CRAZY BEAUTIFUL

 Let’s be honest, 90% of the “teen” movies that have come out over the past decade have been pure crap!  So, it’s a great surprise whenever there’s one that’s just not plain stupid, let alone, above average or intelligent.  “CRAZY BEAUTIFUL” isn’t perfect, or close to it, but it feels so much more honest than most adolescent-targeted films of the past years, that it’s highly recommended.

 Kirsten Dunst, whom is playing in far too many films lately, stars in “CRAZY BEAUTIFUL” as Nicole, a young student living a carefree, rich kid’s life, shopping, partying, and certainly not caring much about school.  Jay Hernandez plays Carlos, a smart, hardworking kid trying to make something of himself through education, and rise above the downtrodden Latin neighborhood that surrounds him.  When he meets and falls in love with Nicole, everything he’s been working hard for instantly begins to lose its significance, such is the true, dizzying, troubling aspect of relationships, and “CRAZY BEAUTIFUL” for the most part, plays truthfully to its audience.  Adding to the conflict is Nicole’s waspy, protective father, wanting to put an end to their relationship.  It’s due to a sensational script that none of these characters come off as one-dimensional.  One has empathy for everyone in the film, making this a rare and moving love story.  What could easily have become a film filled with cliché after cliché, instead is one of the best, and most honest love stories of the decade. 

 BUENA VISTA has preserved the 1.85:1 aspect ratio of the film with 16:9 enhancement.  The production design of the film is creative and memorable, and the studio deserves credit for perfectly reproducing the image as it was intended, at time being stark, and other times being vibrant. The depth to every scene is outstanding, and contrast is flawless.  At times, the color scheme brings to mind the kind of incredible colorful imagery of Michael Figgis’ “Leaving Las Vegas” but with considerably less grain! 

BUENA VISTA has chosen to include both a Dolby Digital “and” DTS 5.1 mix. While the mix is focused on dialogue, and most of the time directional effects are delegated to the front, there are occasional atmospheric effects in the rear.  The DTS offers slightly better fidelity in terms of the music, but the dialogue reproduction and clarity is flawless in both mixes.

Kirsten Dunst and Director John Stockwell offer a running commentary that’s entertaining and educational.  Stockwell offers a great deal of insight into the technical aspect of filmmaking, and Dunst offers the kind of everday movie excitement one reads “Entertainment Weekly” to learn about.  Their different styles  compliment one another perfectly here. 

 There is a deleted scenes section, but these are comprised of extended versions of available scenes.  Stockwell provides commentary for them as an option, but none of them were essential or missed.