Speak (2004)

User Rating:

8.0/10   

Director:

Jessica Sharzer

Writers (WGA):

Laurie Halse Anderson (novel)
Jessica Sharzer (screenplay) ...

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

The Truth Will Change Everything.

Plot:

After a blurred trauma over the summer, Melinda enters high school a selective mute. Struggling with school, friends, and family, she tells the dark tale of her experiences, and why she has chosen not to speak.

Plot Keywords:

Teacher | Mute | High School | Art | Art Teacher

Awards:

1 win & 2 nominations

Cast

Kristen Stewart	...	Melinda Sordino
Michael Angarano	...	Dave Petrakis
Robert John Burke	...	Mr. Neck
Hallee Hirsh	...	Rachel Bruin
Eric Lively	...	Andy Evans
Leslie Lyles	...	Hairwoman
Elizabeth Perkins	...	Joyce Sordino
Allison Siko	...	Heather
D.B. Sweeney	...	Jack Sordino
Steve Zahn	...	Mr. Freeman
Dick Hagerman	...	School bus driver
Remy Brommer	...	Todd (as A. Remy Brommer)
Grace Ameter	...	Emily
Tyanna Rolley	...	Nicole
Kimberly Kish	...	Ms. Keen

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for mature thematic material involving a teen rape.

Runtime:

89 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

Australia:M | USA:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Columbus, Ohio, USA

Company:

Speak Film Inc.

Trivia:

Filming was temporarily cut short at the school where certain scenes were shot because of flooding during an especially heavy summer rain.

Goofs:

Continuity: The mashed potatoes thrown on Melinda's shirt changes between shots. When we first see it, the spot is large and the next time we see it, it's smaller and more flat.

Quotes:

Mr. Freeman: In here is a piece of paper and on that piece of paper is a word. You are gonna spend the rest of the year turning that object into art.
Ivy: Uh, Mr Freeman? When I was little I was really scared of clowns and I don't wanna relapse and have to go back into therapy.
Mr. Freeman: Oh yeah, well, fear is a great place to begin art.
[Melinda picks a piece of paper that says "tree" and tries to put it back]
Mr. Freeman: Hey! Whoa. You just chose your destiny. You can't change that.
Melinda Sordino: I learned how to draw a tree in like the 2nd grade.
Mr. Freeman: Oh really? Um. Well, do you wanna show me? It's OK. I won't grade you.
[...]

A Tour de Force Performance by Kristen Stewart

The main reason to see this film is Kristen Stewart. I had to keep reminding myself that she really was a 14-year-old when she made this film, playing the role of a high school freshman. Meanwhile it was all the other actors who were older, trying to appear younger. Kristen was the one playing her age! Ironically, Kristen actually seemed older, in a couple of ways. First, her performance was convincingly incisive. She played the role perfectly, more perfectly than one would expect from a 14-year old. Secondly is her natural physical beauty, beauty one doesn't often see on such a young girl/woman. Nothing about this role showcased her beauty --it certainly was in no way exploitative-- but her beauty shone through naturally all on its own.

I've only seen this kind of screen persona once before. Diane Lane gave off the very same impression at that same age when she did "Little Romance." Kristen Stewart has a very bright future as an actress. I'm predicting great things from her, and that she will have a tremendous and long career.

I found the film itself quite touching, and it was easy to empathize with poor Melinda and what she was going through. I once knew a girl back in the 60s, in real life, who was in a very similar situation to Melinda. There was some striking truth being told here.

Beyond those two things, beware: to experience this film is to experience a bit of a downer, in the same sort of way as watching the TV series "My So-Called Life" back in the early 90s was a bit of a downer. In some ways this could've been an episode of that series.