Watch Pretty Persuasion

Pretty Persuasion is a dark comedy-drama film that was released in 2005. The movie is directed by Marcos Siega and stars Evan Rachel Wood, Ron Livingston, and James Woods. The story revolves around a high school student named Kimberly Joyce, played by Evan Rachel Wood, who hatches a plan to accuse her teacher of sexual harassment in order to gain fame and attention.

Kimberly is a sharp and confident sixteen-year-old girl who lives with her wealthy parents in Beverly Hills. Her father is absent and her mother is vain and shallow, both of whom have little interest in their daughter's life. Kimberly is bored with her privileged existence and seeks out new sources of drama and excitement. When she learns that her drama teacher, Mr. Anderson, played by Ron Livingston, is having an affair with a student, she sees an opportunity to make a name for herself.

With the help of her two best friends, Brittany and Randa, Kimberly begins to formulate a plan to accuse Mr. Anderson of sexual harassment. She manipulates her way into his good graces, using her beauty and charm to seduce him. She then begins to plant evidence that will make it look as if Mr. Anderson is a predator. When the accusations go public, the school becomes embroiled in a scandal that attracts media attention and threatens to ruin Mr. Anderson's life.

As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that Kimberly is not what she seems. She is not a victim, but a scheming and manipulative young woman who will do anything to achieve her goals. She uses her sexuality as a weapon and toys with the affections of everyone around her. She is also fiercely intelligent, with a talent for cutting through people's pretenses and exposing their weaknesses.

The film is a biting satire of American culture, particularly the obsession with fame and the exploitation of sex and scandal. It is also a critique of the media's tendency to sensationalize and distort the truth. The characters in the film are all flawed and complex, with their own hidden agendas and motivations.

Evan Rachel Wood gives a standout performance as Kimberly, bringing depth and nuance to a character who could easily have been one-dimensional. She captures both Kimberly's vulnerability and her cruelty, making her a fascinating and disturbing protagonist. Ron Livingston is also excellent as Mr. Anderson, playing him as a sympathetic and flawed man who is not entirely innocent.

James Woods plays Hank Joyce, Kimberly's father, who is a successful Hollywood producer. He is distant and emotionally unavailable, but also shrewd and cunning. He understands the power of image and media manipulation, and is not above using his daughter to further his own career. His scenes with Kimberly are some of the most powerful in the film, as they reveal the dysfunctional dynamic at the heart of their relationship.

In conclusion, Pretty Persuasion is a thought-provoking and darkly humorous film that tackles challenging themes with intelligence and wit. It is a sharp critique of American culture and a compelling character study of a troubled young woman. Evan Rachel Wood's performance is a standout, and the film is worth watching for her alone.

Pretty Persuasion is a 2005 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 44 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.4 and a MetaScore of 45.