Twilight (Dir: Catherine Hardwicke)

There's a great deal to like in the new angsty vampire film Twilight. Star Kristen Stewart playing Bella gives the movie weight and imbues her complicated character with real longing. She has fallen in love with the enigmatic Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson) who avoids both sunlight and commitment. As with her role in Into the Wild, Stewart plays a young woman coming of age and eager to consummate her affection. Director Hardwicke and Stewart play these scenes seriously and with tongue nowhere near cheek. It's a movie that respects its target audience and their intelligence. Hardwicke--who also directed the excellent cautionary tale Thirteen--let's her teens be and gets great performances out of all of them.

Except in the early going with Pattinson who sulks with such intense affect that his screen presences evokes the laughable Udo Kier in Blood for Dracula. He's far better once he has revealed himself to Bella and loosens up. Pattinson's affect and the film's horror/action scenes stifle an otherwise intriguing drama. The vampire baseball interlude is excruciating. Hardwicke is excellent at directing people, but believable monsters she has not figured out. I suspect this might be some of the fault of the source novel by Stephanie Meyer, as well.

If the viewer is able to strip away the vampire intra-clan rumbles, there is an effective tale at the core. Most vampire tales imagine the bloodsucker as the libido unbound. Twilight also takes this route, but with the added complexity of teen sexuality and the first sexual experience. The film understands the anxieties of teens in regards to these issues and respects them. And the final moments of the film are satisfyingly uncomfortable as Bella articulates a dangerous plan for her future. A very good film dragged down by silly action scenes. But I am hooked and am looking forward to seeing what happens next.