Based on a novel, this movie is about the five teenage Gibson girls that committed suicide sometime 25 years ago in Michigan; and the fascination of teenage boys for the girls.
Don't get fooled by the promising premise as the movie does not quite deliver what it says. It is charming at times -- specially when it comes to the portrayel of the admiration and intrigue that a young male adolescent would have for not one not two but five young girls. It is witty and clever at times. Sad and horribly depressing at others.
However, there are too many shortcomings. Sofia Coppola ( daughter of the great Francis Ford Coppola ), does a decent job but is not quite at it. The movie repeatedly talks about the general curiosity as to why the girls committed suicide. However, no serious attempt is made to investigate that. Actually there is no surprise at all. We all know -- all the time -- why they did it. They really had no choice. The movie wants to explore the sexual coming of age of these girls but kind of stops. Never really trying to be intelligent or overly probling. It leaves you a bit intellectually insatiated at the end.
Kirsten Durnst as the charming Lux Gibson is the movie's showcase. However, I think she underplays her voyeur role in favor of a sweetness that looks good but does not fit well.
Katherine Turner and James Woods as the clueless parents are wasted. We never get to see why they are such complete failures as parents.
Despite all these faults, I think the movie has a ring to it. It is certainly enjoyable if a bit depressing.
Don't get fooled by the promising premise as the movie does not quite deliver what it says. It is charming at times -- specially when it comes to the portrayel of the admiration and intrigue that a young male adolescent would have for not one not two but five young girls. It is witty and clever at times. Sad and horribly depressing at others.
However, there are too many shortcomings. Sofia Coppola ( daughter of the great Francis Ford Coppola ), does a decent job but is not quite at it. The movie repeatedly talks about the general curiosity as to why the girls committed suicide. However, no serious attempt is made to investigate that. Actually there is no surprise at all. We all know -- all the time -- why they did it. They really had no choice. The movie wants to explore the sexual coming of age of these girls but kind of stops. Never really trying to be intelligent or overly probling. It leaves you a bit intellectually insatiated at the end.
Kirsten Durnst as the charming Lux Gibson is the movie's showcase. However, I think she underplays her voyeur role in favor of a sweetness that looks good but does not fit well.
Katherine Turner and James Woods as the clueless parents are wasted. We never get to see why they are such complete failures as parents.
Despite all these faults, I think the movie has a ring to it. It is certainly enjoyable if a bit depressing.