Review of Spring Breakers (2013) by Joey-Clemenza — 10 Apr 2013

It has occurred to me that the majority of those watching this movie are really only watching it for one of two reasons (or both). To see Disney starlets prance around on drugs and alcohol, all in bikini's wielding assault rifles. That, or a chance to see one of them topless (which by the way, they are; at least two of them...if only for a brief couple of seconds). A good 80 percent of them will have absolutely no idea who Harmony Korine is, nor any clue to his style of filmmaking. Granted, either you like it or you don't you have to understand that Korine is in fact an art-house director, and rarely follows conventional film standards. Having said that, for those who've never witnessed films like 'Kids', 'Gummo' and 'Ken Park' expect to see something different.

.........now the review.

Not the greatest of narratives, though writer Harmony Korine has a knack for delving into the psychology of characters and atmosphere by hard contrast visuals and tropes pertaining to the stories theme. Whether it's spoiled skateboard kids on the upper west side of Manhattan, or socially disfigured freakazoids urinating off the overpass of a highway like it or not, these visuals will stay with you forever. These have been the timeless images tattoo'ed to our film going history and continue to stand out among the rest as the proverbial middle finger to contemporary cinema. This is what Korine has been able to do well for over two decades, as pretentious as he comes and just as pretentious as he so lovingly admits to being. There are several moments in 'Spring Breakers' that will stain your brain (like it or not) and keep you interested. Newcomer Selena Gomez never strays far enough from her good-girl image, though has earned a second chance at Hollywood-life-post-Disney. Also worth noting is a strangely tender moment when the other former Disney darlings (Vanessa Hudgens and Ashley Benson) are serenading a "blinged-out" James Franco (who gives the performance of his career) with a rendition of some Britney Spears' song, standing poolside, bikini clad and gripping onto semi-automatic assault rifles. Bikini girls with machine guns...Lux Interior would've been proud. Granted, Hudgens, Benson and Rachel Korine (wife and ingenue of Harmony) may come across as trite and flat, they are still fun to watch in many ways. An often-times obnoxious though mesmerizing valley of decadence and debauchery journey'd, the viewer will have felt closer than ever to spring break (or at least beholden of vivid flashbacks). More than that, it dares to take you farther. As ostentatious as it seems, it never apologizes for how far it goes. A different kind of Korine movie, with all of the stuff you've come to love about him since the inception of his career nearly 20 years ago. I recommend for it's strange art house meets 'Jersey Shore' aesthetic, if only to witness James Franco at his best.