Watched this for the first time in 2 or 3 years the other day, having read the book since then. Hate to agree with the popular viewpoint, but it's true... moving from the 50s to the 90s is a bad idea. In 95/96, you don't get suspended for 3 weeks for accusing a teacher of molesting you, the guys aren't all 50s style jock bullies who try to gang rape a character who they have no reason to be concerned about (she's walking one's abused girlfriend home... "let's rape her." The four other guys... "yeah why not." Not one of these supposedly 1996 guys try to stop him. There's at least one, probably three, who realize their coach/teacher is an a**hole who forced himself on a pathologically shy virginal redhead).
However, there's a good performance from Jolie before she became a major annoyance (anything after Gia), a great performance by Burress, able to convey that she is rebelling against the evil male hierarchy of a hick town in upstate New York in 1956 that somehow got transported through the Donnie Darko time vessel into 1996 Portland (why not just set it in Seattle and cut out the middle man while yer butchering a pretty good book for the flannel generation?). She also has great chemistry with the always scenery-chewing Jolie, back when it worked... see Girl Interrupted for a case where Burress woulda been much better (or even Claire Danes, who auditioned and like Burress would be much more compatible with Winona, not resorting to all those notice me Oscar antics) She'd be a way better cop in Bone Collector too.(i saw some show where she played a butch, kinda guncrazy cop or Secret Service agent, damned if i can remember what it was now). Maddy's transformation into walking on top of the bridge thus works way better than it has any right to (the first time I saw it, I was almost as moved as when Jack Nicholson inspires Will Sampson to lift the tub. And just like One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, I then read the book).
Had this been set in the 50s and directed by Figgis (who ended up just producing) instead of a casting director it probably coulda been a classic "chick flick that guys like too." If Figgis could remake it with the original 50s story (maybe Jena Malone as Maddy, Lauren Ambrose or Christina Ricci as Legs... no they're both 23 or 24 now. i'm no casting director, but Carter could stick to that job)...
6 outta 10. It's not mediocre because of the very good leads but too unfaithful to the source and poorly directed to be considered good.
Wow, I'm a guy and made it thru the review without talking about the scene where Jolie and Burress take their shirts off. Woops. I just did.
However, there's a good performance from Jolie before she became a major annoyance (anything after Gia), a great performance by Burress, able to convey that she is rebelling against the evil male hierarchy of a hick town in upstate New York in 1956 that somehow got transported through the Donnie Darko time vessel into 1996 Portland (why not just set it in Seattle and cut out the middle man while yer butchering a pretty good book for the flannel generation?). She also has great chemistry with the always scenery-chewing Jolie, back when it worked... see Girl Interrupted for a case where Burress woulda been much better (or even Claire Danes, who auditioned and like Burress would be much more compatible with Winona, not resorting to all those notice me Oscar antics) She'd be a way better cop in Bone Collector too.(i saw some show where she played a butch, kinda guncrazy cop or Secret Service agent, damned if i can remember what it was now). Maddy's transformation into walking on top of the bridge thus works way better than it has any right to (the first time I saw it, I was almost as moved as when Jack Nicholson inspires Will Sampson to lift the tub. And just like One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, I then read the book).
Had this been set in the 50s and directed by Figgis (who ended up just producing) instead of a casting director it probably coulda been a classic "chick flick that guys like too." If Figgis could remake it with the original 50s story (maybe Jena Malone as Maddy, Lauren Ambrose or Christina Ricci as Legs... no they're both 23 or 24 now. i'm no casting director, but Carter could stick to that job)...
6 outta 10. It's not mediocre because of the very good leads but too unfaithful to the source and poorly directed to be considered good.
Wow, I'm a guy and made it thru the review without talking about the scene where Jolie and Burress take their shirts off. Woops. I just did.