Spring Breakers 狂野青春 (2012) – USA
Review by: Andrew Chan FCCA AACTA FIPRESCI
Review Date: 12th August 2013
Directed by: Harmony Korine
Produced by: Charles-Marie Anthonioz, Jordan Gertner, Chris Hanley, David Zander
Written by: Harmony Korine
Starring: Selena Gomez, Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Benson, Rachel Korine, James Franco
Film Distributed by Golden Scene
In cinemas Hong Kong from 15 August 2013.
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The movie begins outrageously showing precisely what is young and dangerous. “Spring Breakers” does go to the excess, but sometimes overdoing something may not be a good thing. When the best thing in the movie is James Franco uncanny performance as the bad-ass drug dealer who brings in hot babes and plenty of cash. Let’s put it as that, “Spring Breakers” is not a bad movie, as it doesn’t qualify as an cinematic experience. Surely there are plenty of visual for the candy coated eyes, but the story, the acting and direction provides more question marks than not.
The trio of girls played by Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Benson, Rachel Korine, simply cannot put together a convincing performance. None of the three provides enough character or depth for the audience to even recognise them. Selena Gomez appears in a few scenes and despite being the best of the girls, she simply disappears and never come, literally. However, the key to the show is an excellent supporting and scene stealing performance from James Franco, who is almost unrecognisable. Franco is able to channel the spirit of the party and almost instantly capture the audience attention. This is a good performance from a bad movie.
All in all, “Spring Breakers” is able to portray the party scene in spontaneous moments, however, a few moments does not make a film. It is difficult to assess this movie when nothing seems to make any sense and padding on the almost ridiculous ending certainly does not help. Apart from James Franco who is simply above the cast and the film, everything is done below meritocracy and that is terrible. Looks great on the poster, but the film is entirely something else. (Neo 2013)
I rated it 3.5/10