Gimme Shelter (C or 2/4 stars)
'Gimme Shelter' (written/directed by Ron Krauss) is based on a true story that centers on 16 yr. old Agnes "Apple" Bailey (Vanessa Hudgens). At the movie's start, Apple cuts off her long locks & flees the grimy clutches of her junkie mother (a crazed Rosario Dawson) to find the biological father that she's never met. It turns out that the man who fathered her in a youthful romp of unprotected sex, Tom Fitzpatrick (underused Brendan Fraser), is now a wealthy Wall Street financier living in suburban NJ. His wife (Stephanie Szostak, of The Devil Wears Prada) & their 2 perfect cherubs are horrified at the sight of Apple's gruff, tattooed, near-mangy appearance. But it soon becomes obvious that Apple is pregnant (although the circumstances surrounding her conception are oddly irrelevant in this narrative).
While the stepmom makes the suggestion that perhaps Apple is not prepared to become a mom under these circumstances at such a young age, Apple has made up her mind that she's going to keep her baby (mostly because she's rebellious). All of this is just way too much for Apple to handle, so once again, she bolts & dashes back to the streets ... all alone. With time, Apple ends up crossing paths with a kind, but firm priest played by James Earl Jones. He tells her to go to church -- she won't. He tells her to pray -- she won't. So when he arranges a bed for her at a nearby shelter for pregnant teenagers, she's unhappy, but reluctantly goes. With a compassionate shelter leader (Ann Dowd), proper provisions, a sisterhood connection, & a sense of female empowerment, the shelter enables Apple to break from her dismal past & inspires her to embrace the immediate future with growing maturity & the hope of a new family. Too bad this movie is inauthentic dreck.
'Gimme Shelter' is a shoddily-made, inspirational goop fest that hammers we, the viewers, over the head with its anti-abortion, Christian message. I understand that the movie is based on an emotional true story. It's a well-intentioned film. And it's a labor of love for the writer/director ... but that doesn't mean it's any GOOD. "Forced" is probably the best word I'd use to describe the film, overall. Everything is forced. The direction is forced (and heavy-handed with no wiggle room for ambiguities). The writing is forced (with stiff, exclamatory dialogue; nothing felt natural coming out of the character's mouths).
The acting is forced, too. Vanessa Hudgens deserves credit for continuing to shed her Disney Channel good-girl image (she took daring, against-type roles in Sucker Punch & Spring Breakers). She also deserves credit for making herself look as ugly as humanly possible (extra weight, tattoos, slashes, bloody piercings). Having said that, despite her impressive animalistic demeanor, her line deliveries don't feel naturalistic and they took me right out of the moment quite a few times. This hampered my investment in her character's journey. So "A" for effort, "C" for execution.
So again, though Ron Krauss meant well when he set-out to make this film, he fails to imbue his film with the necessary authenticity, artistry, nuance, & execution to make it a success. I mean, just look at the final 10 minutes or so. Apple softens into a fresh-faced young woman with proper attire, cute dresses, etc. ... yet the transition kinda came out of nowhere because the ending of the movie had to come. Apple's transformation was too abrupt; and really, most of the character's change-of-hearts (and such) kinda came out of nowhere, too. The emotional catharsis that this movie aims for felt unearned to me. Yes, there is uplift. Yes, there are some stolen moments which impressed me. But overall, 'Gimme Shelter' a pretty misguided, average affair.
While the stepmom makes the suggestion that perhaps Apple is not prepared to become a mom under these circumstances at such a young age, Apple has made up her mind that she's going to keep her baby (mostly because she's rebellious). All of this is just way too much for Apple to handle, so once again, she bolts & dashes back to the streets ... all alone. With time, Apple ends up crossing paths with a kind, but firm priest played by James Earl Jones. He tells her to go to church -- she won't. He tells her to pray -- she won't. So when he arranges a bed for her at a nearby shelter for pregnant teenagers, she's unhappy, but reluctantly goes. With a compassionate shelter leader (Ann Dowd), proper provisions, a sisterhood connection, & a sense of female empowerment, the shelter enables Apple to break from her dismal past & inspires her to embrace the immediate future with growing maturity & the hope of a new family. Too bad this movie is inauthentic dreck.
'Gimme Shelter' is a shoddily-made, inspirational goop fest that hammers we, the viewers, over the head with its anti-abortion, Christian message. I understand that the movie is based on an emotional true story. It's a well-intentioned film. And it's a labor of love for the writer/director ... but that doesn't mean it's any GOOD. "Forced" is probably the best word I'd use to describe the film, overall. Everything is forced. The direction is forced (and heavy-handed with no wiggle room for ambiguities). The writing is forced (with stiff, exclamatory dialogue; nothing felt natural coming out of the character's mouths).
The acting is forced, too. Vanessa Hudgens deserves credit for continuing to shed her Disney Channel good-girl image (she took daring, against-type roles in Sucker Punch & Spring Breakers). She also deserves credit for making herself look as ugly as humanly possible (extra weight, tattoos, slashes, bloody piercings). Having said that, despite her impressive animalistic demeanor, her line deliveries don't feel naturalistic and they took me right out of the moment quite a few times. This hampered my investment in her character's journey. So "A" for effort, "C" for execution.
So again, though Ron Krauss meant well when he set-out to make this film, he fails to imbue his film with the necessary authenticity, artistry, nuance, & execution to make it a success. I mean, just look at the final 10 minutes or so. Apple softens into a fresh-faced young woman with proper attire, cute dresses, etc. ... yet the transition kinda came out of nowhere because the ending of the movie had to come. Apple's transformation was too abrupt; and really, most of the character's change-of-hearts (and such) kinda came out of nowhere, too. The emotional catharsis that this movie aims for felt unearned to me. Yes, there is uplift. Yes, there are some stolen moments which impressed me. But overall, 'Gimme Shelter' a pretty misguided, average affair.