Pretty Persuasion
By Ross Forbes, Blockbuster.co.uk

Director Marcos Siega twists a tale of ambition and lies into a compelling film about the lengths that some people will go in order to get what they want.

Kimberly Joyce (Evan Rachel Wood) is a troubled teenager from a broken home, albeit a rich one; her mother has moved out leaving her racist father (James Woods) to marry a girl who is barely older than she is. Kimberly wants to be an actress, but in Hollywood there are lots of girls that want the same, so Kimberly has to have an edge, something that the other girls don’t have.

Together with two friends, one of which is a new Arab girl who Kimberly is educating in the world of being a Hollywood teenager, Kimberly plots a lawsuit against their English teacher (Ron Livingston), accusing him of sexual harassment, all in the aim of getting famous - but that is only the beginning…

Director Marcos Siega takes us forwards and backwards through the story which allows us to witness the same situation from different angles, and also shows us how the situation can be interpreted differently. Pretty Persuasion boasts some very understated performances by all the main players – this gives us an insight into their character and gets us involved in the story.

At times this film is very funny, with the characters making outrageous statements. It is this use of comedy that keeps us at ease so the serious moments really have some impact. Not a lot will prepare you for the sight of James woods in his underpants for his role in the film as Kimberly’s racist father. He’s a man with a hankering for drugs, pornography and wholesome family values - a role that James Woods is clearly having the time of his life playing.

The Verdict:
A very black comedy that balances the serious and the satirical very well. It is not a film that stops the comedy half way through and then tries to ram home the serious message, it moves between the two and the serious message subtly comes across without you being beaten over the head with it. Outstanding performances by all make this a top choice. Add to your list now.

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