Karla (2006)

Directed by: Joel Bender

Starring: Laura Prepon, Misha Collins, Tess Harper and Patrick Bauchau

Rated: R

Genre: Thriller, Drama, True Crime

Based on the TrueCase of the Ken and Barbie Killers

In the early 1990s, Karla Homolka and her husband Paul Bernardo abducted, raped and killed two young women. Now, it’s 2000 and Karla Homolka is up for parole. She is being psychologically evaluated to determine whether she is eligible. Through this evaluation the viewer is told the story of her and her husband’s crimes, what they did and how they were stopped. However, it is told through Homolka’s perspective, so it’s not entirely accurate, something that has caused much anger and discontent among the viewers.

This film has garnered a lot of controversy. The crimes of Paul Bernardo and Karla Homolka are still fresh in the minds of most Canadians, and the Canadian government refused to help the filmmakers in any way during production. This may also explain the inaccuracies in the story, such as the mistakes in the timeline – Leslie (Tina in the film) was killed after Paul and Karla got married, not before. There is no mention of the victim called “Jane Doe” – the only one to have survived her time with the couple – who Karla “gave” to her fiancée as a wedding present. (This could be for legal reasons.)

The people behind the film didn’t treat the material responsibly. The actors were not informed that the film was based on true events, and were then unprepared for the public outrage at their involvement. Misha Collins, who plays Paul Bernardo, has publically renounced the film, and asks people not to watch it. I have heard rumors that Laura Prepon has done the same, but found no evidence.

Below are clips of Misha discussing the film: 

The film also doesn’t do a good job of letting the public know that it is not arguing for Karla’s innocence. Since it is told from her perspective, we see the Battered Wives’ Syndrome defense working in her favor. She was so in love with Paul, she couldn’t bear the thought of losing him, and she was terrified of what he would do to her if she left. While she does some awful things in the film, if the audience hasn’t researched the real story, they might actually find themselves feeling a little sorry for her. The film makes no mention of the video tapes the couple made documenting the atrocities they committed, and especially the fact that in those tapes, Karla seems to be a very willing participant. The only reason she escaped a life-sentence is that she plea-bargained before the tapes were admitted into evidence, and since she met every letter of that agreement, she only had to serve twelve years in prison. The new evidence could not legally be held against her.  The only things the film states are whether Karla earned parole, her release date, and that she made no effort to make amends to the families of her victims. There are subtle touches within the plot itself that may point to her more active involvement, but nothing that points out the entire truth.

As for the actual film itself, it is well-made, despite the inaccuracies. The opening sequence is very artful and moving. Prepon and Collins have a natural chemistry and really do appear to be a young couple in love. The sequence reveals that there’s a darkness to this couple through a change in music from sweet and happy to more ominous, and a strong focus on the shadows.

What makes this film work are the performances. Prepon does a great job in this version of Homolka. She is honest and raw, and, I feel, tries to add more dimensions to the character. Karla does seem a little jealous of the girls Paul chases and brings home. She’s jealous that he wants her little sister, and is willing to ruin Tammy’s life in order to please him. Again – the subtle hints that she is more involved than she lets on. She is also capable of making Karla pitiable, which is no easy task.

Collins’s performance wavers a bit. Despite the fact that this film introduced me to his acting and made me a fan, I find him inconsistent in areas. There are times when I think he should be a bit more panicked – such as when they realize Tammy’s choked into unconsciousness, or when he realizes Tina has seen both of their faces. Other times, his performance is spot on. He can convincingly move from sweet and charming to scarily cold and violent within seconds. He seems to become more psychotic as the film rolls on, which could be linked to Paul’s unraveling due to fear of being caught.

The young victims did a great job too. While the names were changed to protect the deceased (or for legal reasons), the girls were sympathetic and it was heartbreaking to watch them go through such trauma. They were legitimately scared and attempted to protect themselves anyway they could. I especially liked Katelyn (Kristen French in real life) because she stood her ground until the very end.

As far as brutality goes, most of it is not shown. The viewer sees Paul slap, taunt, and pull the victims' hair, but everything else is shown through close-ups of his face and sound effects. Enough is set up so the audience has an idea of what he's doing, but nothing is shown with the underage girls. The scenes where Karla is the subject of his anger, things are a lot more intense. The final beatings leave her so badly hurt she has to be hospitalized, and there is a disturbing scene where he "punishes" her for trying to leave him. This film is not for the faint of heart. 

There are some questions I developed over the course of the film. The first is related to wardrobe: in the scene where they are celebrating Christmas, Tammy, Karla, and Paul are all dressed like it’s summer. Why?  The film took place in Canada where the weather around Christmas is usually snowy with temperatures below freezing. It made no sense to me. Also, why was Paul so upset that Tina had seen his face in the house, when she had clearly seen it when he abducted her? My guess is the filmmakers were playing on the fact that he’d taken her at night, so the shadows obscured his face, but that is hard to buy when the viewer can clearly see it. If we can see it, so can Tina.

Overall, as a fictional film, it would be a decent, disturbing, little watch, but I have to deduct points for the lack of accuracy, as well as the way the filmmakers handled this material. The video tapes should have been mentioned as well as Karla’s true involvement – which could have calmed some of the controversy. The acting is done well and makes the film compelling, despite its flaws and inaccuracies.

5.5/10

Fat Kid Rules the World (2012)

Directed by: Matthew Lillard

Starring: Jacob Wysocki, Matt O’Leary, Lili Simmons, Dylan Arnold, and Billy Campbell

Rated: R

Genre: Independent, Drama, Comedy, Coming-of-Age

Based on the Novel by K.L. Going

Troy is a depressed, overweight teenager, with no friends and no passion outside of video games. Marcus is a free-spirited punk-rock musician with no home and a drug problem. Their paths happen to cross one day when, feeling like he can’t take it anymore, Troy steps out in front of an oncoming bus. Marcus tackles him to the ground, saving his life, and beginning an unlikely friendship. The two bond over the idea of creating a band together, and each helps the other in a way he never expects.

This is the directorial debut of Matthew Lillard, and I am quite impressed with this effort. His passion for the film is visible all over his Twitter account, but it is also obvious in the film itself. It truly feels like he cares for these characters, and thus the viewer does as well.

The characters are well-fleshed out. None fit into a cliché mold. At first Troy seems like the typical nerdy, overweight outcast who wants to get a girlfriend and enjoys video games. As the film progresses, he becomes more likable as he airs his issues with his weight and father. He develops a passion for music and a backbone, and he proves what a big heart he truly has. Marcus is a homeless, drug-addled sleazebag who has never known true friendship until he meets Troy. Despite their differences, these boys save each other from themselves. I also really liked how Troy’s father, Mr. Billings (Campbell), was portrayed as a real person and not just a stick-in-the-mud Marine – which is how many teen films would have played it. He is never really the enemy; he just wants his son to be happy, healthy and successful. He may be strict, but he cares very much for his sons and for Marcus.

I found Troy and Marcus to be believable, people I could meet in everyday life. I’ve known guys like both of them, and feel that Wysocki and O’Leary really brought them to life. Campbell was strong as the former-Marine-turned-cop father figure, portraying strict-yet-caring very well. Lili Simmons was cute as Isabel, and Dylan Arnold was annoying, yet believable, as Troy’s younger brother.

What I really liked about this film is that the kids acted like real kids and the adults were also realistic. The boys talked a lot about music and finding gigs, but they also bond over conflicts with parents and being different in general. As aforementioned, Mr. Billings may be a hardass, but he also has a big heart, and he cares about the well-being of all three boys. He gave up the Marine Corps for Troy’s mother, even though he enjoyed it. There is a scene where he is showing Marcus a box of family photos, and he looks longingly at a picture of his late-wife. He’s trying the best he can, and it’s obvious he still struggles without her around.

I thought Marcus’s drug addiction was handled very well too. As someone who has grown up around addiction – especially one to opiates, I found the portrayal accurate. His shaky hands, his lack of personal hygiene, his willingness to use anyone and everyone he can to get his next high. It doesn’t surprise me that his mother gave up on him – that happens sometimes, because the parent needs to distance him/herself from the pain of losing a loved one down such a dark path. Still, the kid is only eighteen, you would think they would have tried a little harder to get him help. My loved one has been in and out of recovery for nearly twelve years, it’s a never-ending battle. I do wish that could have been addressed by the film, but you can only fit so much into an hour and a half, and the important thing is that it left off sending Marcus in a positive direction.

The ending was a little farfetched, but enjoyable. I did feel like it ended abruptly, without us getting to see Troy do what he’s worked so hard for. He begins to play the drums and the credits roll. I wanted to see him rock out and show what he’s really made of. That was the one major drawback to the film; I wanted him to flaunt what he’s accomplished.

Overall, it’s a good little flick. The characters are realistic and well-rounded. The music is cool, and the dramatic elements are handled well. Recommended.

7/10

LOL (2012)

Directed by: Lisa Azuelos

Starring: Miley Cyrus, Demi Moore, Ashley Greene, Jay Hernandez, Douglas Booth, Thomas Jane, and Marlo Thomas

Rated: PG-13

Genre: Teen, Teen Comedy, Drama, Coming of Age

A remake of the French film: LOL: Laughing Out Loud

Lola (Cyrus) begins a new school year thinking everything in her life is perfect. She has two great best friends, a cute boyfriend she adores, and a brand new year ahead of her. Things get slightly derailed when Chad (Mr. Perfect) breaks up with her, and she realizes she may have feelings for her long-time best friend, Kyle (Booth). As the year wears on she experiments with pot, alcohol, and the idea of sex. Her relationship with her mother, Anne (Moore) becomes strained, and all relationships are tested. Lola and her mother are forced to face the changes in their lives in order to move forward.

This movie is brought to you by your friends at Apple/Mac, Coca-Cola, Facebook, MSN, Mentos, and Trojan Condoms. (Sorry, the blatant product placement was annoying.)

Fair warning: Parents, if you are thinking about letting your pre-pubescent daughters watch this because they adore Miley – don’t. This film has its fair share of sex scenes and a strange scene with a chicken you will find hard to explain. This is not for anyone under thirteen, and is rated as such for good reason.

Now, onto the review: I didn’t care much for this film. It is supposed to be a coming-of-age drama/comedy focusing on the life of a sixteen-year-old girl. I didn’t see what anything in this movie did to attribute to “coming-of-age.” All this film displays is a slightly strained mother/daughter relationship and Lola’s transition from one romantic relationship to another. She doesn’t really have to deal with any big upheavals in her life, she doesn’t take an educational journey, and she doesn’t change much at all throughout the entire film.

There is practically no character development whatsoever. All we know about Lola is that she likes indie rock music (and the guys who play it), writes in her journal a lot, and loves her friends. She starts out the film gossiping with her friends – they talk about underwear, boys, the “skanky post-it,” and more boys. They don’t have any real conversation, everything is superficial. When she writes in her diary it is only a sentence, and she often shuts her laptop in mid-chat with someone – these things I didn’t really understand. Also, why would you paste a condom wrapper in your journal? Ew.

All the teen girls are one-dimensional: Ashley is the attention-seeker known as “the post-it;” Emily is very curious about exploring her sexuality (and hoping to do so with her Trig teacher); and Janice has no personality at all, and maybe two lines of dialogue in the entire film.

The parents aren’t much better. We never find out what Anne does for work, although it looks like she might be some kind of interior designer. She likes wine, pot, and sex, and also has two best girlfriends with whom she only discusses men and sex. She tries to relate to her daughters but doesn’t know how, and doesn’t seem to really learn throughout the film. I did appreciate the fact that she was interested in feminism and her inner conflict of the sexually liberated woman being her daughter. I thought that was an interesting point and could have been explored further – such as maybe a discussion with Lola – but of course not. Mother and daughter actually having a real conversation could never fit in this film. Instead they communicate through texts and Facebook messages. Yes, because that’s healthy.

Emily’s mother is ridiculously overly controlling, flipping out over her daughter owning thong underwear and being irrationally rude to pretty much everyone. She has incredibly high standards for her daughter and no redeeming qualities. Janice’s mother tells her that her poor grades won’t matter because she’s pretty and can find a rich husband. (Because that’s all life’s really about.) Kyle’s father needs to seek professional help and some anger management classes.

All of the characters are boring and irritating. The romance between Lola and Kyle is cute when it’s going well, and very frustrating when it’s hitting rough patches. Anne and James (Hernandez) are also pretty cute together. Still, while they are out bonding romantically, the relationship between mother and daughter doesn’t properly heal. The film makes romantic relationships seem more important than the one between Anne and Lola. The majority of the final half of the movie is based around Lola and Kyle making up, while maybe three minutes focuses on repairing damages between mother and daughter. As someone who has always been close with her mother – I feel that relationship is far more important than any guy. Men come and go, but your mother is a permanent fixture in your life, and I feel the relationship deserves more respect than this flick gives it.

The acting was okay at best. I’ve never really been a fan of Miley’s and she didn’t impress me much with this endeavor. Her southern accent was a little anachronistic considering the film was based in Chicago, where she had lived all her life and neither parent had one. Granted, she wasn’t given much to work with, so I will have to see her in more before I can say whether I think she’s talented or not. It’s hard to make a character likable when there’s really nothing to her. Even a seasoned, talented actress like Demi Moore couldn’t keep my interest. She didn’t seem like she even really wanted to be there. The two did act like mother and daughter, to the best of their abilities, but it is hard when the script is so vague. Marlo Thomas is actually the only actor that stood out to me. Her performance as the young-at-heart Gran was amusing and I enjoyed her presence in the film.

The plot as a whole felt kind of pointless. To me this was just another run-of-the-mill teen flick with nothing new to offer. We have shallow teen girls who have poor relationships with their parents and who lust after cute boys. I didn’t feel like anything was accomplished in this film. It was clichéd and predictable.

I also didn't understand why these girls treated their virginity like a disease. They couldn't wait to rid themselves of the pesky thing, apparently to seem "experienced" when they had sex with someone they really wanted to be with. I guess the days of wanting your first time to be special and with someone you love are gone. They also don't seem to realize that having sex one time doesn't make you that experienced - it often takes a lot of experimentation to find what works for you and your partner, and each partner likes different things. I feel like this didn't promote a positive message about sex to the younger viewers. Sex is not something you rush into with just anyone, especially when you've never done it before. Yet, that is just what these girls do: Emily gives it up to prepare her for someone she feels is superior to her current partner. (Also, she gives it up in the boy's bathroom, because that's classy.) 

Lola loses it to someone she does truly love, but not for lack of trying with others. Why is there such a stigma against virgins? Why promote such stigma to young viewers? I think it's irresponsible and doesn't teach young women to have any self-respect. Ugh, at least they promoted safe sex. 

One thing I did like was the band’s music. I thought the song, “Heart on Fire,” was sweet and catchy.

Overall: the movie wasn’t exactly terrible, but it wasn’t good either. It was very bland, cliché and predictable, with no developed characters. The acting could have been better if the performers had more to work with. It also doesn't do a good job promoting a positive relationship between mother and daughter, and the way the subject of sex is treated really bothers me. Skip it.

3.5/10