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Thirteen Customer Reviews (1 - 3 of 104 Reviews)

"thirteen.....very real"
"Thirteen" is basically the story of a good girl gone bad. Yes, I could summerize it that way, but I won't, as it is more complicated than that. Tracy(Evan-Rachel Wood)is 13, and sweet, a successful student and all around nice person. =. She lives with her struggling single mother Melanie(Holly Hunter, in an oscar-nominated role)and teenage brother Mason(Brady Corbet). Tracy & her mom have a great relationship. But Tracy is obviously insecure, and all it takes is one small comment from the most popular girl in her grade, Evie(Nikki Reed, who co-wrote the script) about Tracie's socks. Tracy changes her wardrobe in an attempt for approval; Evie postively comments her...One thing leads to another and soon Tracy & Evie are inseperable; like sisters. Evie practically inserts herself into Tracy's family and takes Tracy under her wing, in doing this, Tracy gets pulled into a world of (the usual) sex, drugs, and out of control behavior. Melanie has no idea how to handle this; all she can do is stand by and watch her daughter spiral out of control. Evie and Tracy roam wild, with Evie basically living at Tracy's house, there's no dividing them, and this only fuels Tracy's anger towards her exasperated mother. "Thirteen" is a dark and gritty look at an insecure girl's spiral out of control. It offers no answers or resolutions to problems, it doesn't seek to preach; just to show. The film features dynamic performances; the always terrific Hunter is nothing short of amazing; you feel her pain as a mother who has absolutely no idea of what to do to help her daughter. The up-and-comer Wood is sure to attract extra attention for this phenomenal portrayel of the damaged Tracy; she and Hunter are incredibly believable as a mother and daughter. We also see a break-out performance by Nikki Reed as Evie, who is desperate for some kind of motherly love and attention, she hits all the right notes as a very destructive young girl. Also good are supporting actors Jeremy Sisto, as Mel's boyfirend whom Tracy despises; Brady Corbet as Tracy's slightly older surfer brother; and Deborah kara Unger as Evie's unattentive guardian-cousin Brooke. "Thirteen" is the powerful tale of a girl's breakdown into self-destruction. Led by great direction and terrific performances. "Thirteen" is heart breaking, nerve-shattering, shocking, and ,most of all, real. -Alex Barone

almost great
I recommend a double feature, Almost Famous for the lighter side of teenage promisquity and drug abuse and Thirteen for the reality. Thirty years apart in time yet so little has really changed.

I know we've come a long way. We're changing day to day. But tell me, where do the children play? Cat Stevens, 1970

Though Thirteen is not easy to watch I watched it twice just to catch its several Biblical allusions.

Frightening and Real
It is amazing that a young person wrote this movie! The story is truthful and frightening. I was a bit worried going into it that it would be over the top but I feel it was kept within the realm of reality.

Rachel Evan Wood is frankly amazing as is Holly Hunter. I was not as impressed with the acting ability of the girl who portrayed Evie (who I believe also wrote the story originally) but she does look the part.

The only issue I had with the movie is actually the way it was marketed. It was targeted as something you should watch with your teenagers. I don't agree with that assessment but I do think people should realize that the adults in the movie are not your typical "middle-class" family. There is more going on than an out of control teen.

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