Thirteen (2003)

"This movie is an emotionally coherent work--a burning experience of desperation and fleeting exhilaration.  David Denby, The New Yorker
"The most powerful of all recent wayward-youth sagas...  Mike Clark, USA Today
"...tender and merciless...  Owen Gleiberman

Editor's Note THIRTEEN is Catherine Hardwicke's explosive portrait of teenage girls at their very worst. Mean, manipulative, conniving, and utterly out of control, these skinny, sexy, drug-addicted, 13-year-old time bombs are nothing short of terrifying. Hardwicke's movie is brilliant in its ability to portray this phenomenon, which comes off as very real. The skillful photography from cinematographer Elliot Davis communicates the most complicated themes of the film: insecurity, confusion, wanting to be liked and accepted, and feeling like it's time to grow up fast. In an early scene, protagonist Tracy (Evan Rachel Wood), a shy girl and good student, approaches Evie (Nikki Reed), the school's ultra-popular bad girl, and the two size up each other's clothing, jewelry, hair, shoes, socks, and decide to go on a shopping spree. From there Tracy spirals downward, copying Evie's every move in an aggressive game of daring each other to take increasingly dangerous risks--stealing, getting piercings, experimenting with sex, drinking and taking drugs, and much more. All the while Tracy's mom (Holly Hunter) who is a bohemian ex-alcoholic trying to be open-minded and supportive about her daughter's rebellion, slowly loses her authority and her ability to cope with these volatile teens. A booming, excellent soundtrack punctuates the hyper, desperate, manic mood of the girls' behavior, and catalyzes the adrenaline rush that is THIRTEEN.

	Brady Corbet
	Deborah Unger
	Evan Rachel Wood
	Holly Hunter
	Jeremy Sisto
	Kip Pardue
	Nikki Reed
	Sarah Clarke
	Catherine Hardwicke - Screenplay
	Catherine Hardwicke - Director
	Elliot Davis - Cinematographer
	Jeffrey Levy-Hinte - Producer
	Mark Mothersbaugh - Original Music By
	Michael London - Producer
	Nancy Richardson - Editor
	Nikki Reed - Screenplay

Rolling Stone
"...Brace yourself for THIRTEEN -- it'll cause a commotion..." 09/04/2003 p.150

Movieline's Hollywood Life
"...THIRTEEN captures a slice of life that no other movie has ever caught with such unsparing but loving honesty..." 09/01/2003 p.112

Entertainment Weekly
"...The handheld images are grainy and feverish but also startlingly sustained, and they have a way of snaking their way right up to the actors' faces....It has the grip of a thriller..." 09/05/2003 p.54-5

New York Times
"...A movie with moments so realistically painted that your eyes will sting from the fumes..." 08/20/2003 p.E1

USA Today
"...Evan Rachel Wood delivers a performance of white-heat intensity..." 08/22/2003 p.4E

Sight and Sound
"...A lot of fun....THIRTEEN maintains an unusual balance between sobriety and irreverence that can catch you off guard..." 12/01/2003 p.55-6

Total Film
"What sets THIRTEEN apart from other teenage flicks is bravery..." 01/01/2004 p.34

James Berardinelli's ReelViews 9 of 10
The acting is superlative, and lacks the histrionics that often accompany high-octane work by young

Chicago Sun-Times 9 of 10
Who is this movie for? Not for most 13-year-olds, that's for sure. The R rating is richly deserved, - Roger Ebert