Hard Candy

Starring: Ellen Page, Patrick Wilson, Sandra Oh
Directed by: David Slade
Rating: R
Genre: Drama, Thriller
2005

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: A mature 14 year-old (Ellen Page) meets a 32 year old photographer (Patrick Wilson) online and goes to his house. However, both have ulterior motives to the meeting.

Review:

Tim: I found this to be a very, very good movie. I like it because it is something different. It's unique, occasionally it is very difficult to watch, but that only adds to the differentiating qualities of the film. The movie is memorable.

Ellen Page gives a very, very good performance. She seems wise beyond her years (and she was older than 14 when she gave this performance). She balances out the naive, youthfulness very well, but almost immediately, she can switch her performance to one that will chill your blood. She's fantastic on screen. Patrick Wilson also gives a good performance. It was so important for him to walk a very thin line throughout the movie. He needed to keep the audience guessing- and he does this beautifully. Right down to the last few scenes, we're still not sure what to make of him. This is a testament to his performance. Sandra Oh is in the film for about 2 minutes, and she adds nothing.

Hard Candy is a very polarizing film. It's the type of movie that will force you to come down on one side or the other. Do you think Page's character's actions are deserved, or not? Whom do you sympathize with? The subject material is controversial and certainly not "safe." In addition to polarizing you on the subject, I have a suspicion that some people will really like the movie, while some people will hate it. This is one of the movie's strengths- it makes you think, it makes you ask questions- BUT- it doesn't force any of this down your throat. The film doesn't try to preach. It just tries to tell its powerful story in a very entertaining way. The questions all come up in the shadows of the film.

I highly recommend this movie. It's not the easiest movie to watch, but it gives the audience everything we ask for in a motion picture.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating- 8



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