Thirteen

Director: Catherine Hardwicke
Year Released: 2003
Rating: 1.0

Sensationalistic depiction of a genuine problem in middle and high schools regarding peer pressure among girls to be 'cool' as well as their promiscuity and drug use. Hardwicke - and co-screenwriter Nikki Reed (who will never, ever, ever be confused with Erica Jong) - made one of these "Do You Know Where Your Daughter Is?" paranoia-type films (which will no doubt be viewed in the following decades the way Reefer Madness is today), turning everything up full-tilt, making life 'on the edge' look like a hip music video and also like a nightmare (which one is it? Madonna's "Ray of Light" or the Prodigy's "Smack My Bitch Up?"). Evan Rachel Wood and Holly Hunter - as the hopelessly forgiving parent - both shine, but no one can convince me Reed lived any of this.