Too many denials for a day
Added 7/2/2009
The teenager denies that she knew that she was pregnant. Her mother denies everything, and expects that everything will be as before. Both deny that any wrong has been done. Her father denies that he could have any role in this. The parents deny that the daughter needs a plea bargain.
See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil. The baby's father denies that he knew that the girl was under age. Of course he knew nothing of the pregnancy. He denies that he even came. Anyway he was high.
The forensic psychologist denies that her own pregnancy, and at a later stage than the teenager was when she gave premature birth, is a reason for her to decline the assignment as prosecutor's witness. She denies that her previous tragic experience with a stillborn daughter is relevant in the current circumstances. She denies to herself that her marriage is dead after the experience with the previous pregnancy. She denies that her refusal to grieve over the dead daughter is in any way relevant to her state of mind. He denies that he is seeing somebody else, and he most definitely denies any knowledge about the diamond ear thing that she finds in their common bathroom.
I deny that so much denial is good for the plausibility of a movie. It is also excessively slow and roundabout in disclosing what I summarize so clearly above. I deny that I have any intention to spoil the movie for you.
I deny any claims that this is a good movie. It might have been, but it isn't. Tilda Swinton is executive producer, and she is of course a great actress, even here, but she can't save a misconstructed script.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
|
An accidental motherhood
Added 11/24/2008
For most women, motherhood is supposed to be a happy time in their lives. But this film tackles some very important issues about women, motherhood, marriage and pre-marital teenage sex. We meet Stephanie Daley, 16 year old girl who has one night stand at the party with the boy she barely knows. She is either in denial or totally ignorant about her developing pregnancy when one day during her ski trip she delivers premature baby at the public restroom. Baby ends up dead and the police and legal team needs to determine if this young mother premeditated baby's murder. Incidentally, the psychologist assigned to this case is pregnant herself. It is her second pregnancy after her first one resulted in a birth of a stillborn baby. This woman's own anxieties about her own marriage and pregnancy seem to overlap with the case she is handling. Tilda Swinton delivers great portrayal of a woman trying to keep her personal and professional life together while handling one of the most important cases of her career.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
|
Left me sqeamish
Added 10/29/2008
I suppose women will enjoy this more than men. I winced during the birth scenes, but have to admit they are well acted. The plot seems to concern the ambiguities and moral dilemmas we face and the choices we make, which don't always add up for all concerned. A serious movie, but is it entertainment? You decide.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
|
VVVVEEEERRRRYYYY SSSSLLLLOOOOWWWW!
Added 3/12/2008
CCCCAAAANNNN YYYYOOOOUUUU SSSSAAAAYYYY TTTTHHHHEEEE WWWWOOOORRRRDDDD SSSSLLLLOOOOWWWW?
This has got to be one of the slowest moving movies of all time! I could have gotten up, driven to the store going the speed limit, driven back home going the speed limit, cooked dinner, popped open a soda, eaten dinner, washed the dishes, sat back down to watch the movie, and probably not missed a thing!
Another reviewer said it all in two words, and I believe that is all that needs to be said...aside from the very well done bathroom scene, which earned the second star of the two, this movie was:
1. contrived
2. ambiguous
Roger Ebert has it all wrong!
Definitely not worth the time or the money!
BOOOOOO!
0 out of 2 people found this helpful.
|
Stephanie Daley -
Added 3/2/2008
Short reveiw on a good movie - I don't want to spoil it.
Lydie Crane (Tilda Swinton)is a psychologist who interviews Stephanie Daley (Amber Tamblyn) about the incident that happened on a school skiing trip, for the court side of the case. Stephanie is accused of murdering her newborn child.
-Stephanie collapses with blood at her feet while skiing.
She didn't know she was pregnant.
-Lydie Crane wants to keep her marriage alive and have a baby. Lydie recently had a still born.
The interweaving of the lives of these two individuals as they look through their past, their present and hopes for the future is done very well. This is a very well acted, deep thought movie.
4 stars
1 out of 1 people found this helpful.
|
Great movie!!
Added 12/18/2008
I actually first saw this movie on lifetime and I love lifetime movies. They're so out there and if you like movies like that, you'll love this one. It was pretty shocking to think of teenagers acting like that but when you think about it, you never know what could happen. Especially in our time.
0 out of 1 people found this helpful.
|
What is 'Normal Adolescent Behavior'?
Added 8/16/2008
This film is a special take on the "we'll be friends forever" fantasy shared by most high school students. It is a disturbing film about group think, group feel, and group behavior. The peer pressure issue is taken to a new level. But the film also contrasts group with individual maturation. A well written script, well directed and acted. The cinematography reveals the characters in subtle ways. Viewers interested in psychology, sociology, and communication should find "Normal Adolescent Behavior" revealing and stimulating.
2 out of 2 people found this helpful.
|
Best movie I've seen in years
Added 8/10/2008
I understand why some might give poor reviews to this movie, but I simply loved it.
It is a teen movie dealing with very adult issues, which no doubt makes it difficult to find an audience. However, the movie delves into a variety of relationship issues that are rarely dealt with at all--much less in the colorful and nuanced manner we find here.
This movie explores that intense and deeply felt line between being true to oneself on the one hand, while allowing love, friendship, loyalty, and open-mindedness to have their various impacts on the heart and soul.
It does start a bit slow, and doesn't really hit its stride until about halfway point; but for me, the build-up was well worth it.
The honesty, struggles, and emotional depth expressed by Wendy (played by Amber Tamblyn) was, for me,the real heart of the movie.
This movie is not for everyone, but if exploring emotional territory with integrity--human flaws and all--in the full quirky glory of life, is of interest to you, then I strongly recommend this beautifully acted and heartfelt movie.
3 out of 3 people found this helpful.
|
