Pretty Persuasion poster & wallpaper
Get movie widget Recommend it Add to Favorites

Evan Rachel Wood, Ron Livingston, James Woods, Elisabeth Harnois, Jane Krakowski ... see more see more... , Selma Blair , Danny Comden , Stark Sands , Michael Hitchcock , Robert Joy , Jaime King , Adi Schnall , Josh Zuckerman , Clyde Kusatsu , Alex Désert , Cody McMains , Johnny Lewis , David Wagner , Brent Goldberg , James Snyder , Mike Erwin , Ira Wood , David C. Taylor , Lisa Arturo , Shanna Olson , Tina Holmes , Perry Hayes , Christopher Thornton , Deprece Reddick , Julie Wittner , Aydiee Vaughn , Navid Negahban , Octavia L. Spencer , Angelo Spizzirri , Amanda Harley , Christopher Meloni

One of the "popular girls" decides to put her mean streak to work in this black comedy. Kimberly Joyce (Evan Rachel Wood) is an outwardly friendly but inwardly cold and manipulative teenager who atten... read more read more...ds an exclusive private school in Beverly Hills when she's not making fun of her twentysomething stepmother (Jaime King) or listening to her business mogul father (James Woods) rant about the many people he hates. Kimberly's best friend is Brittany (Elisabeth Harnois), who doesn't seem to notice that Kimberly holds a bit of a grudge over the fact Brittany is now dating Troy (Stark Sands), Kimberly's former boyfriend. When Randa (Adi Schnall), an exchange student from the Middle East, arrives at school, Kimberly is asked to show her around, and soon she's giving her the inside scoop on the school's social hierarchy. Kimberly, Brittany, and Randa, like most of the girls at school, don't much care for Mr. Anderson (Ron Livingston), a teacher who doesn't make much of a secret of his lust for the female student body, though he doesn't do much besides look. Kimberly decides to do something about Mr. Anderson by fabricating a story that he has had inappropriate contact with her, Brittany, and Randa, and it doesn't take long for the matter to become a local scandal, though it does end up backfiring on Kimberly in time. Pretty Persuasion also features supporting performances from Selma Blair, Jane Krakowski, and Michael Hitchcock. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Flixster Users

62% liked it

9,312 ratings

Critics

32% liked it

76 critics

R, 1 hr. 50 min.

Directed by: Marcos Siega

Release Date: August 12, 2005

Invite friends to see

DVD Release Date: December 13, 2005

Stats: 885 reviews

report incorrect info

Photos

Pretty Persuasion Pretty Persuasion Pretty Persuasion
Upload a Photo | View All Pretty Persuasion Photos

Your Rating


clear rating

Flixster Reviews (885)

  • Deano78
    January 26, 2012
    Deano78
    Hmm this wasn't what I expected at all. It takes a bit from quite a few bigger and better films and ends up no where near as good as any of them. It has a touch of Mean girls, Election, Cruel intentions and mostly plot wise Wild things. However without being as dramatic, shocking... read more, sexy or as intelligent as any of them. If you like the above you might want to check it out, otherwise make sure you see the films mentioned, as they have similar story lines but are much better films.
  • jennifxu
    July 30, 2011
    jennifxu
    This is the textbook definition of vicious self-satisfaction. Evan Rachel Wood's hilarious deadpan steamrollers over everything she touches. The way she holds herself with such decisive control is impressive at such a young age (I can kind of imagine Dakota Fanning in something o... read moref this role in the future, actually) and she is the one that makes this movie THE best out of all its precedents (Heathers, Cruel Intentions).

    It was necessary for this movie to be independently made because the straight-up racism wouldn't have been approved anywhere else. And the racism and gutsy ventures into taboo territory are what make this movie unforgettable.

    But even though I really, really enjoyed this movie, it lacked the balls to make the full vitriolic monty, opting for the redemption arc instead, with internal turmoil + tears+ all. Come on people, we don't live in the age of the Hays code anymore - not everything has to end for the good.
  • LorenzoVonMatterhorn
    July 8, 2010
    LorenzoVonMatterhorn
    "Evil comes in a school uniform."

    A 15-year-old girl incites chaos among her friends and a media frenzy when she accuses her drama teacher of sexual harassment.

    REVIEW

    The first feature film fr... read moreom director Marcos Siega is off beat as both a comedy and drama. The viewer finds himself in situations of uncomfortable, guilty laughter while at the same time mesmerized by the social topics and excellent acting. The cadence of the dialogue is beyond description and is perfectly displayed at the dinner table with Evan Rachel Woods, her dad played by an over the top James Woods and her new step mom. The family dog plays a big part in the "conversation".

    The heart of the story is the devilishly orchestrated false (or are they?) accusations of sexual harassment against drama teacher Ron Livingston. With so many different agendas at play, we can't help but be drawn into to this story on many levels. Jane Krakowski shows a real Priscilla Presley side as the lesbian, glory-hound reporter. Selma Blair is terrific as Livingston's semi-supportive wife.

    Make no mistake, the real star of the film, and the reason it works is the extraordinary talents of Evan Rachel Wood. Wood takes teen ego and self-centeredness and revenge to a whole new level. As one of the male teacher's states, her character is the devil. Watching how she manipulates her friends, teachers, boys and adults is quite the guilty pleasure. Very few actresses her age could pull off the role of this complex character.
  • ScoopOnline
    December 15, 2009
    ScoopOnline
    The Horror Movies with Nuns are the creepy ones. Where there are Nuns in a Movie, a guarantee of a lot of violence.
  • LitelBluHli
    October 22, 2008
    LitelBluHli
    I loved EVR in here...I love her in just about everything she does. She did awesome playing the evil, manipulative Kimberly.
  • aliceinpunderland
    July 17, 2008
    aliceinpunderland
    Chilling and red-hot. Sometimes I dig ERW's deadpan, but other times not. Kimberly shouldn't have cried at the end. While a great piece of acting from ERW, having the she-devil realize the repercussions of her actions strips away the satire and IRONY!!! and makes it a morality... read more tale.
  • kiriyamakazou
    April 5, 2007
    kiriyamakazou
    Dark, politically incorrect and absolutely hilarious. Had me laughing out loud. A real smart and sexy teen flick, unsuitable for most teenagers. Wood, Woods and Livingstone are incredible as are the supporting cast. The film loses half a star for a slightly confused ending which ... read morebrings the film to a downer. Otherwise it is sharp, observent and deadly seductive.
  • gator681
    October 29, 2006
    gator681
    [font=Century Gothic]In "Pretty Persuasion", Randa(Adi Schnall) is from the Middle East and the new girl in school at the elite Roxbury Academy in Beverly Hills. She is quickly taken under the wing of Kimberly Joyce(Evan Rachel Wood), an aspiring actress, who has just gotten the... read more lead in the schol play of "Diary of Anne Frank", beating out her best friend, Brittany(Elisabeth Harnois). Kimberly is an intelligent but lazy student whose father(James Woods) is a self-made man who is currently on his third wife(trophy division) and putting it gently, a bigot. All three girls are close and hang out together all the time. They also accuse their English and drama teacher, Mr. Anderson(Ron Livingston), of sexually assaulting them.[/font]
    [font=Century Gothic][/font]
    [font=Century Gothic]"Pretty Persuasion" is a dark comedy that manages to get more cynical as it goes along with a devastating conclusion but it does seem very familiar. It desperately wants to be a commentary on the lack of spirituality(everybody is guilty of something in this movie) and the misleading influences in modern society but since when is a woman's ambition one of the seven deadly sins? It is partially redeemed by a demented performance by James Woods and a commanding one by Evan Rachel Wood in the lead.[/font]
  • KLFilmmaker
    December 5, 2010
    KLFilmmaker
    A true dark comedy that never let's up. I wanted to see this for a while and it was worth it.
  • monkeybobbob
    December 19, 2009
    monkeybobbob
    Black comedy/drama with Evan Rachel Wood as a manipulative high school girl who persuades two friends to accuse a male teacher of sexual harrassment. As the film goes on we find out Wood's character is pretty evil and being a bitch. Why, we don't know until the end but its often ... read morefunny and sometimes offensive finding out! With Evan Rachel Wood giving another great performance and also a brilliant supporting role from James Woods. Good script and story. Well acted. Worth a look.

View All Pretty Persuasion Reviews

Critic Reviews

Susan Walker
September 23, 2005
Susan Walker, Toronto Star

Good writing aside, this screenplay contained the elements of two different films. One of them might have been quite persuasive. Full Review

David Gilmour
September 23, 2005
David Gilmour, Globe and Mail

Extremely well written in the fearless way of a smarty pants on a roll in the university cafeteria. Full Review

Joey Guerra
September 2, 2005
Joey Guerra, Houston Chronicle

The screenplay by Skander Halim falters. It's too convoluted and cloudy to have the intended effect. Full Review

Janice Page
September 2, 2005
Janice Page, Boston Globe

Self-conscious, overdone, shallow, and just not up to the level of its star. Full Review

Steven Rea
September 1, 2005
Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer

Leaves no gender, race, class or religion untouched in its scabrous effort to show how cruel humans can be. But it also leaves viewers with no one at all to like, or believe.

Melinda Ennis
September 1, 2005
Melinda Ennis, Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The movie shifts tones as abruptly as a teenager's mood swings. Full Review

James Berardinelli
August 31, 2005
James Berardinelli, ReelViews

Reminds me of a half-hour TV series that has a great pilot episode, then falls apart in subsequent installments. Full Review

Richard Roeper
August 29, 2005
Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper

It's so smug about it and pleased with itself. Full Review

Stephen Hunter
August 26, 2005
Stephen Hunter, Washington Post

Pretty Persuasion considers itself snarky black comedy, one of those self-consciously 'outrageous' artifacts that means to shock even as it amuses. Full Review

Mick LaSalle
August 26, 2005
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

Partly a character study, partly a monster movie (with the girl as the monster) and partly a satire of American values in the modern age, the film is also, alas, only partly successful. Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Cast

More Like This

Click a thumb to vote on that suggestion, or add your own suggestions.

  • Cruel Intentions
    Cruel Intentions (75%)
  • The Rules of Attraction
    The Rules of Attraction (75%)
  • Wild Things
    Wild Things (33%)
  • Heathers
    Heathers (100%)

More Movies like Pretty Persuasion

Facts

No facts approved yet. Be the first

Pretty Persuasion : Watch Free on TV

Pretty Persuasion Trivia

  • Which actor plays the teacher accused of sexual harassment in "Pretty Persuasion"?  Answer »
  • Evan Rachel Wood played a part in which film?  Answer »
  • Which actor/actress played in the following movies: 'Friendly Persuasion' (1956), 'Pretty Poison' (1968) and 'Murder on the Orient Express' (1974)?  Answer »
  • Selma Blair movie quotes- guess which film this comes from: "I'm a little schoolgirl. I don't want Mr. Anderson to spank me!"  Answer »
More Pretty Persuasion Trivia

Movie Quizzes

No quizzes for Pretty Persuasion. Want to create one?

Video Clips

Upload a Video |

All Pretty Persuasion Videos

Meet Other Fans

Add Pretty Persuasion to favorites

Recent News

No recent headlines. Got one?

Recent Lists

Make a List |

View All Lists

Most Popular Skin

SpikesOfFury Skin by SpikesOfFury
18 Profiles
Add to Profile

More Skins