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Movie Review - Hard Candy (2006)
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(What this rating means)
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| Director: |
David Slade |
| Starring: |
Patrick Wilson and Ellen Page |
| Rated: |
R (for disturbing violent and aberrant sexual content involving a teen, and for language) |
| Length: |
103 minutes |
| Genre: |
Drama/Thriller |
| Tagline: |
None. I'm surprised they didn't try "Hard Candy is the Hardest to Swallow." |
| Studio: |
Lions Gate Films |
| Website: |
Hard Candy |
| Release: |
April 28, 2006 |
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PLOT
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Jeff Kohlver (Wilson) is a 32-year-old photographer who initiates an online relationship with 14-year-old Hayley
Stark (Page). Using a manipulative charm and he-can't-be-a-bad-guy good looks, Jeff convinces Hayley to go home
with him. The circumstances proceed to turn out like neither expected. Squirming ensues.
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JOHNNY'S TAKE
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Well. That was disturbing. Though it is not one to recommend for "Family Night," Hard Candy offers an
intriguing one-time viewing thanks to the effectiveness of its two-man show approach. Let's make that a one-man,
one-girl show. I don't need a rash of emails reminding me of my chauvinism.
What the filmmakers have done is said, "Hey, Patrick Wilson! Ellen Page! We're placing the two of you in a restricted
space and putting the entire movie on your shoulders. Best of luck!" Granted, I'm paraphrasing, but this is no
exaggeration. There are a total of five people in the movie, and only Wilson and Page are given more than five
minutes of screen time. Given this challenge, the two thespians more than hold their own.
I don't know if Wilson should take this as a compliment, but he's very convincing as a dangerously innocent-seeming
pedophile. What makes him so creepy is his charm. He's a smooth, suave sexual predator. Most young girls are
smart enough to do wind sprints the moment they see a dirty, unkempt man who looks to be carrying more diseases
than Paris Hilton.
But Wilson is a good-looking, successful photographer. He can't be bad, right? "You look older than you are,
and you certainly act older than you are," he tells Hayley, perfectly manipulating her young, fragile emotions.
And hey, he can't be dangerous. After all, he obviously has the most innocent of intentions! Why else would he
reassure her that he's aware of the legal boundaries? She's puddy in his hands.
This all starts quietly enough, but once they get to his house gears are shifted and everything goes haywire. That's
all I'm revealing regarding the story, but I do have to give kudos to Ms. Page who turns in an impressive
performance. I did feel she was a bit too precocious and world-wise at times, but she still does a great job
showcasing a wide range of emotions of this potential young victim.
Despite the interesting concept of the two-person show, it clearly has its limitations. At 103 minutes
this is just way too long. After a while it becomes too obvious that certain scenes and lines of dialogue are,
like most songs on recent Rolling Stones albums, inserted for no other reason than to serve as filler. The worst
example being a scene involving Sandra Oh's neighbor character. The only purpose it serves is to deliver a little
faux drama. That subplot is dropped faster than Britney Spears' baby, never to be heard from again.
Hard Candy refuses to send you prancing home with a smile on your face or a song in your heart, but if
nothing else it serves as a strong warning that you should probably pay close attention to who your
kids are communicating with online. At least warn them that sometimes the person they least suspect could be
the one to be most wary of.
A quick word of warning to all you guys: there is one particular scene where what we perceive is happening will
absolutely make you squirm in your seat. You'll most likely watch it through squinted eyes. I haven't
felt that uncomfortable at the theater since the My Own
Private Idaho fiasco. I suggest you be prepared.
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ODDS & ENDS
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- Lions Gate purchased Hard Candy for $4 million after it screened at Sundance. It created a bit of
controversy amongst moviegoers. Lions Gate President Tom Ortenberg addressed the subject saying the movie "will
shock many people, but I think that's a good thing."
- Johnny prefers soft candy to hard candy, but he still eats hard candy from time to time.
- Johnny advocates the punishment of pedophiles and sexual predators through castration.
- You might recall Patrick Wilson as William Travis in The Alamo. However,
you might not since only about 12 people saw the movie.
- Ellen Page can next be seen as Kitty Pryde/Shadowcat in X-Men: The Last Stand.
- Despite her youthful appearance, Ms. Page is not 14 years old. She's actually 19.
- Despite his youthful appearance, Johnny Betts is not 14 years old, and he doesn't appreciate his mother's
"mentally speaking" jokes. Try a little originality, woman.
- Johnny would like to proactively issue an apology for his "woman" comment even though chances are his
family will never read this since they seem to have some sort of phobia about supporting him in his Movie Mark
endeavors.
- Patrick Wilson was in The Alamo with Jason Patric who was in Geronimo
with Wes Studi who was in Into the West with Josh Brolin who was in Hollow Man with Kevin Bacon.
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MAMA'S APPROVAL
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There's a good chance that this won't meet the approval of many mamas. First of all, the pedophilia subject matter
is very disturbing though not explicit. But if you're creeped out just by the idea of a 32-year-old flirting with
a 14-year-old then take heed. Profanity is strong at times. I remember quite a few "f" bombs exploding on screen.
Leave the children at home.
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TRAILER COMPARISON
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The trailer gives away a little more than it should. Be warned that if you watch it then it'll be somewhat spoiled
for you.
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THE GIST
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Hard Candy is only receiving a limited release, so chances are it'll be on DVD soon. This is a film that
makes no demand to be seen on the big screen, so I'd save this one for the comfort of your own home. Granted, you
might not be perfectly comfortable while watching this, but at least with the DVD you can pause it and get away
from the material for a while.
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