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Evan Rachel Wood,
Ron Livingston,
James Woods,
more...
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Marcos Siega,
Marcos Siega
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: Columbia TriStar
: Comedies, Black Comedy, Teen Comedy
: 110 min.
: English
: English, French
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One of the "popular girls" decides to put her mean streak to work in this black comedy. Kimberly Joyce (Evan Rachel Wood) is an outwardly friendly but inwardly cold and manipulative teenager who attends an exclusive private school in Beverly Hills when she's not making fun of her twentysomething stepmother (Jaime King) or listening to her business mogul father (James Woods) rant about the many people he hates. Kimberly's best friend is Brittany (Elisabeth Harnois), who doesn't seem to notice that Kimberly holds a bit of a grudge over the fact Brittany is now dating Troy (Stark Sands), Kimberly's former boyfriend. When Randa (Adi Schnall), an exchange student from the Middle East, arrives at school, Kimberly is asked to show her around, and soon she's giving her the inside scoop on the school's social hierarchy. Kimberly, Brittany, and Randa, like most of the girls at school, don't much care for Mr. Anderson (Ron Livingston), a teacher who doesn't make much of a secret of his lust for the female student body, though he doesn't do much besides look. Kimberly decides to do something about Mr. Anderson by fabricating a story that he has had inappropriate contact with her, Brittany, and Randa, and it doesn't take long for the matter to become a local scandal, though it does end up backfiring on Kimberly in time. Pretty Persuasion also features supporting performances from Selma Blair, Jane Krakowski, and Michael Hitchcock. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
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| pretty darn persuasive.
by Dayna
February 6, 2008 - 7:31 PM PST
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0 out of 2 members found this review helpful
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| this is a great twist of a movie..compelling and aloof it has everything.its cunning and you just can't stop watching it so get a lot of popcorn..its a ride..kudos all around. |
| Pretty Good
by talltale
December 16, 2005 - 8:37 PM PST
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5 out of 6 members found this review helpful
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Evan Rachel Wood is just short of astounding (wise and able far beyond her years) in the lead role in PRETTY PERSUASION, an odd--and oddly affecting--"mean teen" movie that dares to be different in a number of strange ways. It's both obvious and not at all obvious; full of clichés, yet weirdly different. It's deadpan, real, over-the-top and quietly rational. Truthfully, I don't know to whom or how to credit all this. But I'd best begin with the director Marcos Siega and screenwriter Skander Halim, both of whom navigate a path through this minefield and end up safely on the other side.
The oddest thing of all is how correct Wood's "Kimberly" character can seem throughout most of the film. She'll have you feeling for her, and probably rooting for her in some dark, masochistic manner. This whole enterprise might succeed due to a stroke of dumb luck. I suppose we'll have to wait for Siega's and/or Halim's next film to learn if this was a happy accident or the result of sheer, shocking talent. For the time being, just rent and--mouth agape--watch. |
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GreenCine Member Rating
(Average 6.25)
16 Votes
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