Darnit, I’ve got behind on reviews all over again. The past week has completely messed with any kind of organisation I began the year with and I can only apologise. I’m just gonna catch up as quick as possible.

I wrote just last week a couple of weeks ago on my tumblr how I was surprised to see Dakota Fanning being campaigned as lead actress rather than supporting for this movie, even though I hadn’t seen it yet. From what I’d seen of it in ads etc, it just looked like such a light ensemble piece – almost like Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants (which I haven’t seen either) or something, in fact. I don’t think I’ve ever had expectations shattered so quickly by a movie in its first few minutes. To begin with at least, this is an almost shockingly brutal movie in places and it surprises me Dakota did it after all the ballyhoo over Hounddog (which I’ll finally be watching very soon). But it’s also a pleasant surprise that she does, indeed, lead the movie. Am I still head over heels with her as one of the best young actresses around? On this evidence, I’m still more inclined as I have been increasingly over the past few years that her younger sister Elle is making far more interesting movies. I think the fact I wasn’t burning with jealousy when she gets her first big screen kiss kinda says it all

Anyway, this is as watchable as any number of civil rights era road movies but it’s spoiled primarily by one thing, the soundtrack, which favours twangly teen-friendly tunes over more logical period selections. Also, the brutality which seeps in at the start is very quickly replaced as the movie goes on with more typically schmaltzy moments. Everyone else has made the comment that the story features honey heavily and is reflected in the sugarry tone, so I won’t; but it’s kind of an irresistible point to make. For what I expected however, it did at least surprise me a little.

Tags: cuties, Dakota, first kiss, racism, women

This entry was posted on Monday, February 9th, 2009 at 10:28 pm and is filed under 3 hearts, Movie Reviews. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.