Crazy/Beautiful ** (2001, Kirsten Dunst, Jay Hernandez, Bruce Davison) – Classic Movie Review 8617

Director John Stockwell’s 2001 romantic drama Crazy/Beautiful stars Kirsten Dunst as spoilt rich high-school girl Nicole Oakley, who has a stormy relationship with a poor Latino lad Carlos Nuñez (Jay Hernandez) from the wrong side of town.

Dunst is classy in a well-meaning, nicely filmed but shakily scripted drama, written by Phil Hay and Matt Manfredi. This efficient tear-jerking teen film has its share of scenes of high emotion, powerful drama and notable acting, though it is burdened with clichés and weak writing.

With an improbable role to play, Bruce Davison gets the raw end of the deal as Dunst’s US Congressman dad, who is upset by his daughter’s capers and tries to stop Hernandez having a romance with his suicidal daughter.

Also in the cast are Herman Osorio, Miguel Castro, Tommy De La Cruz, Rolando Molina, Soledad St Hilaire, Lucinda Jenney and Taryn Manning.

It is produced by Harry J Ufland, The Last Temptation of Christ producer, who died in March 2018 at 81.

Phil Hay and Matt Manfredi are also writers on the 2018 Destroyer.

Crazy/Beautiful is directed by John Stockwell, runs 95 minutes, is made by At 17 Films, Touchstone, Ufland and Walt Disney, is released by Buena Vista, is written by Phil Hay and Matt Manfredi, is shot by Shane Hurlbut, is produced by Rachel Pfeiffer, Harry J Ufland and Mary Jane Ufland, is scored by Paul Haslinger and is designed by Maia Javan.

© Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 8617

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Jay Hernandez.