Speak

I just finished watching this film and decided that I should say something about it. Firstly, Wow! Kristen Stewart. There is an actress with a great future. An impressive performance. The support cast, which it must be remembered, play a fairly incidental role in this film, were adequate at allowing her to shine through. The Directing was solid. I didn't get lost, it wasn't all over the place.

Plotwise, I was quietly moved. I had seen this film on cable a couple of times before and just flicked passed it thinking it was just more "made for TV" crapola, but tonight I tuned in at the beginning and failed to channel surf away. I stuck with it till the end, and if anything, was sorry that it was over. It managed to suck me right into the story, I wanted to see where I was being taken.

It's not a bold film, even though it discusses a challenging topic. I was worried the Teen Angst Engine may kick in, and was glad to see it nowhere in sight. It was a film that left me thoughtful, and wanting to tell someone to give it a chance.... so... give it a chance, I thought it was worth it.

It's the first day of school and Melinda Sordino (Kristen Stewart) arrives as a quiet depressed loner. Her old friends like Rachel (Hallee Hirsh) have abandoned her. There was a traumatic event at a summer party that is shown in recurring flashbacks and she is haunted by Andy Evans. She bullied as the Squealor. The only girl talking to her now is peppy new girl Heather. Mr. Neck is the intolerant teacher. Mr. Freeman (Steve Zahn) is her kind art teacher. Her parents (Elizabeth Perkins, D.B. Sweeney) are clueless. Agitator Dave Petrakis is assigned to be her lab partner.

Kristen Stewart is terrific. She makes this not just simply another Lifetime TV teen rape drama. I love the title which is almost a plead for Melinda to speak up. It's the constant refrain at the back of my head throughout this movie. It creates intensity as the audience roots for her to speak up. A couple scenes do hold it back a little. Mr. Neck is pushed too far in one scene where he's almost a cartoon villain. I also think Melinda was a bit too mean to Heather in that one scene. Heather wasn't wrong when she tells her to talk to a professional. She also stuck with her a lot longer than most people would. Other than talking too much, she seems to be a good friend. Also a couple of times, the movie takes on too light of a tone. Overall, this is a compelling teen movie with a great central performance.

More than anything, watch SPEAK for Kristen Stewart's raw, honest, beautiful performance. This young actress can convey more with one look than most veterans can with an entire monologue. She reminds me of a young Mary Louise Parker. And as a director, she shot up on my wish list of people I'd one day like to work with!

Aside from Stewart, the film is very well directed, tightly scripted...Steve Zahn is quite good as the art teacher with the heart of gold...

And I love the score, which owes a lot to Neutral Milk Hotel.

But really it's all about Stewart. There isn't one beat of her performance which does not ring true.

Masterful!

Kristen Stewart is the star here based on the novel of the same name by Laurie Halse Anderson. The story is about a teenager with a secret. She returns to another school year completely changed from a summertime experience. Steve Zahn plays her art teacher. She is suddenly the outcast and girl nobody wants to be around. She is pretty much friendless and alone. The story slowly evolves the process of her trauma in slow flashbacks. Don't worry, nothing too graphic here. The movie is aimed for a young audience and it was probably a television movie in the first place. The acting is fine with Stewart's performance in the leading role. The production value is decent. The cast includes some well-known actors and actresses but nobody really stands out. I have to say that Leslie Lyles who plays the hair lady teacher does a fine job. She's somebody to watch out for in the future.

I was luck enough to see this film at Sundance. I'd read the book when it came out and loved it, but wasn't sure how it would translate to film, given that the main character really doesn't talk at all in the book. Jessica Sharzer's adaptation handles all of the potential problems beautifully, without changing the fundamental story and using voiceover only sparingly. What really makes the movie, though, is Kristen Stewart's complete embodiment of Melinda. She does things with her face that actors twice her age with twice her experience only wish they could do. Though the film is not at all didactic in nature, it would be a great one for teens to see with their parents. Lots of good material for discussion. It's great to see Laurie Halse Anderson's wonderful book get the screen treatment it deserves. If you like this movie, you might also like BLUE CAR, MANNY & LO, and THE CHOCOLATE WAR.