IMDb >
Pretty Persuasion (2005)
Watch It
Buy it at Amazon
Rent it at Blockbuster.com
Discuss in Boards More at IMDb Pro Add to My Movies Update Data
BETA
Discuss in Boards More at IMDb Pro Add to My Movies Update Data
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotesOverview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv scheduleAwards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage boardPlot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotesFun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQOther Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDeskPromotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo galleryExternal Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clipsPretty Persuasion (2005) More at IMDbPro »
| Photos (see all 131 | slideshow) | Videos (see all 9) |
Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writer:
Skander Halim (written by)
Release Date:
25 May 2006 (South Africa)
more
Tagline:
Evil comes in a school uniform. more
Plot:
A 15-year-old girl incites chaos among her friends and a media frenzy when she accuses her drama teacher of sexual harassment. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Awards:
1 win
&
2 nominations
more
NewsDesk:
(4 articles)
"True Blood" Promises a Lesbian Character — For Real This Time
(From AfterEllen.com. 10 June 2009, 12:28 AM, PDT)
Elisabeth Harnois will join Robert Zemeckis' "Mars Needs Moms"
(From Movie Jungle. 24 February 2009)
(From AfterEllen.com. 10 June 2009, 12:28 AM, PDT)
Elisabeth Harnois will join Robert Zemeckis' "Mars Needs Moms"
(From Movie Jungle. 24 February 2009)
User Comments:
A Nutshell Review: Pretty Persuasion
more (67 total)
Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| Evan Rachel Wood | ... | Kimberly Joyce | |
| David Wagner | ... | Morgan (as David T. Wagner) | |
| Brent Goldberg | ... | Rick | |
| Adi Schnall | ... | Randa | |
| Elisabeth Harnois | ... | Brittany | |
| Stark Sands | ... | Troy | |
| Jane Krakowski | ... | Emily Klein | |
| Michael Hitchcock | ... | Headmaster Charles Meyer | |
| Danny Comden | ... | Roger Nicholl | |
| Jaime King | ... | Kathy Joyce | |
| Josh Zuckerman | ... | Josh Horowitz | |
| James Snyder | ... | Dave | |
| Ron Livingston | ... | Percy Anderson | |
| Cody McMains | ... | Kenny | |
| Mike Erwin | ... | Barry |
Additional Details
MPAA:
Rated R for strong sexual content and graphic dialogue involving teens, and language.
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
USA:104 min | UK:110 min | Argentina:107 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
USA:R |
Canada:13+ (Quebec) |
Canada:18A (Alberta/British Columbia/Ontario) |
Australia:MA |
UK:18 |
Ireland:16 |
Malaysia:(Banned) |
Singapore:M18 |
Finland:K-15 |
Argentina:16 |
Netherlands:12 |
Portugal:M/16
Filming Locations:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
The film achieved brief exposure on the Internet after a short lesbian scene was leaked.
more
Quotes:
Randa:
[while watching pornography in which a woman is moaning loudly] How... how is it, please, that two men... at one time... how can this be?
Kimberly Joyce: One of them is doing her up the butt.
Randa: Up the... such a thing is not possible... it is too small, the aperture.
more
Kimberly Joyce: One of them is doing her up the butt.
Randa: Up the... such a thing is not possible... it is too small, the aperture.
more
Movie Connections:
References First Blood (1982)
more
Soundtrack:
What Goes On
more
FAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more (67 total)
Message Boards
Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Pretty Persuasion (2005) moreRecommendations
If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
Show more recommendations
|
|
|
|
|
| American Beauty | Notes on a Scandal | Ken Park | Not Another Teen Movie | Palindromes |
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
Related Links
| Full cast and crew | Company credits | External reviews |
| News articles | IMDb Comedy section | IMDb USA section |
| Add this title to MyMovies |













I kinda liked this film for almost all the wrong reasons. It's politically incorrect and doesn't make any apologies for doing so, but yet demonstrates a notion that we can be bigots, and yet not be consciously aware of it. After all, it's what has already been internalized, but it becomes exposed quite naturally through our actions and dialogue.
Evan Rachel Wood is the star of the movie. As Kimberly Joyce, she's the high school frat girl like Alicia Silverstone's Cher in Clueless, but in terms of character, she's on the other side of the spectrum. Way on the other side. She's looking for fame, and would do absolutely anything to obtain her 15 minutes worth. She's a temptress, a seductress, highly intelligent, and so manipulative, she can stab you in the back while smiling in front of you, with you none the wiser and probably still worshipping the ground she treads on.
Which brings us back to the title, and makes you wonder if beautiful people can get away with almost anything. I guess it's probably almost human nature to be enchanted by the pretties, and anyone would most likely be lapping up at anything they say. It doesn't take much for a beautiful bitch to realize the power she wields on men who are drunk in her aura, and then to exploit this weakness of people around her.
There are two more key reasons why I enjoyed the movie, besides being enchanted myself by the Kimberly character. The first is the dialogue in the movie - there's so much wit, and it's fast and laced with plenty of double entrées and satire, delivered in a deadpan manner by Rachel Wood no less, you would likely need to re-watch it again to grasp them all. The second is having Kimberly chaperon a newbie in school, an Arab girl called Randa (Adi Schnall), raising some eyebrows as the religious girl gets exposed to pop culture and blatant insensitive racists remarks, and inevitably too becomes a pawn in the whole scheme of things, as does Kimberly's best friend Brittany (Elisabeth Harnois) discover that it's not always fine and dandy being the hunter, as there is always something or someone else higher above in the food chain.
The host of supporting characters raised the movie to another notch. James Woods shines as the foul mouthed father of Kimberly, who sprouts words of wisdom peppered with colourful vulgar, racist remarks. Jamie King completes the household as the long suffering trophy wife/stepmother in the Joyce household, constantly bearing the brunt of insults hurled at her by Kimberly. At school, we have Ron Livingston as Percy Anderson, as the meek and mild mannered school teacher who indulges in role-playing games with the wife at home (Selma Blair), and inadvertently becomes the target and public enemy #1 of Kimberly and friends. And Jane Krakowski in a bimbotic role, stars as a news reporter who finds it increasingly difficult to stay objective when covering possibly the juiciest scandal to hit town.
There's a sub theme running that touches on "saving face", which is an issue to the successful in ensuring that their reputation does not get tarnished in the face of scandals, and is a trait that most Asians are familiar with. It's important that face is not ruined easily by careless actions, as face is something that is most difficult to build in an environment of shame. Having lost face and losing the faith to rebuild it, can lead people to an untimely sad demise.
So if you're up for some scheming betrayal, and plenty of slimy tactics, if you want to observe how seemingly good intentions are actually poisoned barbs that kill slowly, then I hope I've already persuaded you enough to watch this flick.