Movie review – “Hard Candy” (2006) **1/2

Great subject matter, two terrific lead performances (particularly from Ellen Page – if this part didn’t work the whole thing would have sunk but she’s brilliant), and the first half hour flies right by. It’s interestingly directed, with sparse art design, tricky camera work and great acting and sense of menace. But once the tables are turned it runs out of story and just becomes about Page tormenting the guy – which is repetitive (torture, escape, recapture, torture). It badly needs a third act twist, like the arrival of Patrick Wilson’s accomplice or something (the way Death and the Maiden had Sigourney Weaver's husband come back). You think it’s going to be Sandra Oh but she just drops in and heads out. You could turn this into a play. It has a Japanese "feel" with it's talk of teen sexuality and this crazy school girl.