Hick (2011) User Reviews

Poor script elevated by powerful performances.

[Jtbone3141 · 6/10 · 20 May 2012]

I would probably give this about a 5.5, but since that's not available, I'll be nice and say 6. Chloe Moretz is what primarily drove me to see this film at first, especially since I wasn't too familiar with or cared for any of the actors who were to be in it. I might be a bit biased because prior to my viewing, all I'd heard was how AWFUL this film was. But I said screw it, it's Chloe Moretz. I've been on a Chloe binge lately and thought I'd help satisfy it by catching this. A month before its May 11th release, I read the book and was legitimately impressed. The book truly captivates the reader, by giving you a sincere sense of what goes on in Luli's mind, given her experiences with a troubled family and redneck life. Having truly enjoyed the book, I was able to ignore the horrid reviews I'd read and decided I'd go for it anyway.

I'll say this: if it weren't for Chloe Moretz and Eddie Redmayne, this film would truly have been a flop. The script is a bit similar to the book, as pertaining to the volatility of the plot and random introduction of significant characters. But the script fails by giving most of these spontaneously interjected characters ridiculously short screen time (Blake Lively only had about MAYBE 15-20 min. tops?). Characters that had given reasonably substantial meaning to Luli's depicted life on the road, such as Clement, Beau, even Lloyd, had no more than 2-3 minutes screen time apiece, and many of them were given almost no depth whatsoever.

Chloe did a fantastic job of acting, as usual. Her portrayal of a charming, street-smart yet semi-innocent teenage girl is visually and emotionally gripping. Her camera action and dialogue alike are the culmination of what only the most talented, versatile young actress in Hollywood can produce. Blake Lively did a reasonably decent job, and actually showed a surprising amount of character depth. But it is Mr. Redmayne who steals the show.

Having never seen a film with Eddie Redmayne before, I can't say that I had really known what to expect from him. I had read from many sources that he had done a fabulous job in this film, with one such reviewer even claiming he deserved an Oscar nod. Having read the book and been well-acquainted with what to expect from the man playing Eddie Kreezer, the acquaintance-turned-murderer-turned-kidnapper, I was thoroughly and legitimately impressed with his depth. Eddie Redmayne brought a perfect combination of charm and emotional versatility, with the underlying degree of insanity which would turn extreme in the final act of the film. Redmayne's western accent was phenomenal, given his English citizenship, and his charming cowboy persona was spot-on. His mood in scenes would vary from condescending to charming to menacing and so on. I can honestly say that Eddie Redmayne literally made the show for me.

The film as a whole will probably not be up for any (significant) awards, especially given its indie status and almost obsolete promotion. I can't recommend that the average moviegoer check out this film, maybe not even the average Chloe Moretz fan. But if you're up for a road film centered on a young girl who learns to literally pull herself up by her bootstraps and survive countless things, from abandonment to rape to kidnapping and so on, it could be worth your time.

Another mature performance from Chloe

[rjwilliams5150 · 7/10 · 1 December 2012]

The excellent Chloe Grace Moretz plays Luli, a Nebraska teen who decides to head to the bright lights of Las Vegas leaving behind her drunk of a father and a mother who has run off with another man, sadly things don't go to plan when she hitches a ride with Glenda (Blake Lively)

The story and performances are all very good, but yet again the stand out is Chloe, her performances in this and other films such as Kick Ass and Let Me In are astonishing for such a young actress (she's barely 15 now!)The movie is gritty as Luli is exposed to the dark under belly of life, drugs, drunks, low life's out to use (and abuse) her.Chloe is well supported by a good cast, Juliette Lewis, Blake Lively and a cameo from Alec Baldwin and I was astonished at the films poor rating on Rotten Tomatoes of 5% fresh, critics eh!?

A mature adult drama well worth a look.

A different kind of coming of age story. Great acting and depressing story. If you liked "Jolene" watch this one. I say B.

[cosmo_tiger · 6/10 · 14 June 2012]

"You could shake your knuckles at the sky, you could get mad and say I don't got nothing', you could get stuck." Thirteen year old Luli (Moretz) comes from a very messed up family. She spends the night of her 13th birthday at a bar with her parents and when the dad is too drunk to drive home a big fight occurs. When her mother leaves with an insurance man and her dad gets mad and leaves she is left alone. Deciding she needs a fresh start she heads out on her own for Las Vegas. The best way to describe this movie really is to compare it to the movie "Jolene" that came out a few years ago. But I'm guessing most people didn't see it so I will do my best. It sounds strange to say this but this is a coming of age story about a 13 year old girl. Through the people she meets on her way she has new life experiences that involves things she shouldn't learn about for at least 5 more years. Moretz is amazing in this and I just wonder how long it will take until she wins an Oscar. The cast in this is also very good and the movie is very much worth watching all the way to the surprising and bittersweet ending. I liked it. Overall, a very good movie about a not so typical life of a 13 year old. I give it a B.

Creeper flick

[imdb-16753 · 3/10 · 23 March 2020]

Slow-moving and boring story. Cannot determine if characters are drunk, high, stupid, or all of the above. Hard to sit through that for 90 minutes. So many creepers in this film too.

Sordid Mess

[Lebowskidoo · 6/10 · 26 September 2020]

Great performances but the script is a weird mess. Made me feel creepy too since Moretz was only thirteen when this was made, and yet her character points guns at people, tries drugs and is sexually assaulted. I think it's meant to be a comedy too, or maybe it was a drama, I couldn't tell.

Undeserving of its cast

[Rickting · 4/10 · 16 November 2014]

In this road movie, Chloe Grace Moretz plays a teenager running away from her rough home life believing she's destined for a better life. She goes on the road encountering a bunch of horrible characters and various unpleasant things happen. That's sort of it. Hick is a movie few have seen and one which critics seem to loath. The 5% rating on Rotten Tomatoes is a little unfair, but this isn't a great movie. It's a watchable one however, and due to the quality of the acting it took me half the movie to realize it was genuinely pretty poor. Without the acting and direction this would be a cast iron flop. In her most underrated performance, Chloe Grace Moretz is fantastic as the main character, and the rest of the cast are surprisingly good as well. It's also a talented director, as the cinematography and direction is unexpectedly skilled. Derick Martini seems to be an independent director who hasn't got lucky. Unfortunately, he, Chloe Grace Moretz,, Eddie Redmayne and all the others are stuck with a script which doesn't deserve any of them.

Hick is a totally pointless film if there ever was one. Nothing much happens and the objective to get to Las Vegas is forgotten very quickly. Random unpleasant events happen, but there's no message or meaning to it at all. It's mildly well done, but it's unpleasant without purpose. It at times feels like a collage of road movie conventions rendered in the ugliest way imaginable. The script, although it has some inspired lines, is pretty terrible. As there's no real point the film feels slight and forgettable as a result, and there will be few who even know it exists. There is a good scene where the main character talks about her dead brother which is surprisingly moving. The acting is fine all around, and the film proves child actors don't (always) deserve the hate. However, it just doesn't add up to anything or go anywhere and this road movie is like a broken down bus on the highway that isn't going anywhere. By the end, Moretz's protagonist hasn't learned anything. And neither have we.

4/10

Don't be stupid, don't accept lifts off strangers!

[stebird · 7/10 · 14 August 2017]

By no means spectacular, oh no, but for a reason I can't explain I actually quite enjoyed Hick, it was engaging and provocative and hit all the right notes in the right way.

The character Luli (what a name!) played by the sublimely talented Chloe Grace Moretz is the type of character, and the type of person in real life that I seriously detest, what do these young girls expect, I'm running away from home because I want to go to Vegas, but to get there I need to accept lifts off strangers, snort cocaine, rob places, and be privy to murders..., what!? Stay at home, stay at school, make something of yourself, silly brat!

Credit to Chloe Grace for a performance so fine I didn't once get worked up about the characters antics, now that's a sign of a good actor!

Eddie Redmayne as his namesake Eddie, Lord oh Lord what do we have here, the ultimate scumbag with no morals and a creepy, clingy demeanour strong enough to put off even the hardiest of viewers..., again the part was played by a highly talented up and comer, and the emotions he evoked were top class.

Blake Lively usually a pretty girl plays an anything but pretty girl in the form of chain-smoking, coke snorting Glenda who takes our Luli under her irresponsible wing, showing the youngster all the do not's and hard truths about the society they have the misfortune of living in.

The story is predictable hence why I couldn't rate the film any higher, but it wasn't about the story here, it was about characterisation and strong performances by the whole cast made the film enjoyable.

I am so glad Chloe Grace has made herself something in the realms of Hollywood since this film was released, she has all the attributes to be a top star, one of the defining actresses of her generation.

Boring and Pointless

[nbery · 1/10 · 16 October 2014]

I like highbrow drama as much as the next person, but at the 1 hour mark, nothing much had still happened in this movie.

Blake Lively looked confused and not much vested in her role. It's likely she signed on to do this film with expectations, but once it was underway, she lost interest.

I love Chloe and probably only made it to 1 hour because she was interesting to watch, but again, nothing interesting happened.

Eddie Redmayne is a great actor but even he couldn't save this limp "story". Even after the "murder scene", I was bored and ended up turning it off.

What a waste of actors, money, and film.

Great cast, hard to ignore

[MonsieurMS · 7 July 2018]

A gritty and hard nosed coming of age story, this great little film has Hit Girl (Moretz) branching out into new territory, namely, something meaningful. It is not unusual growing up to hit a point when we think we know everything and have it all figured out. Usually, that's the point we look back on later and realize we knew nothing at all. Luli starts out naive, but not realizing it. She thinks she is all grown up, to the point of flaunting some sexuality. She finishes a lot wiser, having had some hard lessons. Baldwin has a nice turn, a bit more than a cameo, but he does a lot with a little. It's the script that really works, though. Nicely paced, written and thought out, it puts it all together.

Great 80s Vibe

[potatometer · 6/10 · 28 January 2023]

This movie wasn't that great, but I think it was better than most of the reviews would suggest. I like films that meander, though. The main character is kind of smart and kind of stupid and has no idea what she's doing. I think that's pretty realistic for a 13 year old runaway. They're not always going to do things that make sense.

I thought the acting was pretty good. I like how it was shot. I like the time period and thought they did a pretty good job depicting rural America in the 80s. How it looked, how it felt. It's little things like the radio that was from the 70s or maybe even the 60s. In lots of period films they stuff the whole thing full of objects from the 80s, but that's not how people live. Particular poor people will have some older stuff around. There were some nice details like that.

Just not very good, pointless & totally forgettable

[matthewreinink · 4/10 · 8 April 2023]

This movie has unfortunately earned the negative reviews it has seen since it's release. I haven't read the source material, but I can guarantee this is one of those instances of it being better than the adaptation. This is not the fault of the actors. Chloe Grace-Moretz makes this film tolerable, which is impressive given her age at the time of filming. She is quite likeable in everything I've seen her in, this is no exception.

The rest of the cast suffers from a bad script and bad casting. Blake Lively seems like a major character in this film, until she disappears for a long period of time completely destroying any momentum her character had in the story. Eddie Redmayne is a capable actor, but I just don't buy him as this manipulative, dangerous, and unstable cowboy. Alec Baldwin appears out of nowhere in the last ten minutes, I get the feeling that his character Beau should have been a bigger part of the story.

The biggest problems with this movie is that the script meanders and the pacing is awful. This is one of those movies where you get forty-five minutes into it, and still aren't sure what it's even about. The movie then races to its conclusion in the final twenty minutes. What did any of the characters learn? How did they grow as people? It is unclear by the end as to how the events of the movie shaped and impacted our main character, making this a complete waste of time and a forgettable boring slog that I will surely forget immediately after completing this review.

A tough growing up for a girl in a story to be

[zaciogeribello · 9/10 · 14 May 2012]

I saw it as a movie that works with a young girl's expectations and anxiety, while she grows fast in a very complicated environment, passing through tough situations. She's in the middle of building a new identity, because of her age, after her family brakes up and abandons her in the middle of nowhere. She is in a completely fragile and vulnerable position, but her mind, heart and soul are trying to find a way for her life, for her personality and for her values. She brings memories and integrity from childhood that now have to face a grown up world, without any help. It's a movie about a story to be, that can't find a solution until it ends.

Characters and plot are searching, they are all in the road and this constant reference to the road makes the extreme beauty of this movie. Hick, or Luli, the girl is not just the main character but she is also the personification of this story to be, girl to be, to find her own answers and life while passing through all the changes of her age and without any base but two very problematic older friends she met. There is a total identity between the girl and the space she lives in an is trying to get out of. The light, the desert sceneries, they make Luli great, strong, and that's why she keeps going on. Because, after all, that's her world and her life, and we see all the action as if those were her own mind working, searching for answers and for a way out of the trouble.

She is completely alone and lost, but she wants to experience this new life, she desires this new world, so it's not only a drama, it's also an adventure. She loves the ones that cannot love her back the way she needs the most, neither the way she wants, but they love her two, while lost in their own worlds. They couldn't find anything better, while she just doesn't give up, and that is a conflict with bad consequences, as the sexual molest. Luli is growing up in a extreme situation and she is determined to patiently pass through everything she'll have to go through, to get over it.

The most simple things of life are not allowed here, there is no access to it. In a situation like that, what would anyone do? That's what this movie is about. Hick represents a distance from the possible world and from the real world. It's a situation her people are indeed struggling so desperately every day to keep their lives. But, somehow, in the edges of this forgotten world it's effectively reality who keeps them prisoners, so this story asks for reflection too.

It's not exactly an imaginary story, elements are very real and we can feel their impact in social differences or in the power relation between men and women, and in the uneven risks a young girl has to take to go on with her life. We can find all this elements in our daily lives. Luli feels deep love and friendship and learns its forms in this very disturbing world. She can't just say no and go back to anything before that. She has this chance repeatedly but she knows she has to move forward, no matter what, it's her only way out.

Chloë Grace Moretz, Eddie Redmayne and Blake Lively hold the story with an intense acting, strong rhythm and gradual tension, until the outcomes. I also liked very much the direction of Derick Martini and the approach of the story. It's not inappropriate at all, if we think that sexuality gains more and more importance every day in our times, in this culture where precocity and desire are so stimulated, and we have Internet. There's got to be a permanent discussion about it. Chloë is a very mature girl for her age, that can be seen in the movie, as an actress she entirely dominates her role and gives it strong traces and emotions. One more great job for her brilliant career. Eddie Redmayne and Blake Lively worked with her in perfect connection and that allowed this movie to be so expressive in a very single story.

Not without flair

[arrowhead12272 · 6/10 · 29 June 2012]

But and there is a big BUT here, it is a far inferior story than Martini's "Lymelife", which I have also recently seen. Lymelife drove me to this movie with very high expectations. Maybe too high? It actually pained me to watch the flaws in Hick directly after viewing "Lymelife". I do not regret discovering this director's work and I do not regret seeing "Hick". I just felt like the (for lack of a better word) "scenarios" in "Hick" were wildly far- fetched. Like "Lymelife", Martini pulls magnificent performances from all of his cast. Juliette Lewis for instance is stuck playing a role that is so not even close to the reality of what a bad mother is but Martini plays to her strengths and. like the rest of the cast, creates more enigmatic characters, which feels like a director straining to "sell" characters that don't work. It's a noble effort, and it shockingly succeeds in most cases. Take Chloe Moretz as Luli. It's her story. The director makes it very clear that it is hers and only hers so you are forced to see other people how she sees them. Which is ambiguous. That's where it works best. Where it fails is when you understand all too clearly who these people are supposed to be as written. Simply, they are poorly written and when push comes to shove, there's only so much a director, cinematographer and great soundtrack can do to save the day. Again, Hick is not without merits, and it is strikingly emotional and beautifully done at times. Especially the work of Eddie and Luli and Glenda. Martini has a gift with actors, but he has to recognize that without the proper writing, he cannot win. I was not shocked to see that this was not his material, but that doesn't get him a "pass". As shown in "Lymelife", he is a writer comparable to a young Kenneth Lonergan and to me that makes the end result of this movie even more unacceptable. I except much better.

Not a comedy

[winfieldannette · 4/10 · 3 October 2020]

The acting was good but the plot was very depressing. This was sad.

Garbage, little direction, no taste

[jimlacy2003 · 2/10 · 27 May 2012]

From the beginning this movie is obviously and interestingly dark. The drunken worthless parents leave their thirteen year old daughter alone to fend for her self with barely a word before they are gone.

She hits the road to experience the world and to apparently make some sense of it all (life).

At first it was interesting. She by happenstance gets a ride from a young temperamental former now partially gimp rodeo rider cowboy that appears to be a bit of a hero.

Then she hooks up with a gal who appears to be absent of any morals at all, et al, to wind up (it's a small world) connected with the cowboy again. The cowboy disgruntled, urinates in the bosses drink. Okay, not exactly a tough guy hero.. He he was such a decent tough guy character as the film portrays why wouldn't he just say "Take this job and shove it!" and walk out the door? He appeared to be some sort of slave by choice. Kind of liked the "hero" guy, but obviously now he isn't, more of a scumbag. What is the point?

More misdirected non-sense and then we come to the scene where the girl almost gets molested (which happen to be by their own doing anyhow) in the pool hall bathroom. The "cowboy" really roughs the would be molester up by repeatedly slamming a toilet stall door on his head. Okay understood, he is a "molester" after all. But then in a fit of unbridled rage gets the strength of Hercules to rip a 50lbs+ sink off the wall and crashes it flat on the floor guys head. Hey it's just a movie, but I'd think you if actually did such a thing you'd actually crush someones head into a broken bloody pulp. What is the point?

I actually make this movie sound more interesting then it is. I completely gave up on this movie at about the halfway point and walked out. Boring, uncouth, distasteful, of a pointless and confused movie.

I read two other reviews here. One that even knocks others for making negative reviews (isn't that against the rules?). Unlike the movie's cowboy, this cowboy is tough enough to stand up against the likes of those and call this movie bad for what it is. To each his own too. You can sit there all day tell me the "emperor's new clothes" are wonderful and I'll factually tell you in your face he's plumb naked (and this movie is horrible) buddy!

Mostly quirky and strange, many viewers will not like it.

[TxMike · 7 October 2012]

I had a Redbox discount code so I picked this DVD for the evening. I like the actors so I figured it would be a good viewing experience.

It was an interesting viewing experience. During the middle it got a bit slow-moving, so I used that neat feature of my player, push a button and advance 15 seconds. Watch 5 seconds, advance 15 seconds. That way 20 minutes of movie goes by in 5 minutes and you don't miss anything!

Chloë Grace Moretz, about 13 or 14 during filming, plays just turning 13 Luli McMullen. Her mom and dad aren't much in the way of parents, and Luli is at the "coming-of" age where she wants a say in how her life turns out. Not too different from a whole host of other such stories on film. (I recently saw 'Mouth to Mouth' with Ellen Page, similar theme.)

So Luli sees something about Las Vegas and she decides that is where she will go, leaving her home in Nebraska, with no idea what she will do once she gets there.

She hitches a ride with Eddie Redmayne as Eddie Kreezer, a limping one-time cowboy. They don't do so well together, she gets let out on the road, but they meet up again in unlikely circumstances. After she gets a ride with grifter Blake Lively as Glenda .

For me the situations and dialog were seldom believable. It just didn't seem like a plausible story.

Well played tragic story which offers hope

[OJT · 7/10 · 27 December 2013]

Hick was full of actors I tend to like, and that's why Iwanted to see it as well. And sure enough I enjoyed very much the acting in this film, which is the main asset of this film.

13 year old Luli is growing up in trashy home without the stability which is recommended a young child. Her birthday present on her 13th birthday, which is held in a bar, is a gun. Luli is sick and tired of her mother's partner changing, and wants to go off to L.A. to find a more prosperous life. She starts off hiking, and soon gets picked up by a seemingly nice young man.

Hick is a road-movie and a coming of age story which offers a nice ride. I tend to like stories which doesn't reveal too much of bad happenings, and I give kudos to the filmmaker here for letting us as viewers do some of the imaginative work. This might though be the reason for others not to like this movie as much as others.

The setting is great, the believability the same, and obviously the director has a great hand with the actors as well. Some would want more from a film like this. I disagree. The acting is flawless by the entire cast, and this is why this will be so recommended by me. A nice story about dreary lives, which still is well worth watching as it delivers hope for a better tomorrow.

Disappointing I'm afraid...

[cat_ranchero · 5/10 · 6 July 2013]

I first have to say that I have no problems with the performances; everyone did a great job in that department. Throughout the film Luli is drawing in a sketch book as she narrates and I really liked the simplicity of the drawings. No, what let it down (IMO) was a poorly put together script. They say it's a bad idea to let the writer of a novel attempt the screenplay and I suspect this is a case in point. It probably works very well as a book, but it really didn't work on the screen in this form. I like the actors fine but I found little to like in the characters. Our main focus, Luli, has very few redeeming features; she was a victim of circumstance all the way through and I found it quite frustrating to watch I'm afraid. Sadly not one I can recommend.

SteelMonster's verdict: NOT RECOMMENDED

My score: 4.9/10

You can find an expanded version of this review on my blog: Thoughts of a SteelMonster.

A good but tough watch.

[calebcunningham41 · 6/10 · 16 June 2013]

Out of all the movies I've seen this far in life, this has been one of the toughest so far. The screenplay was amazing. The casting was perfect. The plot was entertaining. BUT; in the end of it all, it's really hard to watch a young 13 year old girl go through so much pain at just that young age. It's a tough watch because this young girl has an awful life and tries her hardest to get away from it all but on the way to get away she gets caught up in some real adult places and situations that are quite disturbing for such a young girl. Hick is a good film, that is, if you like indie/rebel movies. There's a lot of good things/qualities in this film but, again, it's tough to watch. So because of all that I gave this a 6 out of 10. Keep in mind, this is a very believable story so it may be hard for some people to watch. It is the worth the time to watch but bare in mind that it is rated R for a good reason.

Time You and Movie Talent Can Never Get Back

[armyissue-02808 · 1/10 · 12 November 2017]

All the actors/actresses played their parts well IMO, but the story is horrible. Synopsis; girl has what she thinks is a bad life, runs away, to more crazy and worse life...the big issue is the way the story and directing go about it...it's like they're trying to pull off some cult classic feel like pulp fiction, or kill bill....but this never gets it right...which is horrible for all the actors/tresses because every time they have to convey an emotion or look, they get it right. But the story is a major disjointed pile of trash, poorly directed, and IF this story merited a movie, it was poorly written. Watch Gimme Shelter if you want a movie with "a girl got beat down, but made it out with help" in a sane and thoughtful approach. Hick is a waste of valuable minutes out of a life that you can never reclaim.

A tough tale for girls

[cnycitylady · 7/10 · 1 January 2013]

Hick is a kind of "Coming of Age" story for teen-aged girls. This movie shows just how cruel and kind the world can be. Luli grows tired of her neglectful mother and sets out on an adventure that teaches her this. On the road she comes across a very handsome and charming (and yummy) young man with whom she hitch-hikes before seeing the dangerous side of him. Through myriad events she keeps bumping into him and this sets the story off.

Chloe Grace Moretz plays the lead and never have you seen a teen-aged girl so tantalizing. She embodies the independence, sensual desire and total naivety of the typical teenage girl who longs to be grown (in a very "Lolita" way.) You know that this character is headed for trouble when you see that she doesn't care about the repercussions of her actions/choices. Eddie Redmayne plays the somewhat dangerous cowboy who picks her up and boy does he play it well. You get from the very beginning that he is not to be trusted but you can't help yourself. His charming smile and outwardly sweet and honest nature pulls you in on his side before he flips the switch. Blake Lively gives her usual performance, not really branching out of her comfort zone, you almost feel as if she was type casted. The character that she played was played well but there was no surprise to her.

The story is a true "Hick" tale as it were. And there is nothing truly amazing about it, but it still merits a viewing, possibly multiple ones because the characters are fairly interesting (if not superficially interesting) and the actors are as entertaining as they usually are. The storyline is straightforward with a few shocks and overall is a pretty good film.

Legal Child Porn

[Cinnyaste · 1/10 · 23 May 2013]

Full Disclosure: Watched only the first 50 minutes, the remainder at 4X.

Another example of a disturbing cinematic trend that sexualizes pre or pubescent females. Others of the ilk include 2007's "Hounddog" and, from 2008, "Gardens of the Night." A case is also made to include "Taxi Driver" which at least offers balance.

It's a given Art occasionally pushes or breaks boundaries to further our understanding of society, ourselves. Sometimes Art is nowhere to be found. The latter is the case in "Hick," a perfectly dreadful tome focusing on an abandoned 13 year old adrift in an adult world.

Unlike the harrowing "Gardens of the Night" or "Hounddog," this film has no redeeming value, nothing to be gleaned from the child's journey. Instead, it delivers titillation and shock for its own gratuitous sake.

Chloë Grace Moretz is a lightning rod for controversy. In "Kick Ass," when she was 12, much was made at the time of expletives she spouted, including 'c*nt' (to the counterpoint of "(Banana Splits) Tra La La Song" - a jokey comparison of youthful innocence to gory adult reality). While shocking, her language added to the film and her character.

In "Hick," the sole characteristic left from the male character's personalities is frothing at the mouth. They are simply scumbags with a lustful eye on a 13 year old's ass. They are abetted by Blake Lively, one of the least talented actresses in contemporary cinema. This film does little to tarnish that crown.

Every tear thousands of children disappear as they walk home from school. Every year thousands of women all over the world are sexually harassed and raped. Those tackling this subject are forewarned to approach it with care and no compromise (like "Gardens of the Night"), for a misplaced cue, line of dialogue or swing of sympathy toward the perpetrators paints female victims as "asking for it." This is sadly the case in "Hick," a veritable blueprint for pedophiles.

In tone, execution and conception, "Hick" is a reprehensible piece of trash - unless one gets their jollies watching a 13 year old in very short shorts and skimpy top be fed coke, nearly raped, sexually subjugated and bound on a bed.

Amazing performances

[melnelson · 10/10 · 22 December 2011]

I saw Hick at the Toronto film festival and I enjoyed the story very much. I really related to Chloe Moretz character Luli; I think a lot of women could relate to Luli's journey and how ones innocence could be taken away so quickly. I was simply glued to the screen in front of me. I really believed in Luli and I definitely became attached to her. Yes, Chloe Moretz performance was truly beyond her years, I must admit i was not acquainted with her previous movies and I thought she couldn't possibly be only 13.Two words can describe her performance .. Incredible and believable. 

Add Chloe Moretz's confident portrayal of Luli to the scene stealing performance of Eddie Redmayne;I had no clue who this guy was but he blew my mind, literally, he just commanded attention in every scene and I loved the awkward chemistry between the two actors. I could understand why it could be unsettling to some, but to me it was awesome seeing them react to one another whether vocally or just by their body language and facial expressions...

What I took out of this film is that the story behind 'Hick' is a story that is seldomly told accurately in movies these days. A young girl trying to find her path in this world, going through obstacles, failing, learning, discovering that one always has choices in life. Sometimes you may not make the right ones but you learn. 

In short, I loved the movie, I think people young and old should go see it. The debates that people are having after seeing this film are discussions that should be raised. I will be bringing friends to see this movie as soon as it is out.

'Dark, in a way, true to life, in a way

[silverton-37959 · 7/10 · 7 April 2023]

The screenplay was pretty sharp, at least the dialog, which is my gauge of quality in a screenplay. That's what kept me watch8ing past the 20 minute mark, but the cast is what drew me to this film in the first place.. Chloe Grace was the leading attraction, because the kid can act. Eddie Redmayne (Eddie is the name of his character as well) was a better second to the Luli character than the Glenda character though Blake Lively is a draw all on her own.

The parents, Juliette Lewis, and Anson Mount were believable as bad parents, though I'm not a fan of either one's work overall. In fact, I don't even remember the names of their characters, even though their performances were pretty good.

The subject matter, a 13 year old runaway girl, if handled in a realistic way, is going to be a dark tale. No sugar coating here, more a telling of how some people are predatory when given the opportunity.

Eddie is clearly a psychotic killer. Luli is very precocious, but out of her element with the people she meets. She's still a child in a bad situation. It's a twist to have Eddie turn out to be the one who turned Glenda out. I suspected that Lloyd, (Ray McKinnon) had some kind of hold over Glenda.

That it was Eddie who had the hold on Glenda was a shock. It obviously shocked Luli as well, but not so much that she didn't know what to do. That's as much as I'll say. Just watch and see if it works for you.

Waste of good actors

[phd_travel · 3/10 · 30 August 2015]

Such a waste! There are some good actors in this tale of a 13 year old girl running away from home and meeting all sorts of scum of the earth. Chloe Grace Moretz delivers a master class of acting for young actors. No actress of her generation has such range.

But the story is just so feel bad. Blake Lively tries to act the hooker thing. She isn't that convincing in the skank roles like 'The Town'. Eddie Redmayne is incomprehensible. Couldn't understand most of what he said. He's was totally miscast. What on earth was Alec doing in this movie?

Is is a warning to teens not to run away from home? Maybe then there is some message.

Overall don't bother even if you like the stars.