Hard Candy

It’s always nice to watch a good movie despite the hectic days you’ve been having lately; and well , I’m not quite sure this is the movie I intended to see after my long hiatus of not watching movies as well as wanting to relax and be entertained.

Warning!!! This film is not for teenagers despite it’s ‘teenage’ premise. I would recommend strong parental guidance if one finds it remotely necessary to show their children. I found this film highly unsettling even for adults. Think the original ‘Girl with the Dragon Tattoo’ meets a very violent version of ‘Lolita’.

This 2005 thrilling drama written by Brian Nelson and directed by English, David Slade was a hard dose of anything but sweet! I found it to be disturbing to the max; but as a true follower of film and especially those with 5 wins, 9 nominations and phenomenal actors; I cannot back out in seeing how and why they achieved this.

Canadian, Ellen Page introduced to us by her award-winning performance in ‘Juno’, at 25 years old, she is quickly following the lead of other brunette acting beauties like Natalie Portman and Winona Ryder. Her understanding and execution of her larger than life and dark roles make any aspiring actor watch on in enormous awe. Again, in ‘Hard Candy’ she delivers serious revulsion in her character and I enjoyed watching her switch expertly in character from fun-loving to troubled child.

Patrick Wilson, a man I love to watch, over and over again; is not only one of the most handsome men in the world [ha-ha] but also one of the most talented in acting! I enjoy how he finds no fear in tackling roles which many would scoff at or be afraid to play. He always gives a memorable performance and does so too in this film. Sandra Oh is loveable in this film; and all the more reason to love her as she is the only sane character that we meet. Serious subject matter and interesting way to offer rally; but seeing that it comes from a place of serrated edges makes it all the more difficult to swallow. After all, two wrongs will never make a right!

Excellent acting regardless; and what a film-maker would hope for when a film is solely wrapped into the dialogue and movements of 2 characters. The audience is enveloped in a terrified state with close shots and bright red transitions signifying anger, passion or perhaps rather distasteful ‘Hard Candy’.