aware of doing so.
Director Catherine Hardwicke also knows how to utilize an array of camrea techniques and clever formulated angles which help portray the mood and chaos happening at specific points in Thirteen. Combine a dizzying soundtrack with an impressive visual style, and alot of memorable acting which explains why Thirteen has something of a cult following. To me, it seems everyone at some point in their life had to cross from being a child into adult-hood, and the change that takes place in this state of change. This reason I feel, is why Thirteen succeeds in captivating viewers and giving our grey matters something to feed upon.
Overall, Thirteen deals with family, friendship, silly things we do when we are young, and the changes we confront. Drugs, drinking, a change in lifestyle, friendships, a journey of life for a troubled world and the confused inhabitants traveling through this stormy repertoire we call living.
Helen Hunter was Oscar Nominated but failed to win, which surprises me when I see this superior acting in play. I'm also mystified how Evan Rachel Wood didn't even receive some sort of nomination, she is utterly spell blinding in her role.
Thirteen reasons why to see Thirteen: Riveting story, powerful performances, clever filming and camera angles, addictive soundtrack, Sexuality, Family life, Friendships, The hazards of Drugs, The falseness of so called friends, Betrayals, Happiness and unhappiness, Mistakes we make, and the best reason is how true to life Thirteen succeeds in being.
''You're my heart.''
8/10
