• Reviews

• All
• Music
• DVDs
• Live
• Cinema
• TV
• Books
• Comic Books
• Video Games

Sep 23, 2013 Web Exclusive By John Oursler

In what comes as the most unexpectedly inspired casting of 2013, Harmony Korine’s Spring Breakers uses Disney stars Selena Gomez and Vanessa Hudgens as surrogates for the youthful American predicament: I’m tempted by the fruit even though it’s ultimately indigestible. Korine crafts an engrossing allegory in which kaleidoscopic color and impressionistic editing function as stand-ins for the artificiality of a generation’s hopes. The film follows the spring-break-as-American-dream metaphor to concurrently explain and critique the perils of modern youth, and while it might seem like a logical analogy it’s never quite been done in such a forward-thinking way. A group of four college females of average-to-blue collar demographic backgrounds dream of participating with the American way in the most normalized capacity at their immediate disposal, and to do so go to rather extreme lengths. Once they’ve gotten there, things, obviously aren’t as they expected, as they experience people and places that put them in morally corrupt situations. Part of what makes this such an exciting departure for Korine is that it continues his demographic interest and, for the first time, incorporates a more engaging visual style. The aesthetic proves complementary, and portends good things for a heretofore niche filmmaker.

The newly released blu-ray contains a feast of special features, including a trio of Vice clips that expound upon the genesis of the film, a “making of” feature, deleted scenes, and a look at the film’s intriguing use of music. (www.springbreakersmovie.com)

Author rating: 7/10