Thursday, February 16, 2012
“Dirty Girl” definitely lives up to its title and then some by providing wonderfully raunchy and comedic screenwriting which reminded me a lot of Diablo Cody’s “Jennifer’s Body.”
This movie has the complete spectrum of performances, being the silver screen debut for Jeremy Dozier (Clark) and the first leading role for Juno Temple (Danielle). On the other hand, the cast has one of the best supporting teams I think I have ever witnessed, featuring film veterans, such as Mary Steenburgen, William H. Macy, Dwight Yoakam, and Milla Jovovich.
As stated before, this is both Ms. Temple’s and Mr. Dozier’s first real shot at the lime light, which I think they execute rather successfully. The chemistry between both actors really ties the film together and without it, the movie really would not have worked as well as it did.
Another highlighted performance that I found to be refreshing was Milla Jovovich’s crack at comedy. We have all seen her dominate the sci-fi/ action world, but this is a new side of Jovovich, which almost stole the show. Jovovich plays Danielle’s mom (Sue-Ann) who is a reformed version of Danielle herself, now betrothed to a hardcore Mormon (William H. Macy), trying to clean up both their acts.
With no way around it, Danielle fills the void of her long lost father with any boy coming her way. Yet her dirty ways don’t fly at Norman East High School, banishing her to the remedial class, full of all the social abominations of the school.
This is where she meets Clark, a chubby, awkward gay boy just looking for acceptance. United by a bag of flour named Joan, the two are forced into friendship. The two quickly become kindred spirits, uniting amongst daddy issues and social awkwardness.
While working together to help foster Joan, Danielle and Charlie stumble upon Danielle’s mom’s yearbooks and this is where the adventure begins; Danielle has found the identity of her father. Scorned by her new holier than thou mother, and Clark tormented by his homophobic father, the dynamic duo set off to California to find her long lost father.
The film is fairly effective, though a little over ridiculous in its execution, trying to go for the shock value in a fairly un-shockable society. A good, fun film; nothing really to set it apart from the rest of the campy coming of age tales, I think for the beginners in the film it’s not a bad first run, and am especially hopeful to see what happens in Juno Temple’s career.
The script is what I enjoyed most about the film, while not grade A, it reflects the new and upcoming screenwriter Sylvia’s potential and hopefully we will see that grow. If you are looking for a movie to pass that time, make you laugh, and drop your jaw every once in a while, “Dirty Girl” is the choice for you.
— Dillingham is a freshman in film and media studies from Houston.
Movie review: Jennifer's Body
Hollywood hits, indie flicks and everything in between.
Book review
Candy girl
Dillingham: "Drive" is a must see riveting ...
If you're looking for a movie to watch this weekend, try "Drive."
Five questions
You vs. them
Jayhawk plays center in new movie
Marcus Owen, former Kansas offensive lineman, plays in front of Dwayne “The ...
Guest Column: Have any recent bands lived ...
"Across The Universe," with all its sexy men and (less importantly) artistic ...
Film Face-Off
Editor's note
Movie: The Wrestler
Mickey Rourke shines in return to silver screen
Movie Review: Friends With Money
Movie Review
The Lookout
Music: Nick and Nora's Infinite Playlist
Cannes winner draws crowd for campus show
Around 60 people attended a campus screening of Jon O'Neal's independent film ...
Sex and the City is back
Fans can expect to see all four leading ladies in the upcoming ...
Third time's a charm
One Jayplay writer's experience watching her mom find "the one" and another ...
Students, residents gather to view “The Day ...
Actor, director and producer answer questions about 25-year-old film, “The Day After”.
Kansan Departments
Your guide to surviving the week.
Movie review
Street Kings
KU play looks at disappearance
A KU graduate student's play about a Linwood high school senior who ...
Schumaker: Cinema glorifies Confederacy
Films often feature Confederate protagonists, but Union protagonists are lacking.
Taxidermist gets down and dirty in raw ...
Taxidermist Cindy Cunningham owns her own shop in Bonner Springs and continues ...
Former receiver filming football practices
Micah Brown’s film background helps him as he creates an inside-access look ...
Different cultures, different relationship standards
What’s seen as taboo in other countries might not be viewed the ...
Filmmaker remembers historic raid
Nearly 150 years ago, William C. Quantrill led an attack on Lawrence ...
Movie Review: 'The Lincoln Lawyer'
Hollywood hits, indie flicks and everything in between
Movie Review: 'Adventureland'
2 out of 4 stars
Movie review
The Brave One
Editor's note
Working out some parental problems
'Carnival of Souls'
Former KU Professor Hark Harvey directed the 1962 thriller, "Carnival of Souls."
Andy Dick's out to 'flip it around' ...
Actor and recovering alcoholic Andy Dick opened up about his past and ...
Coy: Film "Return" tells trials of returning ...
A new film, now on iTunes shows us the problems a returning ...
Movie: Ghost Town
Liberty Hall to house retro movie night
The double feature will include two European films from the 1960s.
Editor's note
A message from Matt Hirschfeld
Student stars in Sunsilk commercial
KU graduate student Sybil Niccum will star in a Sunsilk commercial to ...
Wescoe wit
Lol.
Moreland: Top five books for every college ...
The books that should be on every college student's book shelf.
Porn Star Profile: Jody Maxwell
Erotica star talks about Midwest roots.
Movie: Saw V
Movie Review
Dan in Real Life
From left: Kimberlee Hinkle, Libby Johnson and Hannah ...
1 comment
Kansas Jayhawk fans hold aloft a reproduction of ...
2 comments
Erin Saupe, a Ph.D. student from St. Cloud, ...
1 comment
0 comments
Armed robbers continue to threaten.
3 comments
Lecture from Greg Mortenson, co-author of New York ...
0 comments
Comments
Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.
Sign in to comment
Or login with:
OpenID