Teen Spirit, the Max Minghella-directed music/drama about a small-town teenager with dreams of pop stardom, is one I watched for two main reasons. The first is my curiosity about Minghella’s directing talents, especially since I’m such a fan of much of his late father‘s great works. The second reason is that I simply needed to hear Elle Fanning’s British accent. 

I’ll start by confirming that the talented young Fanning’s accent is, of course, good. In fact, I found it so convincing that I actually forgot to question it as the movie played.

As for Minghella’s directing chops, there was a  period where the film’s great pacing slowed down in a noticeable way. The other moment I wasn’t delighted by is when the predictable exploitative love interest storyline took hold. Perhaps I’m just too avid a movie watcher to have not seen that coming but I definitely wish that particular scenario wasn’t so obvious to me, in effect making that moment of the film feel tedious.

Overall, Teen Spirit is well-acted and kept my full attention most of the time. Particularly since I very much connected with Violet’s (Fanning) hustle for a better reality. And as she made that final walk to the stage, it could not have been more intense and moving because of all it must have meant.

Watch it if you’re curious.

Happy Film Loving,

G