Title: Speak Director: Jessica Sharzer
Based on a Novel by: Laurie Halse Anderson
Starring: Kristen Stewart
ISBN: 1-59447-236-X
Rating: PG-13
Suitable for Ages: Some Material Inappropriate for Children Under the Age of 13
Production Company: Showtime Entertainment
Media Type: DVD
Copyright: 2005
Genre: Drama
Reader's Annotation: Sometimes silence is louder than words.
Plot Summary: After a terrifying night at a party, Melinda quickly becomes an outcast at school. Everyone blames Melinda for breaking up an end of summer party, but they don’t know the real reason she called the police that night. Slowly, the terrifying events from that night consume her and Melinda is no longer able to talk. She quickly becomes even more of an outcast. Throughout the course of the novel Melinda finds her own ways to deal with what happened that night and finally makes a shocking revelation.
Evaluation: (B) This movie was consistent with the novel. While some of the plot sequences were different, the film was representative of Laurie Halse Anderson's original piece of work. Kristen Stewart, of Twilight fame, does a superb job at portraying Melinda's character. Stewart's accurate characterization of Melinda, through her tone of voice and demeanor, are powerful and evoke emotion reminiscent of the novel.
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