Both one of the best debut films of the year and one of the most disturbing, harshly realistic portrayals of the dark side of teenage years I've ever seen, Catherine Hardwicke's Thirteen is a stark, almost blankly blunt film. With its fairly rapid transformation of the innocent, childlike Tracy (Evan Rachel Wood) into an underdressed hellraiser indulging in sex, shoplifting, drugs and self-mutilation, the film is both unrelentingly bleak and at times difficult to watch. However, the approach of showing a fairly simple teenage horror story is also the film's greatest weakness. Thirteen could have sunk to the level of a merely educational and overall emotionally uninvolving film were it not for the performances. Wood brings incredible realism to her role, and also endears herself to the audience, often earning sympathy rather than disdain for her misled actions. In an even less appealing role, Nikki Reed (who also co-wrote the solid screenplay, basing it on her own experiences) is also excellent as the temptress who leads Tracy off of the rails. Perhaps most powerful is Holly Hunter's wonderful portrayal of Tracy's mother, quickly out of her depth as her daughter slips further and further away from her. Hunter brings real pathos to the role and adds a further dimension of humanity to the film--it's one of the best supporting performances of the year.
Overall, Thirteen suffers from its railroaded approach and the slightly episodic nature of the script. But it must be seen for the commanding performances and the commendable unflinching realism in Hardwicke's direction.
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