Crazy/Beautiful (2001)

[6]

Kirsten Dunst and Jay Hernandez star in this teen drama about a rich but troubled white girl and a poor but hard-studying Latino boy who fall in love. Before long, her party attitude begins to clash with his determination to succeed, especially after secrets are revealed about Dunst’s past. When her congressman father (Bruce Davison) encourages Hernandez not to see her anymore, Hernandez must make a choice between love and career aspirations.

Crazy/Beautiful is far more grounded in reality than most other teen dramas. The actors feel real (the supporting cast are largely non-actors performing for the first time) and the locations aren’t over-dressed. Director John Stockwell (Christine) is careful not to overproduce or hyperstylize anything — more what you’d find in a small indie movie than a studio release. He gets honest, intimate performances out of Dunst and Hernandez, too. Bruce Davison (Longtime Companion) really stood out for me in this movie as well. On the page, the Dunst’s father comes off cold and uncaring, but Davison imbues the role with underlying fear and concern.

I wish the film had more comedy to balance out the heavy drama, and I’m not sure I fully buy that two such disparate personalities would fall for each other the way Dunst’s and Hernandez’s characters do, but Crazy/Beautiful has integrity and sincerity on its side. And it’s refreshing to see real-looking teenagers living in real environments for a change.