According to Greta (2009)
"Greta" (original title)

A young suicidal and rebellious teen gets sent to her Grandparents for the summer where life takes an unexpected turn.

Director:

Nancy Bardawil

Writer:

Michael Gilvary

Stars:

Hilary Duff, Evan Ross, Michael Murphy

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Hilary Duff	...	Greta
Evan Ross	...	Julie
Michael Murphy	...	Joseph
Ellen Burstyn	...	Katherine
Melissa Leo	...	Karen
Maury Ginsberg	...	Lou
John Rothman	...	Edgar
Sylvia Kauders	...	Mrs. Wocheski
Oren Skoog	...	Steve
Dave Shalansky	...	Cable Guy
Vivan Dugré	...	Donna
Gary Mottola	...	Red Tie Bar Guy
Stuart Zagnit	...	Man on Bus
Edward Lane	...	Old Man (as Ed Lane)
Eric Sheffer Stevens	...	Yellow Sweater Guy

Storyline

After her mother, Karen (Melissa Leo) gets married for the third time, 17-year-old Greta (Hillary Duff), who had witnessed her father kill himself, withdraws within herself, and turns rebellious. In lieu of boot camp she is sent to live with her maternal grandparents, Katherine (Ellen Burstyn) and Joseph (Michael Murphy) where she makes it known that she is determined to kill herself. She then falls for a cook, Julie (Evan Ross) at the local restaurant, much to the chagrin of her grandparents - especially when they find out he had been interned in a juvenile correctional facility. Faced with all-round opposition and unhappy with her life Greta plans her suicide during a boating trip - a plan that will not only expose closeted skeletons, but also shatter and change everyone's lives forever.

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Plot Keywords:

suicidal | summer | suicide | restaurant | men fight | 

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Taglines:

She's a trip. But she's no vacation.

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for mature thematic material, some sexual content and drug references

Details

Official Sites:

MySpace Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 December 2009 (USA)

Also Known As:

According to Greta

Filming Locations:

Asbury Park, New Jersey, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Anchor Bay Films, West of Midnight, Whitewater Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

92 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The photograph of Greta's father is John Heard, Melissa Leo's then real-life boyfriend who fathered her son John Matthew Heard.

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Quotes

Julie: You don't want to die. You just wanted that drama. What you did was serious, and it affects people. It affects me. I wish I could help you 'cause you need it. But I'm not going overboard for you. I got my own shit, I'm doing my own thing.

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Soundtracks

"Bright"
Written by Christopher Faizi
Performed by Christopher Faizi

User Reviews

'Greta' is just a thinly disguised anagram for 'Great'

Finally! I have been waiting for this film for two years. I remember it being filmed in early 2008, or might've been earlier than that. The delay has made me think the film was terrible and no movie studio wanted to release it. But I was wrong, the film isn't terrible at all. It's better than I thought it would be.

'Greta' is a quirky comedic drama that shocks, makes you laugh, and makes you go "awe" at the diverse relationship that Greta forms with her co-worker, Julie. Whenever the film started off, I was reminded of such films as 'Juno' and 'Georgia Rule', but this film is much darker than that.

The film is only 88 minutes, but it's entertaining all through-out and Greta takes you on a ride that'll keep you watching. Hilary Duff's acting has improved over the years, and it really shows in this specific film.

I could see why this film didn't go to theatres. But I also want to know why it didn't? 'Greta' definitely lands itself in my favourite movies of 2009. Great straight-to-DVD films are hard to find, and while finding this film in the recent straight-to-DVD films in the past years, it's like I've found gold.

The only problem I had with the film is that the beautiful relationship between Greta and Julie is left teasingly unresolved.

B+.