"Thirteen" DVD Review

Want to know what it's like to be a teenager in today's world? Then check out this gritty, realistic, and at times brutal, look at the world through the eyes of a couple of teenage girls. Featuring stellar performances by newcomers and established actors alike, "Thirteen" is a compelling, must-see DVD.

Written by the then 13 year-old Nikki Reed and director Catherine Hardwicke, "Thirteen" is the gripping story of what life feels like when you're just 13.

Bombarded by choices and influenced by peers, the unpopular Tracy (Evan Rachel Wood) befriends Evie (Nikki Reed), one of the wildest girls at her school. Hanging out with Evie and her crowd changes the shy Tracy into one of the school's most popular kids. But everything has a price, and Tracy's popularity comes at the expense of her family life, her school work, and her old friends. Tracy's rebellious new life includes sex and drugs, two elements that put her at odds with her ex-addict mom (Holly Hunter). Things soon reach a boiling point when Tracy and her new best friend Evie have a falling out that leaves Tracy devastated.

"Thirteen" is a terrific movie, yet it's not the easiest film to sit through. Rated R for drug use, self-destructive violence, language and sexuality all involving teenagers, "Thirteen" isn't meant for a 13 year-old audience, however mothers and daughters who view this movie together find it can be a great catalyst for sparking dialogue.