Girl, Interrupted (1999)

Winona Ryder, actress, star and producer of "Girl, Interrupted," looks like a walking, talking pencil. Who better to play a writer? Who better to play the writer of the classic novel of 60's teenage female angst? She fits perfectly into this film. And she does a great job here. But, to be sure, one of the key ingredients of the film is the aesthetic pleasure that comes from watching boney Winona and fat-lipped Angelina Jolie lank and slank their way, cat-like, across the screen for 2 hours plus. That's what the film mostly has to offer.

Because the theme, the subject matter, is surely covered more adequately in other films. "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" and a plethora of 60's films capture the ideas that are trying to be presented here much more accurately, artistically and intuitively. What the film doesn't do, unfortunately, is shed any new light on this idea. And it's a pretty fertile idea for a film. Basically, in the 60's the world went crazy. We opened our minds. Not just with drugs, but with new experiences, new ideals, new communities... New everything, really. So there is an irony in placing a white, suburban, intelligent, upper-middle-class girl in a mental institution at this time in American history. "Girl, Interrupted" doesn't explore this idea nearly as curiously as it needs to.

The film, in fact, sort of like the novel and the life it represents, sort of just meanders through the story. It's a tiny, tiny, miniscule slice-of-life of this time. It's one pixel in the entire gigantic mural that is the 60's.

Yes, the film is interesting at times. But there is not enough character exploration of the supporting roles. There is not enough exploration of the times. There is not enough exploration of female's place in this time. Or perhaps it is too subtle. There is not enough to engage you full-tilt here. Instead, the film just sort of takes it's path allowing us to tag along, if we wish. If we don't have anything better to do.

"Girl, Interrupted" really doesn't have much reason to exist. It's sort of one of those "vanity" projects of Ryder's. Her fans, fans of the novel, and guys needing their fix of Ryder or Jolie for the month will find a lot to enjoy here. The rest of us can go to the snack bar - or see what else is playing in the multiplex.

Notes:

Directed by James Mangold. Written by Mangold and based on the book by Susanna Kaysen (who acts as a producer here).

Also with Clea DuVall, Jared Leto, Jeffrey Tambor, Vanessa Redgrave, Kurtwood Smith, Joanna Kerns, Mary Kay Place, Whoopi Goldberg.

Jolie has received nominations and awards for her work in the film.

Report Card

Script: B

Acting: A+

Cinematography\Lighting: B

Special Effects\Make Up: B+

Music: A+

Final Grade: B-