Film review/analyis on the 2003 movie "Thirteen" starring

Thirteen is a welcome exception to the rule - a smart movie that does not simplify or candy-coat the rigors of the teenage years. Instead, it amplifies them by dealing with characters who are less stable than "average" junior high schoolers. If living the life of a normal teenager is like quietly listening to a song on the radio, then living the life of Thirteen's characters is like listening to that same song, played live …

…sure - it's that the narrative occasionally seems jumpy. This may be the result of material left on the cutting room floor, or it may be that Hardwicke never intended to plug all the holes. But there is a sense that there's more of a relationship between Melanie and Evie's guardian, Brooke (Unger), than we see on-screen. There's also a curious instance in which a tough girl threatens Tracy, but there is no expected follow-up