Thirteen DVD Review:

Returning to high school aged thirteen Tracy (Wood) realises that she will have to change her image if she is ever going to get noticed by the most popular girl in school Evie (Reed). Her mother Melanie (Hunter) doesn’t understand why she wants to change her clothes, hairstyle and start wearing makeup but Tracy wants to fit in. When Evie notices her and invites her into her circle, Tracy discovers petty crime, drugs and sex but her schoolwork and family life disintegrate as she changes into a person no one recognises.

The agonies of becoming a teenager have been explored before in many a Hollywood movie but they have never been tackled to this extreme before.

Gone is the sugar coating and glitter that Tinsel town usually sprinkle on the teenage years to be replaced with a gritty, no holds barred look at the trappings of fitting in and growing up. This isn’t about rich kids going bad or rebelling against Daddy just to be noticed, this is real people in real situations. Thirteen is a strange age, when your childhood ends and you start to become an adult. You make new friends and start to leave your youthful trappings behind, as you start to notice more adult oriented interests. This is the time that can shape the rest of your life.

This is what happens to Tracy. A well liked student and mother’s girl, wants to fit in with the popular crowd but exposure to a new whole new world of shoplifting, piercings, drugs, drink and boys changes her completely. This is portrayed brilliantly by up and coming teen actress Evan Rachel Wood. Her fall from ideal child to the daughter from hell is an absolutely superb performance and the focal point of the entire film. Her acting is so natural and unforced that the character’s fall from grace into desperation is so believable. She captures everything that can so easily pull a teenager off the rails and successfully shows how the pressure to fit in can, change someone so dramatically.

Backing up this outstanding central performance is a supporting ensemble that brings the story to life. The always-excellent Holly Hunter is exceptional as Tracy’s mother Melanie. This is a woman who can’t understand why her daughter wants to change and can’t cope with what she has become. Hunter’s performance captures the frustration and worry of a parent of a troubled teen superbly and is one of the best of her distinguished career. Jeremy Sisto and Brady Corbet are also good as Melanie’s troubled boyfriend Brady and her son Mason.

As the girl who opens Tracy’s eyes, Nikki Reed is outstanding as Evie. When you learn that this is a debut performance from the actress and that she co-wrote the film with director Catherine Hardwicke, you realise that she is an up and coming talent to watch. This is an outstanding performance from the very young actress, who used her own experiences as inspiration for her role and the script.

Thirteen is a no holds barred look into teenage life. It brings up every issue imaginable that a thirteen year old can face. Hopefully most teenagers won’t face all of these dilemmas but this is still a wakeup lessons for both kids and parents alike. It shows the situation from both sides as you see Tracy’s pressure to fit and Melanie trying to cope with her ever-changing daughter. This is powerful stuff and it’s a shame that because of the 18 rating, thirteen years can’t get to see it, as it is a real eye opener.

Star Rating = * * * *

PICTURE & SOUND

Presented in Widescreen 1.78:1 Anamorphic with a Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack, the transfer is very good. For a lower budget feature, Catherine Hardwicke visual flair is brought to bear by the excellent picture quality. The sound is also first rate, with clear dialogue throughout, which is needed for a movie like this.

BONUS FEATURES

Commentary with director Catherine Hardwicke and stars Evan Rachel Wood, Nikki Reed and Brady Corbet

The director and her young stars gather to bring us a fun and informative commentary about making the movie. We find out about how Catherine Hardwicke and Nikki Reed came together to write the movie and how they used the writing experience to bring structure to Nikki’s teenage life. The group talk about how the film tries to show both the adult and kids sides of the situation. The commentary is very funny in parts, alleviating some of the dramatic tension that is appearing on screen. The girls talk about how they wanted to be the ones who got the movie an R rating which leads to Catherine Hardwicke reminding them that they are not old enough to be watching the film anyway.

Making of Thirteen (6.04 mins)

Director Catherine Hardwicke and stars Evan Rachel Wood, Nikki Reed, Holly Hunter and Jeremy Sisto talk about making this powerful and emotionally draining film. Catherine Hardwick and Nikki Reed discuss writing the screenplay together and how they constructed the characters with the cast. The cast all try to relate to been thirteen again and if they would be tempted like Tracy was.

Deleted Scenes (9.21 mins)

Ten deleted scenes entitled “Homework for Tracy”, “Kayla’s song”, “Gifts from Dad”, “Free Shoes”, “Out with the old”, “Playing games”, “Noel’s out”, “Consoling Melanie”, “Get the camera” and “Hugs for Tracy”. Many of the scenes could have been easily inserted back in the movie so it would have been nice to have a director’s commentary to say why they were cut.

Trailer (2.03 mins)

Your chance to watch the theatrical trailer for the movie.

Easter Egg (1.20 mins)

A hidden deleted scene in which Deborah Unger finds Evie’s stash of drugs and stolen items.

OVERALL

An extremely good movie gets a very good DVD. The commentary is very entertaining and informative as the director and her young cast discuss and laugh about the movie. The bonus features are fine but it would have been better if Catherine Hardwicke had commented on the deleted scenes. Overall, for a low budget movie, this is a very good release that is a must buy or rent for fans of good drama.

DVD Star Rating = * * *

Jamie Kelwick

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