hard candy
I heard about Hard Candy when it came out, but since I couldn’t catch it in the theater, it fell off my radar. Last night in Blockbuster it caught my eye. Mainly, I was hoping for something that would be a fair trade for staying up past my bedtime.
Instead, I ended up with a movie so good I was pumped after seeing it.
There isn’t much plot to the movie. It is an exploration of two people, one of them not at all what they seem to be. It’s a bloodless, sexless horror movie that is and isn’t about blood, sex and horror. Rarely has a movie taken me through amazement, revulsion, sympathy, laugh-out-loud black humor, reversal of loyalties, suspense, horror-movie satire and genuine horror too. This post contains some small spoilers, so don’t read past here if you plan on seeing it.
The director loves his close-ups, which actually helps the movie. Both actors are capable of expressing volumes in a flick of their eyes or twist of their lips. Most amazing of all is the performance of Ellen Page (Haley) who was 18 playing a very believable 14 year old. [spoiler] By the end of the movie, we realize just how much she was playing and her performance is even stronger for it. [/spoiler] This is an actress to watch. She has more talent in her smile than major actresses with an entire crew and CGI team behind them.
[spoiler] Haley is a girl who entraps a pedophile, then seems to go psycho. Funniest of all are schlock horror-movie lines spouted by a teenage girl with a gamine haircut (more Jean Seberg than Audrey Hepburn) and black Chuck Taylors. I laughed until it hurt during these moments. The actress delivered the lines knowing full well what she was doing. Great moments in movie history.[/spoiler]
Like I said earlier, the movie runs a gamut of emotions that I never expected to find in one single movie. [spoiler] Haley’s choice of costume in the final frame is the perfect, self-aware final comment. [/spoiler] Although Hard Candy does skewer a lot of horror movie conventions, it didn’t do it at the expense of the characters. Everything seemed realistic, as long as you understand this is a girl with a lot of time on her hands. [spoiler] (And apparently the strength the move around the dead weight of a man.) [/spoiler]
Jeff (her fly) isn’t standard either. I went from being skeeved out by him, to sort of liking him, to pitying him, then not. The actors effortlessly allowed me to bounce my sympathies between the two, until the end. [spoiler] Frankly, I’ve always had a soft spot for vigilantes. [/spoiler]
The only gripes I had with it was that Jeff seemed to have shaved between the coffee shop and his house. [spoiler] And the CD that Haley pulls out of his safe is never played. I want to know what’s on it! [/spoiler] A maxim in playwriting is that if you show a gun on the mantle in Act I, it must go off in Act III. So if you show a CD during a pivotal scene, show us what’s on the damn CD!
Still, it was a joy to watch. It never got boring and only one spot (right at the end) was predictable. Even though I predicted the line, I didn’t predict the outcome. But I wasn’t worrying about figuring it out. The movie was entertaining enough that I was happy to go along for the ride.
Hard Candy is truly a delicious little movie that is going to roll around in your head for some time.
Warning: if you have serious issues with pedophilia, victimization or want blood and guts with your horror, then you might want to pass. [spoiler] Oh, by the way, it may be a little difficult for most men to watch. (Evil giggle here.) [/spoiler]
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Personal Update (7/2/08)
Book #2 is on its way. Slowly. But getting there.
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I've discovered the pleasure of working with Brian Gardner's WP themes. His free stuff is nearly flawless and his more expensive stuff is mind-blowing. Although his work is easy to use right out of the box, there's infinite fun to be had by customizing (i.e., destroying) it. As you can see here.
It’s always good when you stumble across a movie that unexpectedly catches you by surprise. One of my biggest faults while browsing the video store, is skipping past the movies that they only have 1 or 2 copies of. Those are the ones that most likely will become diamonds in the rough.
Brian,
This one is a small movie that’s worth it. I’m surprised Blockbuster had it, but then, they carry Hostel too.
I’ve picked up a number of Japanese and Chinese martial arts films that they only ever have one copy of. Mostly they aren’t worth it. Not because I expect Hollywood effects but because they tend to have very long and scattered plots. Still, I’m always willing to take a chance on something that not everyone in the world has seen.
XX
My path beats down the road less travelled (ala Robert Frost) so I totally dig things that most people don’t like or don’t know about. (ala Harriet Wheeler of the rock band the Sundays.)
I read the review for Hard Candy when it was originally released in the Financial Times. It got a pretty good review, but the reviewer wrote some memorable phrases describing this movie such as “sharp as scissors” and “nymph with nous”. noe I want to see it.
Tanks A.
JW,
It’s a movie for a developed sense of humor and a sense of adventure. I think you’ll enjoy it a lot.
XX
I’ll call your “Hard Candy” with “That Obscure Object of Desire” and raise you with with “Lady Chatterley”.
JW,
Ah! Haven’t seen “That Obscure Object of Desire” but it sure sounds good. I read “Lady Chatterley” early in college. Does that count?
XX
Better to see them. You can check out Number Ninety-Five & Number One-Hundred.
JW,
I’m going to disagree with you. I enjoyed “Lady Chatterley” when I read it and I find it hard to imagine a film version would be better or more enjoyable. Some books translate well to film, most don’t. For instance, I’ve yet to see any version of “O” that was worthwhile. This isn’t to say the film versions are bad, but usually pale next to the power of the book.
“That Obscure Object of Desire” is on my rent-list. I’ve seen a couple Bunuel films and like them. They would be hard to translate to print.
Read your entry on “Lady Chatterley,” which sounds amazing. An American film would not have the power of the book, maybe this one does. I remember the scene in the rain.
XX