October 26, 2003
MarkBernstein.org
 

Thirteen

There's a terrifically violent scene in Catherine Hardwicke's Thirteen, a scene without weapons or blood or even contact, Tracy (Evan Rachel Wood), the out-of-control 7th-grade protagonist, really, really wants to hurt her mother (Holly Hunter). She adopts a combat stance, full of threat -- balanced on her toes, leaning slightly foreward, hands free. And, in a low voice, full of threat, she says, over and over again, "No bra. No pants." She takes a step forward. "No bra. No pants."