Tart (2001)

Quick and Perfect!

The DVD came sooner than I expected and it was in amazing condition for a used product. April 2, 2007

The Best

Tart Is One Of The Best Film's I've Seen Dominique Swain Is One Of The Best Acttress I Know, I Just Love Her. January 4, 2007

Low-Budget Indie..

The only reason I rented this to start with was on the count of Dominique Swain. I knew ahead of time about all the bad reviews & negative feedback, but I wanted to give it a shot anyway.

NO..It is definitely not even in the margin of the best 200 Films you've ever seen, but it isn't THAT horrible. I thought Swain did very well in it. All of her actions in the film seemed real and justified. I agree some parts throughout the core of the movie made no sense, and made you wonder "Why was that even in there, or that doesn't even relate to anything in the story". But, there were a couple of good moments...the beginning & the end. (You will understand what I mean, if you've watched this film). I won't give it more than 1 and a half stars/2 stars, but I won't say watching this was a complete waste.

(As for the other actors-Melanie Griffiths part was almost merely a cameo, Mischa Barton did Ok, Lacey Chabert was her usual self, and Bijou Phillips was fair...But this definitely was one of Brad Renfro's worst.) November 3, 2005

Why Even Bother??

"Tart" is a good illustration of the old the Yogi Berra saying: "If you don't know where you are going, you will probably end up someplace else". Writer/Director Christina Waye (in her first feature) has managed to make a $3 Million movie that never goes anywhere. "Tart" is either a coming of age story devoid of characters that a rational person can connect with, a black comedy without any humor, or a sexploitation movie without anything that is particularly sexy.

Unlike the standard Swain film, "Tart" actually employed a competent and experienced production designer. Good enough to provide two extremely nice shots: the scene of Swain and Barton taking a bubble bath together and the scene of Swain in the park-featuring a nice montage of the "Alice in Wonderland" sculpture. The symbolism incorporated into these elements supports the possibility that Waye (despite the absence of a linear logic or unity of tone) actually has some visionary talent and aspirations for making a quality film.

It is even possible that Waye was trying for a fusion of the somewhat expressionistic "Metropolitan" and the camp classic "Cruel Intentions" both of which also dealt with the Manhattan upper class. There are many camera shots framed by windows and doors yet few tight shots of faces and eyes. The former technique hinting at symbolism and the latter at intentional distancing from the characters and their motivations. "Tart" seemed on the verge of veering into camp territory at least twice and would have been well advised to keep going in that direction. First there was the scene where they try to dump the seemingly deceased Swain into the garbage chute. Then there is the whole bit about her father being Jewish (played to the same extreme as Joel Grey dancing with the Jewish guerrilla in "Cabaret").

In her other films Swain's acting technique is to overwhelm each scene in which she appears (insert scenery chewing here) but in "Tart" she actually shows an ability to restrain herself. This is the best performance of her career. It also provides some clues about her physical deterioration from willowy super cute in "Girl" to hulking lumpy-faced in "Pumpkin". This transformation was about half-complete by the time she made "Tart"; so go the ravages of time.

Mischa Barton ("Sixth Sense's" I feel better girl) and Lacey Chabet are excellent in supporting roles. The rest of the cast is simply horrible, although some of the blame for this should go to Waye's script and direction.

Then again, what do I know? I'm only a child.

September 20, 2005

Good Film - For Some People

Straight to the point. . . .there are a lot of mixed reviews here, but I would say that this movie is a really good film. Now, i'm in to the quirky, eye-catching, think you can't stomach what is going on with this film kinda movies that have young up and coming actors/actresses in it. Bijou Philips can always be spotted in most of the films, that's how you know it might fit the mold. Anyway, if you aren't into the crazy larry clark films such as "Kids" and "Bully", or any movies such as that, then this probably won't interest you a bit. Oh, and to that reviewer at the top. . . Megzi i believe their name was. . . .Mischa Barton who is great in the film, she doesn't throw on a fake english accent in the movie. . . she really is from London. . . do your research first! August 24, 2005

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