"It's happening so fast."

Thirteen (2003)
Directed by Catherine Hardwicke, rated R, 100 minutes

Thirteen is a lurid drama about the difficult relationship between a mother and her thirteen year old daughter as she's lured into a life drugs, sex and petty crime. Evan Rachel Wood impressively captures her character's transformation from dork to "bad girl," and it's easy to identify with her desperation to be cool. The writing can be a little overwrought and tries to be hipper than it is, and some of the characters lack nuance, while others provide some subtler drama. The film isn't necessarily realistic, and surely doesn't show your average thirteen year olds, but there's a lot of truth in Thirteen that shows the pain and confusion of becoming an adult. You'll like it if: You like teen dramas, films about dysfunctional families, Evan Rachel Wood, Bully, River's Edge or Lawn Dogs.