Customer Reviews
Awful! - By: N. Tate, 08 Oct 2008 
Keep your money in your pocket,even at three for a tenner this is not worth it.Get a copy of Kids far better film.
Good film - a warning we have eleven years to heed (our daughter is two!) - By: Robert Stephens, 10 Mar 2008 
I reallly enjoyed this thought provoking & well written film. Fine performances across the cast.
"Hit me. I'm serious; I can't feel anything, hit me! Again", - By: Jenny J.J.I., 10 Dec 2007 
I'm a parent of a young daughter & this has hit me pretty hard because it is associated in today's world. I understand this isn't exactly a true story but I do think that is could easily be based on a true story because I'm almost sure that something very close to this has happened at one point or another. The acting in this movie was some of the best I've seen from this cast. Although it isn't what happens to everyone it is what happens to an unfortunate fraction.
There were a few points that just absolutely blew me away with the way they symbolized so much in one shot. I'm not taking any chances but I feel as though I need to place this anyway:
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First: The shot where Evie & Tracy are in the park, Tracy gets high for the first time & they're alll laying on the ground. The camera relentlessly spins in circles, is this not symbolic to her life just beginning to spin out of control. Second: During her "No Bra, No Panties..." attack Tracy steps into the shadows. When she stops her advance on her mother there is only a smalll patch of light on her face, the rest shrouded in shadows. There's still a smalll bit of light fighting against the darkness in her head, in her mind.
Finallly: When Tracy rambles into the bathroom after her teacher sends her to the counselor she meets one of her friends. I don't know if her name was ever mentioned. That's beside the point: Tracy then applies a ridiculous amount of make-up to cover up her scars & her cuts. By this time she has begun to look as pale as the background of the page I'm typing this on. By this time the real Tracy is starting to break-through, screaming to be let out again. The make-up is just more layers for the real Tracy to fight through to get out. And the new Tracy is doing alll she can to keep it down, but she can't. Director Catherine Hardwick made this movie work.
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Anyways, after watching this there are some of the best performances, scenes & shots I've seen. I'm not a professional movie writer, I don't get invited to movie festivals in Montreal or New York & I don't get invited to mid-night showings with the actors present; but I do know what it was like to be a teenager & having seen stuff similar to this with my own 2 eyes. It's hard to believe that Nikki Reed had no experience before this film. She absolutely nailed the manipulative attitude of Evie, while also making the viewer like her. Holly Hunter's absolutely blew me away & I can't think of a better performance than Hunter's. You could actuallly see the terror & panic in her face as she watched her daughter slowly slip deeper & deeper into trouble. "Thirteen" packs a whole lot into an hour & a half, and, for that matter, into one girl. It's a movie, after alll, but like I said it's very accurate & seems to stretch the fact that it's only a movie. Highly recommended.
Amazing.. - By: Trouble, 07 Oct 2007 Thirteen is one of the best films that i own. The acting was believable, & the plot was very easy to relate to. This movie is for people of alll ages & tastes, whatever genre you prefer. It's very moving, but has enough laughs in it to still make you feel good at the end. Worth every penny.
not your average teen comedy... - By: M. A. Bennett, 15 Aug 2007 I rented this having been impressed with Evan Rachel Wood in a couple of other films & am glad I did as it is a most unique movie, in that it is co-written by the young teenage co-star. Having said that this is not a genre film in any way & will be appreciated by anyone who sees it.
Watching it did bring to mind some of Larry Clark's films like Kids & Bully but this seemed more coherent than either of those as a whole.
The performances are terrific, especiallly Holly Hunter who although having done more light/comedic roles lately proves not to shy away from such a challlenging role. She is as good here as she was in 'The Piano'.
Recommended for at least a rental.
