| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Jena Malone | ... | ||
| Mandy Moore | ... | ||
| Macaulay Culkin | ... | ||
| Patrick Fugit | ... | ||
| Heather Matarazzo | ... | ||
| Eva Amurri Martino | ... |
Cassandra
(as Eva Amurri)
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| Chad Faust | ... | ||
| Elizabeth Thai | ... | ||
| Martin Donovan | ... | ||
| Mary-Louise Parker | ... | ||
| Kett Turton | ... | ||
| Julia Arkos | ... |
PE Coach
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Donna White | ... | |
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James Caldwell | ... |
Hairdresser
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| Nicki Clyne | ... |
Guitar Player
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Mary is a senior at American Eagle Christian High School in suburban Baltimore. She considers herself born again, despite the fact that her rebirth was at age three. Her best girlfriends are two classmates that comprise the Christian Jewels band with her. Hilary Faye is the alpha Christian, who outwardly is perfect, especially in her connection to God. And Veronica is ethnic Vietnamese who was adopted and thus saved by a black Christian couple. A third is Tia, who is generally an outsider in her geek status but who aspires to be in this Christian clique. Also within their social circle solely out of necessity is Hilary Faye's older brother Roland, who has been in a wheelchair since age nine after falling out of a tree, and who, out of family obligation Hilary Faye transports everywhere including to/from school. Beyond that transportation, Roland and Hilary Faye generally have disdain for each other. One of Hilary Faye's God driven missions for the year is to save Cassandra, a Jewish ... Written by Huggo
I saw the trailers for this movie a looooong time ago and was very interested to see it, though I never got around to it. Now I've finally watched it and I'm happy that I did. In my view, this is essentially a movie about some of the issues with fundamentalism - it's not a complete panning of the Christian faith at all, let's get that straight!
I think everyone in the movie filled their roles particularly well, especially Mandy Moore as the obsessive Hilary Faye. Jena Malone grows on me more and more every time I see her, and this time was no exception. She was good in her small role in Contact, which I have to say I liked a bit more. Macaulay Culkin was also surprisingly good in his role - I didn't see "The Guy that was Kevin", but rather I saw is character. Some of the stuff he did and said was very funny too, like much of this movie.
My issue would be that the film pansies out a little at the end. To get me, you'd really have to watch it yourself. Just when you think the film might be going a certain direction, it turns back on itself to cover it's own behind.
Overall, entertaining and funny with good performances overall. More Jena Malone please.