Crazy/Beautiful (2001)
I’ll never understand why Kirsten Dunst felt the need to alter her adorable image. She practically had “cutie pie” tattooed on her forehead, and yet she made movies like The Virgin Suicides and Levity. I’m sure she feels it paid off for her, since she got an Oscar nod for the very dark drama Power of the Dog.
In Crazy/Beautiful, she plays a grungy, too-cool-for-school teenager. You can tell she’s edgy because she’s chopped off all her hair and has an ethnic boyfriend to make her parents mad. Am I the only one who thinks that’s silly? Having short hair is a personal preference, and if a girl wants to experiment with different looks, it doesn’t necessarily mean she’s a rebel. And dating a Hispanic guy probably doesn’t (or at least shouldn’t) mean she’s trying to bristle her folks. I’ve had short hair most of my adult life, and my parents adored my Hispanic boyfriend; I’m the most un-rebellious girl you’re likely to find.
I wasn’t the biggest fan of this flick. Kirsten’s character has a lot of issues, and although she’s pretty and tempting, is it really worth it for Jay Hernandez to get involved with her? His life is tough enough, with poverty and prejudice interfering with his career goals. Kirsten has substance abuse problems, an axe to grind with her rich father, and abandonment issues that make her reckless. “I dare you to leave me, just like I know you will,” her actions say. As a cautionary tale, this movie isn’t bad. But as a teen romance, I really don’t approve.
More Kirsten Dunst movies here!
In Crazy/Beautiful, she plays a grungy, too-cool-for-school teenager. You can tell she’s edgy because she’s chopped off all her hair and has an ethnic boyfriend to make her parents mad. Am I the only one who thinks that’s silly? Having short hair is a personal preference, and if a girl wants to experiment with different looks, it doesn’t necessarily mean she’s a rebel. And dating a Hispanic guy probably doesn’t (or at least shouldn’t) mean she’s trying to bristle her folks. I’ve had short hair most of my adult life, and my parents adored my Hispanic boyfriend; I’m the most un-rebellious girl you’re likely to find.
I wasn’t the biggest fan of this flick. Kirsten’s character has a lot of issues, and although she’s pretty and tempting, is it really worth it for Jay Hernandez to get involved with her? His life is tough enough, with poverty and prejudice interfering with his career goals. Kirsten has substance abuse problems, an axe to grind with her rich father, and abandonment issues that make her reckless. “I dare you to leave me, just like I know you will,” her actions say. As a cautionary tale, this movie isn’t bad. But as a teen romance, I really don’t approve.
More Kirsten Dunst movies here!