Customer Reviews

According to Greta [Blu-ray]

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(17)
2 star:		(8)
1 star:		(9)

 

 

Just saw this film at its Santa Monica, California, premiere. It is truly a shame that the movie is not being distributed in theatres and instead is going direct to DVD & Blu-Ray. I hope the DVD contains some extras, especially a commentary, all of which were sadly lacking on the DVDs for Hilary Duff's earlier small, independent films of "War, Inc." and "What Goes Up."

For those who have doubted Hilary Duff's dramatic talent up until now, "According to Greta" should put those fears to rest. Duff turns in an unquestionably strong performance of a complicated character that will come as a surprise to those primarily familiar with her more tween/teen-oriented work such as the "Lizzie McGuire" TV series, "A Cinderella Story," and the "Cheaper by the Dozen" films. What the audience has borne witness to here is her genuine maturity as an actress and the possible paradigm shift in her career to more serious dramatic fare in the future.

Duff plays the title character of Greta, a 17 year old girl who has been "exiled" to her grandparents' home in New Jersey for the summer, given her mother's own inability to control her daughter and preference for saving her troubled marriage. Greta has decided to end her life once she turns 18, currently reflecting upon which method of death would be most desirable. Simultaneously, she has created a "bucket list" of sorts of things to experience in the final year of her life. The news of Greta's plans come as a surprise to her grandparents, especially her grandmother, played by veteran actress Ellen Burstyn. The Golden Globe- and Oscar-nominated Burstyn turns in a fine performance as Greta's "Grammy" Katherine, who is determined to give her granddaughter structure and discipline, and perhaps even aide in finding value in life.

Another surprise performance is given by actor Evan Ross, who plays Julie, a restaurant line cook with a shady past, who is committed to living as responsible and ethical a life as possible. Next to Duff's substantive performance, Ross' own poised and balanced performance will likely be a highlight of the film for viewers. In the movie, Greta and Julie become co-workers and eventually strike up a romance, one that comes off naturally, even in scenes of interpersonal character unease. But Greta's hardened attitude about life, her sharp hurtful words, and manipulative actions towards Julie, as well as her grandparents, threaten to drive those closest to Greta away, even as they all labor to help her see life's gifts.

Standing behind inter-relational tensions, is a haunting secret from the past. Will the recognition of this painful experience finally push Greta to take her life? Or can her grandparents and Julie -- or more pointedly, can she herself -- help transform her great pains into a realization for the sanctity of life? Check out the movie and find out for yourself.

It is inevitable that every child star tries to grow up (or drift into obscurity), but those transitions tend to be a rocky road and as awkward as the teen years are in general before they can find their footing, if at all. Hilary Duff has jumped head first into more grown up roles like performing in threesomes on Gossip Girl and an over sexualized pop star in War Inc. Now for According to Greta, Duff unleashes her dark side. Is the world ready for a suicidal Lizzie McGuire? Well it is here ready or not.

For According to Greta, Duff plays your typical rebellious teen that gets shipped to the Jersey Shore to live with her grandparents for the summer. Duff is quick to tell them of her diary where she keeps track of ways to die in. Naturally her straight laced grandmother, Ellen Burstyn (W.) is not amused. Luckily her grandfather is more understanding; same goes for the boy from the other side of the tracks who is trying to get his life straighten out.

Duff does go over the top at times in her characterization of a moody teen, but Burstyn ground the film and the more you learn about the family and its back-story, the more interesting the film gets. But there are too many dull moments in between to keep me interested all the way through.

This movie review is part of my obligation to Amazon for accepting to be a member of the Vine program, a club of selected customers that provide opinions about "new and pre-released items." We enter this club by accepting free copies of products but we promise in return to submit an opinion.

Greta is a welcome addition to our movie collection. The plot reveals a young woman who is growing up right before our very eyes, going from a teenager filled with anger and issues of abandonment, to a rebellious girl sent to spend a summer with her grandparents, to a young woman attempting to become independent through a job, where she meets a young man that has had very difficult times and clashes with what he perceives as a person who "could be lots of fun, passionate, but who could get him into trouble again."

The movie started slow, one has to ponder as to where the movie is taking us and soon we find ourselves in the middle of a powerful story of transformation.

Hillary Duff's performance as this 17 year old who is overcoming parental abandonment issues while she figures out who she is and who she wants to be is magnificent. The grandparents, played by Ellen Burstyn and Michael Murphy are pivotal to her growth, presenting the generational friction necessary for Greta to create a vision for the future.

Without attempting to give the plot away, if you enjoy transformational movies that reveal key elements of personal growth, then this movie is excellent. If you have teenagers in your family, share the experience for them to gain from the lessons learned from this rather dysfunctional family.

Don't miss it!

Thoughts of suicide are not to be taken lightly, and Hillary Duff did a great job portraying a suicical teen and is so beliveable it makes you want to cry.
Way too depressing for me.

Hillary Duff is outstanding as Greta,who is sent by her mother to spend the summer at the Jersey Shore with her grandparents (played by Michael Murphy & Ellen Burstyn)and this girl is NOT a pleasure to be around.

The scenery of the wonderful town is beautifully shot and the soundtrack is very engaging,making for good movie experience. I really enjoyed the nice animated scenes of Greta's journal writings that bumper many of the sections of her summer experience.

This is a good version of a movie that has been made many times before (like Rebel Without a Cause and many others)about growing up and learning what life is really about and this outstanding cast really delivers.

Besides the always outstanding Murphy & Burstyn,I want to mention a great performance by Even Ross,who plays the different race tough kid that has been played in other movies without the skill and tenderness displayed by Ross in an engaging turn that makes you like and respect the kid in the film.

The DVD comes with a making of documentary that's quite interesting as well as some deleted & alternate scenes and an unused different ending.

Overall I enjoyed the film and I wanted to watch all the extras,which doesn't happen with me on most movies.

I wanted to see this movie because Hillary Duff seems to be in good quality pictures and I'm glad I did!

"According to Greta", produced by Hilary Duff, has a great ensemble of actors including Ellen Burstyn, Michael Murphy, Evan Ross and Melissa Leo and a miscast Hilary Duff attempting to portray a 17-year old troubled teen. As the producer, she would have made a wise choice in casting another more age appropriate actor to portray Greta. Hard core Duff fans will be treated to seeing her in all of her scenes wearing extreme false eyelashes and looking closer in age to 30 than 17.

The backdrop for the film is Ocean Grove, New Jersey and Greta is sent to spend the summer with her grandparents so that her mother can work on her relationship with her third husband. She is nasty, rude, intelligent yet unsympathetic character.

We learn at the outset that she plans to commit suicide before her 18th birthday but has a long list of things she wants to do before she takes her own life. What has made her so unbearable and miserable appears to be the fact that her biological father blew his brains out with a shotgun when Greta was approximately 5-years old and she thinks that only growing up with her father could have made a difference in her life. She keeps a journal filled with drawings, plans, notes, etc. and thrives on saying rude and inappropriate things to everyone with whom she has contact.

The film is interesting from a variety of aspects including the performances by Burstyn, Murphy, Leo and Ross, but Duff's attempting to portray a 17-year old in heavy 24/7 makeup just didn't work for me.

I should probably start off by saying that I am a HUGE Hilary Duff fan but I also like to think of myself as a person who is really good at giving unbiased opinions. I understand that movie critics do not think very highly of Hilary and I can understand that since the movies she has done have kept her in the "tween category" (even though I really like those movies because they make me happy). "According to Greta" is one of the many slew of movies that Hilary has been a part of lately to help move her more in a direction of a young adult actress (others including "War Inc.," "What Goes Up," and her guest appearance on "Gossip Girl") and this is by far her best acting display. She is very believable as the rebellious, super sarcastic and suicidal teenager forced to stay with her grandparents for the summer. I have to say that I also enjoyed all of the side characters just as much in this film. Her grandmother, grandfather and boy interest were well played and allowed the film to seem very real.

It is unfortunate that it took SO long for this movie to come out (I believe filming finished in late 2007) and when it came out in theaters it was only in L.A. For this reason I encourage everyone to buy or rent this because it truly is a great film. It is an indie, low budget film but it is still very enjoyable. I'm very happy for Hilary, she is still young and can still go far places with her acting career. I wouldn't say this is her big break but it is definitely a huge leap in the right direction for her.

This movie is not your typical hilary duff, girly movie. Even tho, those movies are good too, this movie is a complete different side of her. She displays a suicidal teen, and i must say her acting is done very well.

This movie is a real coming to age movie. Not a comedy, or a romance or a family film. This movie is about Greta, trying to find herself, and understand life. There are many morals of the story.How many movies nowadays actually have good morals? not many!
Im 17, and i believe this movie is best for teens, around 16 and up. theres a level of maturity, and understanding that is needed to watch this movie.

(Spoiler-free)
I literally JUST finished watching this movie. The credits are rolling.
I had to write the review as soon as possible.

I see that on here, ACCORDING TO GRETA has some negative reviews. Quite a few, in fact. From what I've seen (because I wanted to do my homework), most of the issues are that the character is too dark or because this movie isn't very good for our kids. Some say Hilary is too old for the part, and some say the character herself is very unrealistic. Finally, some say that the acting wasn't very good. Listen to my take on this.

AN OVERVIEW: Greta is a troubled seventeen-year-old who is sent by her mother to live with her grandparents because her attitude is affecting her mother's marriage. She has a notebook she carries around everywhere which is basically a bucket list of things to do before she kills herself (This is revealed in the first five minutes of the movie and is not a spoiler). Then she meets a guy (and listen to me when I say that the guy isn't even the point... this is not a boy meets girl love story; in fact, he's only used as a tool to bring some messages and revelations across). I won't say anything else.

THE ACTING: I have to clarify this very instant that I started this movie with an open mind, which is how it is supposed to be watched. Let me make it clear that Hilary Duff's acting is good. There are no 'but's. I find the people who claim that it was poor representation or that the character herself is unrealistic, mistaken, as GRETA reminded me of a friend of mine who is very similar to her (although not suicidal). Hilary portrayed the character VERY well, and I did not think she looked too old to be seventeen, as I am seventeen myself and can say this confidently. Be patient with the movie (not that it required much of it from me), and you will find that the acting is actually more realistic than in most movies, which is why it comes across as unique. Hilary reminded me a little of Kristen Stewart from 'Welcome to the Rileys', although GRETA was released before that. Which actress is better? That is up to you to decide.
And speaking of 'Welcome to the Rileys', Melissa Leo is also in this movie.

THE POINT: ACCORDING TO GRETA should be one of those movies that every single teenager in the world must see, as it has lots of morals in it, and does not at all come across as trying hard to show them. Not in the slightest, actually. This is NOT a chick flick. This is NOT a love story. This is a movie about growing up and should be treated as a mature movie. FORGET about any other movies any of the actors have done; treat this movie as something different from the moment you pop it in. I guarantee you will enjoy it.

AUDIENCE: Who this movie is for? O.K., this is VERY IMPORTANT: The movie is rated PG-13. I, however, would advise that the movie should not be shown to anyone below the age of 15. Because just when you think you can keep up with the tone it has set, you find out some VERY dark and VERY deep and disturbing stories. I Loved it because it gave the movie maturity that flowed easily and made it look nonchalant.

ACCORDING TO GRETA really is something special, and I honestly can't wait until I share it with my friends. And I'm a guy. That's saying something.

Five stars. There is nothing I would change. There are a lot of deleted scenes, an alternate ending, and a Behind-The-Scenes featurette, so enjoy.

Take my word for it, people: It's great. Just approach it with an open mind.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Somewhere between the screenplay and Ms. Duff's performance in the first half of the movie, the power of this film is almost undermined. Miss Duff, as Executive Producer, clearly found the story appealing. However, it takes a closer look to fully appreciate the winning qualities of this endeavor. Miss Duff seems unclear how to embrace the role. Should she portray the character's youthful recklessness as a reflection of what her audience would expect? Or will she allow the role to provide her with the bridge she seems to be searching for from teen idol to serious actress?. The script is slow to reveal where the movie's gravitas lies. That is part of its problem because the writer (s) are not completely comfortable in taking a bold leap with the story. That cautiousness places the movie just right above a "movie of the week" television fare. The addition of Ms. Burstyn and Ms. Leo also gives the movie breeding.

While this movie was built around Hillary Duff, the bright, sparkling career of Evan Ross continues to shine through. In his first semi-romantic lead, Evan's character, Julie, is mature, remorseful and loving. Ms. Duff may have thought that this "bad girl" role would be an opportunity for her to stretch and move into more adult roles. Instead, she comes off looking like a spoiled, undeserving brat. In one of the first more arresting scenes, when she callously reveals how Julie (Evan Ross) learned to cook, it is Evan Ross that pulls the scene up and gives Ms. Duff's "Greta" more substance to play off of. The Academy Award winning actress, Ellen Burstyn, seems a little uncomfortable in the role of her grandmother. Perhaps that is intentional. The affection shared between her and her husband, as seniors still capable of loving, is unique in cinema today.

Evan Ross has an impressive resume of films (25) in some stage of development/production. He has such an ease on camera that it is rather mundane to state, but he looks like a natural on screen. Here he gets to emote in a different way than his previous other (6) roles. His youthfulness limits the types of roles that he gets to play so to see him show another side of a teen developing into a young man, is refreshing.

In only a manner of time, there is undoubtedly a full starring role for him waiting in the wings. He has taken on some solid supporting roles in his previous works ("Life Support", "Gardens of the Night", "Pride", "ATL", etc.). He is now clearly ready for the camera to focus solely on his amazing talents.

He literally steals the show in this affecting role. The movie could have taken the traditional path but it makes an effective, if not, startling progression. His eyes are those classic "Ross" eyes and he clearly has inherited his mother's natural abilities on screen.

He is just a moment away from that break through role. "ATL" is in constant replay on BET and TVONE. "Life Support" has gotten a strong amount of airplay on HBO. So his face is becoming more and more familiar.......out of all the movies on his slate, that breakthrough role is sitting, waiting to be enjoyed by his building fan base and those ready to discover an amazing new talent, one, Mr. Evan Olaf Ross-Naess.

Thanks to the appearances and performances from Ellen Burstyn, Melissa Leo and Mr. Ross, the movie earns another viewing. Though it never got a full theatrical run, it deserves a closer look as a rental, if only to watch the fascinating development of Evan Ross.