Stephanie Daley (2007)

There's a great deal of hurt and grief in this movie, so get ready with the Prozac. Neither of these two women have particularly edifying lives... One is a young girl accused of murdering her just born baby, and is a target for hatred by all the neighbourhood, the other has just suffered a miscarriage before falling pregnant again, and her husband may or may not be cheating on her. And that's to say nothing of the poor deer. Yup, if you're looking for a feel good time, better rewatch The Sound Of Music. Just leave me out of it.This is the type of film I can really get my teeth into, with complex emotions and tricky predicaments that challenge the audience. Nothing here is easily resolved, and these crisis can either make or break you. Fortunately, the actors are more than up to the task, with the always excellent Tilda Swinton conveying the psyche of a woman on the edge perfectly, and newcomer Amber Tamblyn as an innocent who makes a choice which she's roundly condemned for, but considering her tender years and inexperience... Who are we to judge? Oh, and going by the ending... The American justice system continues to suck. 7/10

I had no idea what to expect from this film, and by the 10 minute mark it won me over.Tilda Swinton and Amber Tamblyn both gave stellar performances.The script was tight, and the back and forth between the Swinton and Tamblyn was spot-on perfect.Tamblyn's big bathroom scene was gripping and intense - a great use of the absence of sound to really hammer a point home.The cinematography left a little to be desired - the HD format still looks like video at times.I can see why Swinton Exec. Produced this: It was a great vehicle for her and I now have a new found respect for her as an artist.I am looking forward to Brougher's next film - hopefully she will get a wider release this time.The editing of the film was eerily effective - I was never once lost or confused, yet I was constantly being moved around time and space.The ending was very satisfying - I don't need to be spoon fed every little thing.Concise, daring script + great performances = "Stephanie Daley"

While Tilda Swinton does another one of her typically marvelous performances, it is Amber Tamblyn who displays the surprisingly great acting chops in this film. I must admit that although I knew of her for her TV role in "Joan of Arcadia" and for the movie, "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants," let's just say that I don't think a 46 year old guy is typically in her target audience. After this role, however, I have no doubt that if she keeps her head on straight, she's the next great actress of her generation. As other commenter's have noted, her scene in the public bathroom on the ski trip is at times uncomfortable because of how devastatingly powerful it is. Tamblyn's performance deserves a Supporting Actress Oscar nomination at the very least, but because this film has barely been seen (even seemingly by the frequent movie-going audience of IMDb!), I doubt it's even on most people's radar.

I have no idea why this film, or many of the other Sundance films for that matter, are rated so low on IMDb. It's a shame, because this is a remarkable film.Amber Tamblyn gives the best performance of her career and deserves an Oscar for her subtle, eerie picture of teenage confusion, fear and malice. Tilda Swinton is also very good as the detective investigating Daley's case, and both Melissa Leo and Timothy Hutton give solid backup.See this movie - it is a frightening and eye-opening portrait of real life. ****/*****