PRETTY PERSUASION (2005) ** Evan Rachel Wood, Ron Livingston, James Woods, Jane Krakowski, Elisabeth Harnois, Selma Blair, Danny Comden, Stark Sands, Jaime King, Adi Schnall. "Heathers" meets "Election" by way of "To Die For" could've been the pitch for this under whelming black comedy of societies' ills, bigotry and sexual harassment that depicts rich bitch Wood (seemingly miscast but does the best she can with the lame material served her) who decides to frame a not-so-innocent teacher (Livingston) with a blatantly untrue account of him making inappropriate moves on herself and two other girlfriends all just to jump-start a career as an actress (i.e. a media-sensation insta-celeb overnight) that has its consequences. The hamstrung screenplay by Skander Halim tries way too hard to offend and send-up political correctness with wrong-headed crassness and just plain poor writing. Woods is slightly amusing as a dye-in-the-wool anti-Semite who unwinds by espousing his thoughts at the drop of a hat. (Dir: Marcos Siega)
Review of Pretty Persuasion
