Thirteen is a pretty good movie. It is not, however, a great movie, which it could have been. While its premise is interesting, and not so far removed from reality, it is overdramatic and, in a way, oversimplified. The idea of a girl as young as thirteen falling in with a 'bad crowd' and being led into drugs, sex and theft is not an implausible one in today's society; however, the rapidity with which it occurs in Thirteen is unrealistic. The film takes place over just four months, and within likely half of that, Tracy (Wood) is fully immersed in the underworld of Los Angeles, a process which, while possible, would be likely to take much longer. Furthermore, Tracy is capable of stunningly rapid personality overhauls: in the first half of the film, while at first mortified by the idea of shoplifting, she overcomes these inhibitions within mere minutes of leaving the store. It's a touch absurd.
Furthermore, many of the characters are oversimplified, and while their actions might be multifarious, the motives that underlie them never vary for each character. Everything Tracy does is to be accepted by the popular crowd, and to pursue their lifestyle, and she does it without thought of consequence. Everything Evie (Reed) does is for her own personal pleasure or comfort, and she does it without a thought for morality. Tracy is never torn between the two possible lifestyles offered to her (That was the movie I was expecting, one in which a characters descent into drugs etc. was juxtaposed with her earlier innocence) but always follows Evie's path. Furthermore <SPOILER> her implied transformation at the end comes far too easily, as the likely conclusion to her behaviour would be a further downward spiral, which requires more than a simple betrayal and a mother's hug to overcome <END SPOILER>. Simply, Tracy's character is always singly motivated, and therefore oversimplified.
All this is not to say the movie is without its merits. It is well-directed and well-acted, with the young girls performing well within the framework they've been given. The characters are flawed, not the actors. Furthermore, Hardwicke's direction is excellent, with the use of the film's colour value as a mirror for Tracy's life is a touch that adds nicely to the overall mood. It is likely that Hardwicke has a future as a director.
Thirteen is a flawed good movie when it could've been a great one. Kids, while also not a perfect film, is superior to this one, in it's portrayal of a world of such excess, as opposed to this one, where a girl is lured into such a world. On the subject of drugs, a far superior film to both these is Requiem for a Dream, a truly brilliant exploration of the nature of addiction and of its consequences. Thirteen is worth a look, but it is not the masterpiece some would claim.
Furthermore, many of the characters are oversimplified, and while their actions might be multifarious, the motives that underlie them never vary for each character. Everything Tracy does is to be accepted by the popular crowd, and to pursue their lifestyle, and she does it without thought of consequence. Everything Evie (Reed) does is for her own personal pleasure or comfort, and she does it without a thought for morality. Tracy is never torn between the two possible lifestyles offered to her (That was the movie I was expecting, one in which a characters descent into drugs etc. was juxtaposed with her earlier innocence) but always follows Evie's path. Furthermore <SPOILER> her implied transformation at the end comes far too easily, as the likely conclusion to her behaviour would be a further downward spiral, which requires more than a simple betrayal and a mother's hug to overcome <END SPOILER>. Simply, Tracy's character is always singly motivated, and therefore oversimplified.
All this is not to say the movie is without its merits. It is well-directed and well-acted, with the young girls performing well within the framework they've been given. The characters are flawed, not the actors. Furthermore, Hardwicke's direction is excellent, with the use of the film's colour value as a mirror for Tracy's life is a touch that adds nicely to the overall mood. It is likely that Hardwicke has a future as a director.
Thirteen is a flawed good movie when it could've been a great one. Kids, while also not a perfect film, is superior to this one, in it's portrayal of a world of such excess, as opposed to this one, where a girl is lured into such a world. On the subject of drugs, a far superior film to both these is Requiem for a Dream, a truly brilliant exploration of the nature of addiction and of its consequences. Thirteen is worth a look, but it is not the masterpiece some would claim.