This film is interesting and watchable because it does keep you guessing. BUT it had so much potential that was untapped. I wanted so badly to see the main character break down in a real, authentic way. Actually I wanted somebody - ANYBODY to break down and show some emotion other than HATE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It always amazes me how an actress can do nothing and immediately be placed on a pedestal as the next "great one". This is what the reviewers here have done. The main character, "Mia", never truly showed a single emotion throughout the film other than hate and anger. OK, so the script was written that way. But the part would be a piece of cake for ANY actress. All she has to do is recite lines with a stone-cold face and then periodically shout at someone. Even the ONE crying scene she buries her head in her arms so you don't see her face. Why ? Because she can't act - that's why. I am sure the Director tried repeatedly to show her face but no tears would ever come - so all they could do is have her hide her face.
Even when the eventual career move proved to be a cruel misunderstanding of intent - no tears. That would have really caused the audience to feel for Mia. But no - just a quick "exit, Stage Left".
At first I really liked the Mother's new Boyfriend as we were supposed to. But to see what he did to young Mia was more than I could bear. Was the point there that the ONLY kind person in the movie was yet another selfish slimeball ? Apparently so - and I cannot appreciate a film that tries to tell you that ALL human beings are rotten to the core. I have lived in areas like that, and they are not filled with 100% haters and losers - as this film portrays.
The Mother NEVER EVER said a single kind word to her daughter. Again . . why not add some realism to it and show a few "nice" moments ?
I must say, the climax was fascinating, unexpected, and very frightening. If the story had taken a truly ominous turn here and a murder of a child had occurred, then it would have been the "most talked about film" of 2009. I was relieved it didn't go there, but it was very scary.
It always amazes me how an actress can do nothing and immediately be placed on a pedestal as the next "great one". This is what the reviewers here have done. The main character, "Mia", never truly showed a single emotion throughout the film other than hate and anger. OK, so the script was written that way. But the part would be a piece of cake for ANY actress. All she has to do is recite lines with a stone-cold face and then periodically shout at someone. Even the ONE crying scene she buries her head in her arms so you don't see her face. Why ? Because she can't act - that's why. I am sure the Director tried repeatedly to show her face but no tears would ever come - so all they could do is have her hide her face.
Even when the eventual career move proved to be a cruel misunderstanding of intent - no tears. That would have really caused the audience to feel for Mia. But no - just a quick "exit, Stage Left".
At first I really liked the Mother's new Boyfriend as we were supposed to. But to see what he did to young Mia was more than I could bear. Was the point there that the ONLY kind person in the movie was yet another selfish slimeball ? Apparently so - and I cannot appreciate a film that tries to tell you that ALL human beings are rotten to the core. I have lived in areas like that, and they are not filled with 100% haters and losers - as this film portrays.
The Mother NEVER EVER said a single kind word to her daughter. Again . . why not add some realism to it and show a few "nice" moments ?
I must say, the climax was fascinating, unexpected, and very frightening. If the story had taken a truly ominous turn here and a murder of a child had occurred, then it would have been the "most talked about film" of 2009. I was relieved it didn't go there, but it was very scary.