Review from THE TRADES by BETH GOTTFRIED
Two Words: Jeremy Sisto. Formerly, just the “Clueless” jerk, Sisto is now my idol. Even more surprising than this proclamation is that Sisto accomplished this feat by taking on the role of a recovering Coke addict in the film “Thirteen.”
To say that the film is heavy and dark would be an understatement. “Thirteen” had me flinching, squirming, and covering my eyes. I was never aware that you could do all 3 simultaneously till I saw this film and I think I burned more calories sitting in that seat in the theater than I had all day. Admittedly, my tolerance for self-mutilation, family dysfunction, recreational drugs, premature sexuality, and petty theft is low. Especially when it involves 13-year-old girls engaging themselves in such activities, succumbing to peer pressure, all in the desire to be “cool.”
It’s crucial to note the location of the film is LA. If there were a place where such a story were to be told, it would be southern California. And to be honest, it had me thankful I grew up in cornfields where at 13, I was still wearing my Keds and completely oblivious of just how warped a place the world can be.
The premise of the story involves the progression of Tracy (Evan Rachel Wood) from shy, insecure 7th-grader to careless & reckless teen who frequently drops acid. I’m not sure this transformation could be accurately defined as an “evolution” which is why I use the word “progression.” The start of this downward spiral happens at the onset of the film with Tracy befriending the popular Evie. (played brilliantly by Nikki Reed perhaps because Reed is also the co-writer of the film and the film was inspired by actual events in Reed’s life) Evie introduces Tracy to drugs, sex, and dare I say rock ’n’ roll? Evie manipulates her way into Tracy’s family life and perhaps more damaging causes a major rift in the already volatile relationship between Tracy and her mother. (also an amazing Oscar nod to Holly Hunter) Hunter and Wood play the mother/daughter roles with such effortless attention and heightened awareness to their characters, it’s almost unbelievable that they aren’t related.
While the film’s dialogue is a little weak in places (these are teenagers afterall), the visuals are stunning and effective. The harsh lighting and shaky, hand-held camera-esque quality of the film lends itself quite effectively to the reality factor. It makes us subtly aware that this is not just a pretty picture, but true life in all its over-exposed ugliness. (Perhaps most symbolically depicted by Tracy’s habit of cutting herself with razors and scissors whenever she is overcome with anger)
While Wood, Reed, and Hunter all deliver impressive performances, Sisto distinguishes himself as the grounded, almost comic (in an edgy way) relief in the film. As such, he was my hero. Sitting through 2 hours of teen angst can be rather emotionally draining. It almost made me wanna start cutting myself out of sympathy.
Sisto kept it real for me.
Score 1 for the “Clueless” jerk.