Springbreakers (2012)

 To my surprise I thought 'Springbreakers' was good actually. 'Springbreakers' is probably the biggest financial hit ($30 Million box office off a $5 million budget) for Harmony Korine, who I guess you'd call an "art" director. With Films like 'Gummo' and 'Trash Humpers' (yes it is what it sounds like) to his credit, Korine is one of those film makers who seems to set out to offend, like a less polished Lars Von Trier. 

'Springbreakers' is about four collage girls who go on spring break in Florida and become mixed up with a local small time gangster/ rapper named 'Alien' (pronounced A-Lean) played by James Franco, who is the best thing in this film with his committedly weird performance. Though the selling point seems to be seeing former Disney stars Vanessa Hudgens and Selena Gomez in bikini's while drinking and doing drugs. They are joined by Ashely Benson and Korine's wife Rachel. 

To my reading the film is about decadent youth culture and the seduction of evil, though in praise or condemnation of these things in uncertain, the film is more observational then editorial, though things do go way over the top. What worked for me most about this film is seeing the different levels to which the characters were willing to go, where they drew the line, as it's not all at the same place. 

The Gomez character considers herself a committed Christian and there is a behavioral and ethical line she is willing to flirt with but not cross. She wants this trip to be something it doesn't turn out being and the mental gymnastics and denial she goes through before breaking is kind of endearing. Even the shallowness and amorality of the Benson and Hudgens characters are softened some by the idea that this is just what many vain and attractive young women are like at that age, that its a rebellion, a part of their growing up, and that likely they would eventually grow out of much of it. Rachel's character is somewhere in the middle. I'd be frankly curious to see Korine revisit these characters around the 10 year mark. 

Doubtless the mixture of low expectations and morbid curiosity I came into the film with meant it wouldn't have taken much for this film to surprise me. However it did surprise me, and while I think the director was kind of playing both sides, he ultimately produced an interesting document, though what is says is largely in the eye of the beholder. ***