<p>I now have a new movie on my top ten list: Speak. It was accepted at Sundance, but was unfortunate enough to be scheduled at 11:30pm on a party night at one of the more remote theaters. There never was a theatrical release, but it was shown on Showtime. You may have read the book the movie was based on. It got a lot of good press. The movie is relatively unknown, but available from Blockbuster, NetFlix, etc.</p>
<p>Kristen Stewart (who played Jodi Foster’s daughter in Panic Room) plays a 14-year-old HS freshman who decides that she will not speak (although in the movie, she does speak a few lines). The movie reveals the reason for this and follows her path to overcoming the traumatic experience she had. Kristen Stewart (13 when this was filmed) is incredible, using her face to convey everything. I actually bought the DVD (unusual for me) and we showed it to our son over Thanksgiving weekend. He also thought it was a great movie.</p>
<p>Steve Zahn plays a teacher who is instrumental in having her use her art to work through the issues. For those who only know him in goofy-guy roles (Riding in Cars With Boys, You’ve Got Mail, etc), it’s interesting to see him cast in this part.</p>
<p>Anyway, I’m curious whether any of the CC crowd has seen this movie. If not, I recommend that you get it as soon as you can and watch. It <em>is</em> a “message-movie” for teens, but is so well done. If you have seen it, I’d be curious about your thoughts.</p>
<p>i have never heard of it
my daughter read the book ( and most of her other books)
I will look for it- although my daughter resists “message” movies-
she usually ( as I do)
likes our entertainment to be entertaining
(we did both enjoy Crash and Hotel Rwanda though)
but thanks for the heads up</p>
<p>digmedia- Listened to the book on tape with my older D years ago. I thought it was a great book. I didn’t know it was made into a movie. I have an 11 yr old girl Too young for the movie?</p>
<p>It is rated PG-13 because of the rape scene. But that scene, while emotionally traumatic, is handled well. After all, Kristen Stewart was only 13 when this was filmed. I personally would not have a problem with letting my daughter or son see this, but everyone is different. I would say that if you thought it was OK for her to read the book, then it would be ok to see the movie. </p>
<p>And, btw, even though it is a message movie it is very entertaining as well with some funny moments.</p>
<p>I saw the Pennsylvania premiere of this in April 2004 (the person responsible for the screenplay taught at a local college). It was an awesome film and I stayed for part of the q&a after, but my 13-year-old sister, who enjoyed the film and read the book after was ready to leave by then (I first read the book a few years ago).</p>
<p>I haven’t seen it since, but it’s a good story and I feel that the dvd would be worth the money.</p>
<p>imdb is one of my favorites on the web, but I had not looked at the entries for Speak. By clicking on the “Check for other user comments” I was able to see lots of opinions (most quite articulate).</p>
<p>our middle school (7-8) had it - checked out all the time. Believe is was in the 5-6 school as well. I thought it was excellent. Life isn’t always rosy, and this points out some of those times. Will see the movie - eventually.</p>
<p>Saw this DVD a couple of months ago…a good film for teens to watch…they can be so mean and heartless to each other…the film brought back memories from my S’s sophomore year… a girl hung herself at school…my understanding was that she was often teased…</p>
<p>I came away with the conviction that I need to listen more…everyone has a story, a history…too often we are quick to judge/stereotype others.</p>
<p>There was also moments of great beauty in the film.</p>
<p>We’re all making it out to be just a message movie, but it is so much more than that: funny, touching, entertaining, and with an acting performance by Kristen Stewart that shows an incredible future.</p>
<p>Read the book but didn’t know they made a movie, I’ll have to check it out! I will admit tho I did get mad when the book Catalyst was written in the same area etc because I hated that book so much it seemed to cheapen Speak… anyways.</p>