Dare (film)
| Dare | |
|---|---|
 Promotional film poster | |
| Directed by | Adam Salky[1] |
| Produced by |
Jason Orans Mary Jane Skalski |
| Written by | David Brind |
| Starring |
Emmy Rossum Zach Gilford Ashley Springer and Sandra Bernhard |
| Cinematography | Michael Fimognari |
| Distributed by | Image Entertainment |
Release date |
|
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Dare is a 2009 indie romantic drama film directed by Adam Salky.[1] It is written by David Brind.[1] The movie is based on Salky's 2005 short film which was met with acclaim at film festivals. The feature-length version, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, stars Emmy Rossum in a story about how "three very different teenagers discover that, even in the safe world of a suburban prep school, no one is who she or he appears to be." IMDB also provides a different teaser synopsis: "The good girl, the outsider and the bad boy…like you’ve never seen them before." The film has been described as a cross between Pretty in Pink and Cruel Intentions.
Cast
- Emmy Rossum[1] as Alexa Walker
- Zach Gilford as Johnny Drake
- Ashley Springer as Ben Berger
- Ana Gasteyer as Ruth Berger
- Rooney Mara as Courtney
- Sandra Bernhard as Dr. Serena Mohr
- Alan Cumming as Grant Matson
- Cady Huffman as Dr. Kolton
- Wayne Pyle as Alan Berger
- Brianne Berkson as Gabby
- Chris Riggi as Josh
- Brea Bee as Mel Drake
- Lucy McMichael as Ms. Davis
- Luka Apt as a student
Reception
Dare was listed as one of the "best films of 2009" in Newsday by movie critic Rafer Guzman. He wrote, "This little-seen movie stars Ashley Springer, Emmy Rossum and Zach Gilford - all delivering top-notch performances - as three high-schoolers whose wobbly psyches collide. One of the smartest and most honest teen movies in years."[2]
A.O. Scott of The New York Times wrote, "Dare, written by David Brind, directed by Adam Salky and based on their short film of the same title, stakes out familiar territory and, true to its name, strikes out in some risky new directions. This high school semi-romance, which blends comic and tearful moods, is at once more provocative and more contemplative than most of its big-screen counterparts."[3]
James Greenberg of The Hollywood Reporter wrote, "Dare, a smart and well-observed entry in the genre, is a cut above the usual hijinks. What elevates Dare above the usual high school fare is the quality of the writing by David Brind, crisp direction by Adam Salky and a uniformly attractive and compelling cast led by the delightful Emmy Rossum"[4]
Gerrick Kennedy of The Los Angeles Times wrote, "With its dark, hyper-sexualization of teens, it offers an engrossing if not soap opera-esque tale of self-discovery."[5]
Stina Chyn of Film Threat gave Dare four stars, writing, "What might otherwise be an exercise in ordinary adolescent stories turns powerfully intimate through the wonderful performances that Salky coaxes out from the cast."[6]
Owen Gleiberman of Entertainment Weekly wrote, "Dare, a sweetly sexed-up high school triangle movie, is like a John Hughes comedy trying to pass itself off as transgressive" and gave it a C+ rating.[7]
Emmy Rossum won the Young Hollywood Award at the Savannah Film Festival, because of her acting performance in Dare.[8]
References
- 1 2 3 4 Bartyzel, Monika (2008-06-04). "Emmy Rossum Accepts the 'Dare'". Cinematical. Retrieved 2008-06-09.
- ↑ Guzman, Rafer (December 23, 2009). "2009's best in movies, music, TV and theater". Newsday. Retrieved April 1, 2012.
- ↑ Scott, A.O. (November 12, 2009). "Movie review - Dare". Newsday. Retrieved April 1, 2012.
- ↑ Greenberg, James (January 26, 2009). "Movie review - Dare". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved April 1, 2012.
- ↑ Gerrick, Kennedy (November 13, 2009). "Movie review - Dare". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 1, 2012.
- ↑ Chyn, Stina (March 11, 2010). "Movie review - Dare". Film Threat. Archived from the original on May 21, 2013. Retrieved April 1, 2012.
- ↑ Gleiberman, Owen (November 11, 2009). "Movie review - Dare". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved December 22, 2011.
- ↑ "Savannah Film Festival Presents Emmy Rossum With the Young Hollywood Award Nov. 2". Retrieved December 22, 2011.