One of the best films ever released this year! If I were to fastforward time and chip out the Top 10 Bests of 2006, Hard Candy will undoubtedly make it up to my carefully-deliberated list. This seat-gripping psychological drama/thriller will turn your guts upside down, will make your brain swirl and would definitely start a fiery debate and intensify the word-of-mouth phenomenon. Hard Candy should deserve a wide-range of audience, of course having been successful at Sundance and Tribeca Film Festivals and having won the Audience Film Award, and should be released far and wide to let people be engaged and be flabbergasted by this such hell of a film. Brilliantly written, solidly portrayed and persistently convincing, Hard Candy boasts a unique and terrific story that only takes place in a single day filled with brain-smashing events, with two major characters that would really stick to your mind and never leave that void, until you're completely done. Its dialogues are brutally raw, its cinematography is ruthlessly taken, almost humiliating in our part, seeing all those things falling into place and we are just left there, gaping with our minds travelling to a place called insanity. It could cause some trauma, to some people perhaps, and it does serve as a warning to all. It's a dialogue-driven film, and if you're expecting wham-bam actions, you're not in for a treat because this is a kind of film that would knock your brains out not by the high-flying actions but more on terrifying you with words and dialogues.
I WOULD NOT SPOIL THE FILM HERE, as Hard Candy is indeed a film that should not be spoiled lest it goes under-appreciated, less enjoyed and absolutely disappointing. The subject matter that was undertaken in this film is very delicate, and could even make people shy away from the screens. If you're two mature enough to face this fact, then watch this film. If you think you're still not ready for psychological gore (a term in which I use for blood-curdling moments in the film that hasn't got to do with blood at all, but will numb your brain and paralyze the senses), then do not watch the film. So far, it's the most disturbing movie I've seen this year, and to reason out, it does not only tackle all mature issues, but also, more terryfying to know that it has got to do with a child. A 14-year old girl with a 40 year old brain. She's too intelligent for her age, too mature, too socially oriented and too radical to be normal. This film will serve not as a warning to all girl being hunted by paedophiles, but indeed a warning to all paedophiles who hunt young girls with innocent angelic faces. Watch out, it's not as easy as you think it might be. A controversial film would not really rouse attention when characters are not perfectly portrayed, and when I say perfect, it's flawless. Ellen Page (that girl who played Shadowcat in the latest X-Men: The Last Stand) defined infinite perfection. She's 17 years old when she accepted this job, portraying a role which was 3 years younger yet stayed as convincing as she could be. For Christ's sake, slap some awards to this girl. She deserves every single second, every single minute in this film and she really withstand all those delicate scenes, especially when the camera remained so close-up to her face. She gives that definite calibre that critics would surely kneel in front of her. Hard Candy did her something majestic just like what The Professional did to Natalie Portman back in the days of glory. Ellen Page has this eerie cinematic charm that could be compared to Natalie Portman and Demi Moore. She boasts a young, refined talent that is so rare these days, almost extinct for real actresses in her age. Also, kudos to Patrick Wilson for portraying Jeff, the photographer who - OK, I won't utter any longer as my job is to just praise and worship, not spoil the film. Cunningly acted, Patrick Wilson did an astounding effort for even just accepting this role, and for playing this role. He has already proved his talent way back in the A-List Majesty Angels in America, and I believe he had improved his list of talent-oriented films when he did Hard Candy. I'd say it's a difficult job writhing in that table and screaming like a diseased pig. Oh, watch out too for Sandra Oh. Her cameo might be short, but still effective as hell.Hard Candy earns that respect that most movies severely lacks when they're released for the audience to watch. Being a controversial film, it attracts audience and aims for bigger box-office gross. But apart from that, what Hard Candy really gives out to people as legacy is the one experience that we rarely get these days. One kind of film that would make you bite your nails, scream inside your mind and will put a nasty traumatic kind of feeling in you, which only justifies that this film is indeed done its purpose. It's an effective, mind-bending psychological thriller.
Rating: A+
