Melinda (Kristen Stewart) enters her first day of high school as a selective mute, isolating herself from everyone at school and home. Traumatized from events of last summer, shunned by her once friends, the former A-student is on auto-pilot until challenged by art teacher Mr. Freeman (Steve Zahn). With his encouragement, Mel finds the strength to express herself and ultimately, heal.
Twilight's very own Kristen Stewart stars in this solid teen drama. Speak is nicely done. The story, an adaptation from writer/directer Jessica Sharzer, centers around Melinda--rightly so--its just the outside influences that are supposed to shape our character that make the film oddly disorienting. They just don't fit properly.
Stewart fits the roll with a perfect blend of depression, disinterest and pain. This jury is still out. Here she is sufficient. Steve Zahn gets a solid turn, but you never really connect with him or with his connection to her. As with films of this genre, we have two maddeningly disinterested parents played by D.B Sweeney and Elizabeth Perkins.
As I see it, Speak contains all the essential elements of a teen drama-sans soundtrack. It's an authentic emotional roller coaster with a grounding symbolism that is weirdly rewarding.
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Speak (2004)
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2 comments:
I had to read the novel and watch this movie in my Adolescent Literature class in college. Both the book and the movie were great! I adore the movie and really feel in love with Steve Zahns character. This is the only movie I have seen Kristen Stewart in and I thought she was fanstastic.
She was also in Adventureland and I thought she was good in it. She'll never be able to shake Twilight off though....
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