The Dead Girl

Starring: Brittany Murphy, Toni Collette, James Franco, Rose Byrne, Marcia Gay Harden, Josh Brolin, Giovanni Ribisi, Mary Steenburgen, Kerry Washington
Directed by: Karen Moncrieff
Rating: R
Genre: Drama
2006

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: A group of people are all impacted in life changing ways by the mysterious murder of a girl (Brittany Murphy).

Review:

Tim: What is interesting about The Dead Girl is that this ensemble movie features a number of characters, all somehow connected to the titular murder victim, who are themselves dead in some way. We have a story about a woman who is emotionally dead, one who is dead because of guilt, one who is dead because of mourning, and others. This story is really one of the different damages life brings to a group of women and their struggle to fight back against that which is claiming their lives. Sadly, this concept is better than the actual movie.

I typically like these movies that have a large ensemble cast, whom are all somehow connected via one event. This movie didn't work nearly as well as some others. This might be because it has been done over and over again, or perhaps the writing needed more excitement. It might just be that this movie had a ceiling- as is, it could only hope to be so good, and this inevitably leaves something to be desired. I did enjoy the idea and the big picture of this movie, but the experience actually watching it was not much fun at all. I can deal with lack of fun in a movie, but it has to be for some purpose- some emotional impact. This film lacks any real reason or lasting impact on its audience.

The cast is mostly good, although not all the actors work well in this movie. Brittany Murphy is the dead girl, and I really liked how the film saved her story for last. By this point, I was dying (sorry) to hear her story. Murphy is quite good in this small, independent movie. I liked her performance, which felt just soaked in tragedy. Because we know her story's eventual conclusion, every word and action feels predetermined. It is quite sad.

The rest of the cast offer varying degrees of performances. I am not a huge fan of Toni Collette, and this role didn't change my opinion at all. She is not bad, but I just have a hard time being impressed by her. I liked Giovanni Ribisi, but he had just too little screen time to positively effect this movie. Ribisi and Collette were an odd pairing, and I wasn't very pleased with it. I love the James Franco-Rose Byrne casting. This story was the most fascinating to me, and unfortunately, it is the one with the least amount of impact. I desperately wanted more time for this story and its characters, but sadly, it ended all too soon. Franco and Byrne were both quite good and I desperately wish they had more screen time. Mary Steenburgen is also very good in this story, but she was given a fairly thankless role. Luckily, she is a talented actress, and that shows up on screen. Marcia Gay Harden was decent, but by the time she emerges on screen, I was just hoping for the film's conclusion, so she is somewhat hampered by her place in the film. Still, she has a few impressive moments. Josh Brolin was a good casting choice, but his role was too small. I thought he did a decent yet forgettable job. Kerry Washington is also strong in her role.

One of the biggest problems I have with movies like this is that it assembles an impressive-by-any-standards cast. I love this cast, yet all the separate stories prevent any single actor from making a lasting, powerful impact on the film. Some stories feel like they go on far too long, others are regrettably short. Brittany Murphy probably effects us the most, but there were opportunities squandered here because of the very nature of the film. At 85 minutes, the film could have spent a little more time on some of these stories, but they it would face the danger of running too long.

The Dead Girl is certainly an interesting, occasionally thought provoking movie. However, it simply doesn't reach its audience in a meaningful, memorable way. I shrugged this movie off far too easily. This is one of those small, independent movies that offer a few big positives, but ultimately disappoint as well.


Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 6



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: Little Miss Sunshine, The Invisible, No Country for Old Men, 8 Mile, Don't Say a Word, Magnolia