Review of Tiger Eyes (2012) by Manny C — 23 Jun 2013

There are times when a film scores a home run simply by taking it easy and just letting its story speak for itself. That's what happens in this terrific adaptation of Judy Blume's 1981 best-seller Tiger Eyes, in which director Lawrence Blume (Blume's son and script collaborator) allows the emotions in this coming-of-age tale to stay nuanced and organic, free of Hollywood bullshit. It's a terrific little film that could. Judy Blume, whose young adult novels have sold more than 80 million copies since her first published book in 1969, is a literary and cultural icon. Her work was absolutely groundbreaking, and she has the honor of being banned certain schools and libraries who cannot handle her raw, sometimes painfully honest looks at taboo subjects as teen sex and menstruation (touched upon in her most famous work Are You There God?, It's Me Margaret). That Blume has written 28 books and Tiger Eyes is the first to be adapted into any sort of feature is mind-boggling. Too bad she didn't write about fucking vampires. So how does Tiger Eyes end up being such a gem? Start with star Willa Holland, who plays Davey, a 17-year-old out of Jersey (just like Blume was) struggling to cope with the violent death of her father in a robbery. As her mother Gwen (a terrific Amy Jo Johnson, yes the original pink Power Ranger), withdraws into depression, Davey attempts to forge ahead and help take care of her younger brother, Jason (Lucien Dale). The scene of Davey forcing her brother to confront their father's murder is just gut-wrenching. Grief has taken Davey completely, and Holland's terrifically expressive face beautifully showcases the pain and turmoil roiling inside her. Things change tremendously for Davey when the family moves from Atlantic City to los Alamos, New Mexico, home to some temperamental relatives, including her childless aunt Bitsy (Cynthia Stevenson, just amazing) and her hot-headed husband Walter (Forrest Frye, excellent in the role).

Davey has everything tossed at her at once, new life, new school and a new friend in the form of Jane, an emerging alcoholic wonderfully played by Elise Eberle. Things take a sharp turn when Davey meets Martin (Tatanka Means), a Native American known to others as Wolf. It's Martin who dubs Davey Tiger. The two have an instant romantic connection, one handled beautifully with delicacy by both actors and director. Wolf has his own troubles. His father, Willie, is being hospitalized with cancer, a scenario made all the more resonant by the fact that Willie is played by the late actor and political activist Russell Means, Tatanka's actual father, and their scenes together are tender and warm, especially considering Means himself passed away shortly after filming wrapped.

High emotion form the crux of Tiger Eyes, sometimes so much in runs the risk of becoming a stale Lifetime movie. But Holland's star turn manages to keep things grounded and true. She's superb. As is director Blume, who allows for emotions and environmental surroundings (the canyons of New Mexico look beautiful under the camera lens of cinematographer Seamus Tierney) that speaks volumes on the film's themes, as does a Native ritual Wolf shares with Tiger. It's a film of shocking gravity and deeply felt intimacy, just like Blume's novels. Her grace is felt all over this wonderful film.