CRIME AND PUNISHMENT IN SUBURBIA

US, 2002, 100 minutes, Colour.
Monica Keena, Vincent Kartheiser, Ellen Barkin, Michael Ironside, James De Bello, Jeffrey Wright, Conchata Ferrall.
Directed by Rob Schmidt.

Since the title evokes Dostoevsky’s novel, there is a quotation at the beginning of the film. But this is not a version of the novel, rather and updating to a teenage setting at the end of the twentieth century.

The story is told from the point of view of Vincent (Vincent Kartheiser) something of a nerd who tells his story in chapters, lives with his mother, indulges in sexual fantasies, is preoccupied with a fellow-student, Roseanne (Monica Keena). however, she is involved with the local jock, Jimmy, James De Bello). follows them to a cinema where they watch horror films and Jimmy violently attacks him while Roseanne is kind and lets him take a photo.

Vincent continues to stalk Roseanne, especially at her home where she lives with her mother and her stepfather, Ellen Barkin and Michael Ironside. The couple continually bicker and she takes herself off to a local bar with her friend, Conchata Ferrall, and becomes infatuated with barman, Jeffrey Wright.

In the meantime, the stepfather rapes Roseanne and she decides to wreak vengeance on him, persuading a reluctant Jimmy to join her in the murder, which he does, and they dispose of the body.

Vincent has witnessed all this and taken photographs, later having a deeper conversation with Roseanne urging her to take responsibility. Her mother has been arrested for the crime and Roseanne’s confession lets her go free. In the meantime, the barman has abducted Jimmy and there is a confrontation in the street and a shooting.

The film is geared towards a younger audience – something similar to the version of Dangerous Liaisons the year before, an adaptation for younger audiences, Cruel Intentions.

1. The background Dostoevsky’s novel? Characters, situations, moral choices? At the end of the 20th century?

2. The title, the suburbs of an American city, the 1990s, the different homes, school, sport, the clubs? Courts, prison? The musical score?

3. The variety of chapters, the titles and tone?

4. Vincent, his voice-over, character, age, appearance, nerdish? At home, his room and interests? Photography, stalking Roseanne? Sex and masturbation and the image? relationship with his mother? Watching Roseanne, in the cinema with Jimmy, Jimmy’s attack, Roseanne and allowing her photo to be taken? HIs knowing her, her issues, his story?

5. Roseanne, age, student, relationship with Jimmy, in the cinema, talking with Vincent, the photo, her mother and her mother’s story, living with Fred? Fred, father figure, his anger at his wife, with Roseanne, the viciousness of the rape, the effect on her, in class, the students, weeping alone? The decision against Fred, argument with Jimmy, persuading him, the killing sequence, the plunging the weapon, the aftermath, distancing herself from Jimmy, Vincent knowing the truth? In court, her mother accused, Jimmy and his injury, the crisis, discussions with Vincent, her confessing to the police, in prison, and her feeling at home in prison?

6. Jimmy, the jock, his life, assertiveness, love for Roseanne, attacking Vincent? Football practice, the coach, persuaded to kill Fred? The experience of the murder, the aftermath, Roseanne cutting him off, in the bar, hunting, the encounter with Chris, Chris abducting him, the confrontation, the fight, Chris shooting him, the injury, hospital, his limping?

7. Roseanne’s mother, her life, marrying Fred, the continued fight, bickering? Going out with Bella? The encounter with Chris, the bar, spilling the drink, the kiss, the affair? Her visiting Fred and their argument, her threats? Finding him dead, pulling out the weapon, her arrest, protecting her daughter? In court, in jail, finally being free – phoning Chris?

8. Fred, his life, marriage, arguing with his wife, the meals, with Roseanne? anger, confronting Roseanne, the rape, his being murdered?

9. Chris, at the bar, the relationship with Fred’s wife, abducting Jimmy, the shooting, in prison and phoning his girlfriend, Maggie?

10. Bella, the support for Maggie, disdain for Fred?

11. The background of school, the counsellor and his being young and inexperienced? The students? Sport?

12. A teen story based on the classic? Moralising?