Review of Bastard Out of Carolina (1996) by Alli H — 20 Mar 2007

This is one of the most powerful movies I have ever seen. The story tells us of young Bone, a Carolina bastard who, when her mother remarries, gets abused - both physically and sexually - by the new man in their lives. Bone is portrayed by Jena Malone who is so convincing in the part it's almost scary. She is such a good actress and I read somewhere that when Jodie Foster was asked if there was any child star today that had the potential to reach the same results she had in her career, she mentioned Jena Malone and Dakota Fanning. I can but agree.

Throughout the movie one experiences every emotion there is - anger, sadness and the occasional happiness. And when Bone is hurting, one hurts right along side her, when she cries, one cries. And the anger, well, the anger arises when her mother, torn between her husband and child, never really takes a stand and protects her baby fully.

But, again, so powerful and a movie that has me in tears for just about the whole thing (cried like crazy ? and constantly - for the last ten minutes, never knew I had so many tears) deserves nothing less than a big, fat FIVE. If I could, I'd have given it a ten...