Not as gripping as it could have been but the essence of Jodi Picoult's story is intact. An interesting aspect of the novel was the graphic novel intersecting each chapter, which explores the father's psyche. His conflicted feelings for wife and daughter are revealed vicariously through his illustrations and story-telling. His wife's obsession with Dante's Inferno, the class she teaches at university, becomes his obsession, too, since he explores the same theme through his comic book characters. Had this been a big budget film with animation telling this aspect of the story, it would have been visually intriguing! The father's sensitivity and artistic bent is an essential part of the central conflict and does not come across convincingly in this TV movie. On a superficial level, this film tells a story of a family in trauma, but the actors are not compelling enough to ring true. Any husband and wife who have struggled with raising a teenage child will probably agree this is a weak portrayal...but a young audience might identify with the teen angst of Trixie, the troubled young victim.
12 Reviews
Untrue to book, but better than the average lifetime movie.
kateness33453 July 2008
Though the movie was better than most of the films produced by lifetime, I don't believe it did the original novel by Jodi Picoult justice. The entire ending of the book is left out and discarded arguably that's where the turning point is when Trixie comes to terms with what has happened to her. Also, more emphasis as the father as a comic book author is included in the book, which adds a more dynamic element to the book, is noticeably absent from the movie. However, a great performance by Jamie Johnston (known best from his role as "Peter" in the teen Degrassi) makes up for plot flaws. The movie kept my attention, and had it not been associated with "The Tenth Circle," I believe it would of been perceived better as a movie. Audiences put high expectations on movies based on books, and this one didn't live up to the standards most Picoult readers expected.
Frozen in Bleak House!
lavatch21 December 2020
Warning: Spoilers
"Jodi Picoult's The Tenth Circle" opens with lecturer Laura Stone asking her literature class to freeze in positions as she describes the frozen souls in hell in Dante's ninth circle of "Inferno." But the tenth circle where the weather is even colder is reserved for the Stone family, including Laura, her husband Daniel, and the daughter Trixie.
Trixie was named by the Stones after Dante's beloved Beatrice, the inspiration for "The Divine Comedy" and his personal tour guide into paradise. But for the Stones, the situation becomes bleaker and bleaker as the drama progresses. Instead of Dante's Inferno, another literary reference for the Stones is Charles Dickens's Bleak House.
The film never makes entirely clear the circumstances of the alleged assault on Trixie based on her allegations against Jason Underhill. The filmmakers chose to portray Jason very sympathetically. It was especially the use of the drug that completely impaired Trixie's memory that led to the confusion. This was a drug that she purchased and used of her own volition, and it keeps the situation cloudy both in her mind and the minds of the audience.
In contrast to Jason, the Stone family members become less and less sympathetic as the film proceeds. Daniel has a hair-trigger temper and nearly beats Jason to a pulp. Laura hid from her family the affair she was having with the dashing artist Seth. And her absence from being at home for her daughter at a critical moment will haunt her forever.
One of the most interesting characters in the film is the savvy detective Mike Bartholomy, who had lost his own daughter to a drug overdose. The detective retains his objectivity even the in the face of a family telling lie after lie that culminates in the fateful moment on the Prospect Street Bridge with a senseless death that will haunt a family forever in their Bleak House.
Trixie was named by the Stones after Dante's beloved Beatrice, the inspiration for "The Divine Comedy" and his personal tour guide into paradise. But for the Stones, the situation becomes bleaker and bleaker as the drama progresses. Instead of Dante's Inferno, another literary reference for the Stones is Charles Dickens's Bleak House.
The film never makes entirely clear the circumstances of the alleged assault on Trixie based on her allegations against Jason Underhill. The filmmakers chose to portray Jason very sympathetically. It was especially the use of the drug that completely impaired Trixie's memory that led to the confusion. This was a drug that she purchased and used of her own volition, and it keeps the situation cloudy both in her mind and the minds of the audience.
In contrast to Jason, the Stone family members become less and less sympathetic as the film proceeds. Daniel has a hair-trigger temper and nearly beats Jason to a pulp. Laura hid from her family the affair she was having with the dashing artist Seth. And her absence from being at home for her daughter at a critical moment will haunt her forever.
One of the most interesting characters in the film is the savvy detective Mike Bartholomy, who had lost his own daughter to a drug overdose. The detective retains his objectivity even the in the face of a family telling lie after lie that culminates in the fateful moment on the Prospect Street Bridge with a senseless death that will haunt a family forever in their Bleak House.
it is or it is not another "accused"?
mmunier13 October 2016
Did not manage to count the circles... but watched this on the little box as a lunch "digestif"! Pretty boring for most of the story with characters having their own agenda. Romeo did not really care about Juliette, well may be he did! Juliette folks had their own motivation to do what they thought they should do. And Juliette mixed things a little. But it brightens a little towards the last bit. However by then most feel like quitting and happy to reach the ending whatever it might be... I'll give it another circle! Oh BTW, I did not read the book. Wow, I feel like copy all this and paste it here to get enough lines for submission; I really did not want to say more about it as I felt I said already too much - But rules are rules!
Frozen in Time
sol-kay16 April 2011
Warning: Spoilers
***SPOILERS*** Movie version of Jodi Picoult's 2006 novel "The Tenth Circle" has 15 year old Trixi Stone, Brittany Robertson, in attempting to get beck her dreamboat boyfriend, the handsomest boy at Bethel High school, Jason Underhill, Jamie Johnson, ends up getting raped by him! Or so Trixie in her drug confused mind thinks! Jason had dropped Trixi for what he feels is the future Miss America Jessica Rinchley, Leah Fassett, that has the heart broken and depressed young girl on the verge of committing suicide. At a wild drug and beer party that Jason is attending Trixi tries to get him jealous by hitting on Jason's friend Moss Milton, Geordie Brown, that ends up with her left unconscious and feeling that she's been raped. As it turns out,in Trixi's mind, it's non-other then Jason who's accused of raping Trixi and he's forced to suffer the consequences of that horrendous act.
With his basketball collage scholarship canceled and Jessica forced by her parents to dump him the young man ends up getting good and drunk and attempting to force Trixi to tell he truth about what he did or didn't to to her that fateful night at the drug & beer party! This has Trixi's outraged father Daniel, Ron Eldard, grab Jason on the street and really give him a work over having Jason, a track and field star in high school, run so fast that he by being too drunk to see straight hit a poll and almost crack his skull open!
It's later when Jason is found dead from a fall off the Prospect Street bridge that Daniel is arrested and charged in his murder in that the entire one-sided fight with Jason was caught on a cellphone camera by a person at the scene! It's later when Trixi's mom high school teacher Laura Stone, Kelly Preston, finds out that the local Bethel High School drug dealer Seth, Jon Cor, supplied her with the date drug that knocked her out that she suddenly gets cold feet in trying to link Jason to her daughter's rape! It's Seth a student of Laura's at Bethel High who's been having a hot heavy and drunken affair with her and that wouldn't look too good to not only the school's principle but her meek and home bound, he works as a cartoonist, husband Daniel. The mysterious about his past Daniel has kept secret his history of violence back in his home state of Alaska where he was convicted of manslaughter of his best friend as well as having a reputation of being the town bully!
Meanwhile back at Bethel High life has turned into a living hell for Trixi with her being accused of faking her being raped, no seaman was found on her or her clothes, by Jason and driving him to kill himself. It's when Seth in taking a chance by seeing Laura at her home explained to her that he was the person who sold her the drugs that lead to Trixi getting "raped" that she panicked in trying to keep a lid on it!
****SPOILERS**** This all lead to the movie's shocking conclusion that cold December night on the Prospect Street bridge where a drunk and despondent Jason ended it all but only with the help of the only person who was there for him when he needed someone but didn't have the psychical strength to save him!
With his basketball collage scholarship canceled and Jessica forced by her parents to dump him the young man ends up getting good and drunk and attempting to force Trixi to tell he truth about what he did or didn't to to her that fateful night at the drug & beer party! This has Trixi's outraged father Daniel, Ron Eldard, grab Jason on the street and really give him a work over having Jason, a track and field star in high school, run so fast that he by being too drunk to see straight hit a poll and almost crack his skull open!
It's later when Jason is found dead from a fall off the Prospect Street bridge that Daniel is arrested and charged in his murder in that the entire one-sided fight with Jason was caught on a cellphone camera by a person at the scene! It's later when Trixi's mom high school teacher Laura Stone, Kelly Preston, finds out that the local Bethel High School drug dealer Seth, Jon Cor, supplied her with the date drug that knocked her out that she suddenly gets cold feet in trying to link Jason to her daughter's rape! It's Seth a student of Laura's at Bethel High who's been having a hot heavy and drunken affair with her and that wouldn't look too good to not only the school's principle but her meek and home bound, he works as a cartoonist, husband Daniel. The mysterious about his past Daniel has kept secret his history of violence back in his home state of Alaska where he was convicted of manslaughter of his best friend as well as having a reputation of being the town bully!
Meanwhile back at Bethel High life has turned into a living hell for Trixi with her being accused of faking her being raped, no seaman was found on her or her clothes, by Jason and driving him to kill himself. It's when Seth in taking a chance by seeing Laura at her home explained to her that he was the person who sold her the drugs that lead to Trixi getting "raped" that she panicked in trying to keep a lid on it!
****SPOILERS**** This all lead to the movie's shocking conclusion that cold December night on the Prospect Street bridge where a drunk and despondent Jason ended it all but only with the help of the only person who was there for him when he needed someone but didn't have the psychical strength to save him!
Exactly Like Every Other Lifetime Movie Ever Made
jbla28 June 2008
I first read The Tenth Circle by Jodi Picoult a few years ago and really enjoyed it and have since read it several more times. It is a very good story with really interesting twists and very fascinating and complex characters. I was a more than a little disappointed to discover that they were making it into a Lifetime TV movie.
And just like I expected, despite the good story that certainly has the potential to be a solid movie, it was transformed into a cheesy and poorly acted Lifetime flick. As you watch, you feel indifferent towards the characters and bored with the clichéd plot. Amazing how this great book could be turned into yet another run-of-the-mill Lifetime movie with the same worn storyline and boring characters.
And just like I expected, despite the good story that certainly has the potential to be a solid movie, it was transformed into a cheesy and poorly acted Lifetime flick. As you watch, you feel indifferent towards the characters and bored with the clichéd plot. Amazing how this great book could be turned into yet another run-of-the-mill Lifetime movie with the same worn storyline and boring characters.
Not at all impressed with the version
SusanSp31 December 2008
I just finished watching the "Tenth Circle" on lifetime. I wanted to enjoy the movie, truly I did. But, I did not like it at all. The characters were not at all developed. Daniel looks way too feminine to be the strong silent father who hides a secret. Trixie comes off as much more mature than 15 and in completely unconvincing in her role as a victim or confused and angst teenager. Why couldn't they make her the red head as was in the book? Why a blond bimbo looking girl? Kelly Preston as Laura was flat and unmoving. I felt nothing for her or her position. When she was telling her version of events - I yawned.
While I know it is tough to transform a good book into a good movie, it seems little effort, if any was put into this movie. The movie makes many changes, that initially one would not think would make a difference, but, they truly do. Subtle yet important differences, that in the end make the difference between a good story and a blah waste of two hours.
This movie could have been completed in 15 minutes.
What a waste of talent.
While I know it is tough to transform a good book into a good movie, it seems little effort, if any was put into this movie. The movie makes many changes, that initially one would not think would make a difference, but, they truly do. Subtle yet important differences, that in the end make the difference between a good story and a blah waste of two hours.
This movie could have been completed in 15 minutes.
What a waste of talent.
Pathetic
EmDee-427-46934424 February 2014
Warning: Spoilers
What are viewers expected to feel while watching this movie?
Glad that the girl who falsely accused a boy of raping her and drove him to suicide got to live? Didn't feel it.
Glad that there "must be" a tenth circle of hell for her to go to after hurting her family by lying to them and then going back to life?
Glad that there's that circle of hell for her after she drove her beloved boyfriend to suicide based on lies and manipulation? Glad that the boyfriend died after he was "punished" for dumping that prize of a girlfriend Trixi? (nice name for someone so tricky and manipulative BTW)
Sorry for the wife because she has a boring marriage and a house husband? Glad for her that she is breaking school rules by sleeping with her drug dealing student to make herself feel better about said boring marriage? Glad that she covered up for her daughters lies?
Glad for her that her pesky daughter is out of her hair while she's doing what she wants?
Glad that they can all go back to biding their time on earth before arriving at the tenth circle of theirs?
I didn't feel any of that. I was waiting for them all to be hit by a bus while the boyfriend and school full of kids stood laughing at them. Films like this make it hard for real victims of rape to be believed. It also provides teasing fodder for other students at schools where these rapes happen.
Glad that the girl who falsely accused a boy of raping her and drove him to suicide got to live? Didn't feel it.
Glad that there "must be" a tenth circle of hell for her to go to after hurting her family by lying to them and then going back to life?
Glad that there's that circle of hell for her after she drove her beloved boyfriend to suicide based on lies and manipulation? Glad that the boyfriend died after he was "punished" for dumping that prize of a girlfriend Trixi? (nice name for someone so tricky and manipulative BTW)
Sorry for the wife because she has a boring marriage and a house husband? Glad for her that she is breaking school rules by sleeping with her drug dealing student to make herself feel better about said boring marriage? Glad that she covered up for her daughters lies?
Glad for her that her pesky daughter is out of her hair while she's doing what she wants?
Glad that they can all go back to biding their time on earth before arriving at the tenth circle of theirs?
I didn't feel any of that. I was waiting for them all to be hit by a bus while the boyfriend and school full of kids stood laughing at them. Films like this make it hard for real victims of rape to be believed. It also provides teasing fodder for other students at schools where these rapes happen.
I like the book and movie
kansaschick_144 July 2008
Warning: Spoilers
OK Im not really that good with being smart and all that. So this comment probably won't help you one bit!!! But I love the book. I saw the movie and I loved it! And thats how I found about the book in the first place. I just started reading the book and Im sorry if Im repeating myself. But I love both the book and the movie. When I get done reading the book then I'll put away better comment. But I just was trying to get a point out. I think both of them are wonderful. Now I just have to babble because this isn't long enough. But for whoever reads this....Please tell me the difference between the book and movie...But please don't spoil the ending!!!!
Lifetime movie
SnoopyStyle24 April 2017
Laura Stone (Kelly Preston) is a college literature professor sleeping with one of her students. Daniel Stone (Ron Eldard) is a stay-at-home comic book illustrator. Their high school daughter Trixie (Britt Robertson) gets dumped by her boyfriend Jason Underhill. At a drunken party, she reconnects with him. She claims rape but nobody at school believes her. Police detective Mike Bartholomy (Michael Riley) investigates. The case turns. One night, a drunken Jason falls to his death. Trixie suspects her father due to a previous incident.
This is a Lifetime movie. There may be some ambitions but I don't really like anybody or find the situation compelling. Jason needs to be more of a douche. Trixie is too desperate after getting dumped. The mysterious death comes to an unsatisfying resolution. I can stomach a standard Lifetime movie but this is somehow worst.
This is a Lifetime movie. There may be some ambitions but I don't really like anybody or find the situation compelling. Jason needs to be more of a douche. Trixie is too desperate after getting dumped. The mysterious death comes to an unsatisfying resolution. I can stomach a standard Lifetime movie but this is somehow worst.
A Large Disappointment
AngelHonesty22 October 2023
Within the first fifteen minutes I knew how it was going to end. All the "secrets" of the film were foretold, because it's very cliché.
First off the camera filming is horrible. There's a shake to the camera giving it very low-budget vibes. The story is boring because its over simplified and you already know how it's going to end.
The biggest draw to the movie would be the cast. I really like Britt Robertson and Kelly Preston but not even their great ability to act could save this movie. The script was so bad along side the plot that everything fell short.
The movie is boring and predictable stacked upon clichés.
First off the camera filming is horrible. There's a shake to the camera giving it very low-budget vibes. The story is boring because its over simplified and you already know how it's going to end.
The biggest draw to the movie would be the cast. I really like Britt Robertson and Kelly Preston but not even their great ability to act could save this movie. The script was so bad along side the plot that everything fell short.
The movie is boring and predictable stacked upon clichés.
Don't waste your time
andrewiahodgson16 July 2019
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