Havoc Movie
Storyline
TAGLINES
Some lines aren't meant to be crossed...
Too much is never enough
In Los Angeles, Allison Lang is a bored girl from an upper class dysfunctional family that acts and dresses like a slut. Her wealthy boyfriend and friends are totally influenced by the hip-hop culture, behaving like rappers, dressing and imitating their lifestyle. When they decide to drive to East L.A. for fun, they meet a Latin gang of drug-dealers and Allison and her best friend Emily become fascinated with their "gangsta" lifestyle. Later they return to the ghetto to visit and excite Hector and his friends, expecting to join their 16th Street gang. When the guys propose them to have sex as a form of initiation, they change their mind, leading to a tragic consequence.
| Anne Hathaway | Allison Lang |
| Bijou Phillips | Emily |
| Shiri Appleby | Amanda |
| Michael Biehn | Stuart Lang |
| Joseph Gordon-Levitt | Sam |
| Matt O'Leary | Eric |
| Freddy RodrÃguez | Hector |
| Laura San Giacomo | Joanna Lang |
| Mike Vogel | Toby |
| Raymond Cruz | Chino |
| Alexis Dziena | Sasha |
| Channing Tatum | Nick |
| Johnny Vasquez | Manuel |
| Luis Robledo | Ace |
| Sam Hennings | Mr. Rubin |
| Barbara Kopple |
5.30 out of 10 (4087 votes)
Visitor Reviews
Everything is fake
posted on 12 Aug 2009Seeing this movie is exactly like seeing "Malibu's Most Wanted", with the exception that it is not a comedy. With "Malibu's Most Wanted" already being a very average film, one could only imagine how much worse this film is. The whole premise of the movie is very, very ridiculous, being that the kids are just like the kids from the TV series: "The OC" except they are more rich, more devious and of course more "gansta". With the exception of Anne Hathaway's character "Allison" and Freddy Rodriguez's character "Hector", the acting was horrible. Every time "Toby", Allison's boyfriend appeared, I just shook my head in utter disappointment. It was so painful to just hear him speak, let alone act. Everyone else had an average performance, and no one lead you to believe that anything was authentic. To be fair there is an underlying message within the film ,concerning the lies and the truths of society; yet the way it executed and presented itself was very bad. I guess if you are a Anne Hathaway fan, and want to see her in the buff, you can see this film, but I do remember that she does the same in "Brokeback Mountain", so don't waste your money buying this DVD, you'll feel disappointed.
Two hours I can never get back.
posted on 11 Jul 2009Words cannot express how much I hated this movie. I hated every aspect of it, from the direction to the writing to the acting. Havoc is the story of one teenager's (Anne Hathaway) exploration of a world outside that which she is accustomed. And that's putting it in a way that gives this movie more credit than it deserves. Hathaway's character is part of a "gang" of white, upper-class high-schoolers who backlash at their upbringing by emulated black culture. She and her friends eventually decide to take a trip to East L.A., and no hilarity ensues.I decided to watch this movie for two reasons: Stephen Gaghan had a hand in it; and Anne Hathaway, who I have always found enjoyable to watch, was starring in it.I'll begin my criticism with the writing. After finally viewing the movie, I can honestly say that I found nothing that resembles Stephen Gaghan in the script. Vapid is the only word I can think of to describe the thoughts and ideas of this movie. It is one of the those movies that tries so hard to make a social comment, yet fails so miserably. The characters are all one-dimensional, especially Toby (Mike Vogel), the wigger boyfriend of Hathaway's character Allison. His actions are so broad and exaggerated, I had a hard time taking anything he, or anyone on screen at the time, did seriously. Finally, each character was written to be an example of a stereotype. I almost laughed when Hector (Freddy Rodriguez) tried to explain that not everything in East L.A. was about gangs and drugs, then proceeded to fill every stereotype of a movie gang member. Each and every actor in this movie lost points in my book for being associated with this film. Even those I like and respect. Michael Biehn, Laura San Giacomo, Anne Hathaway and Bijou Phillips all have done serious, believable roles. Even Joseph Gordon-Levitt, whose only respectable role I've seen him in was "10 Things I Hate About You" (I haven't seen "Manic" as of this writing), in which he was at least believable. Here, his unbelievable overacting reaches a point at which Paris Hilton would be proud. This brings me to the directing. Because I respect many of the leads and they have done great work in the past, I can only blame the awful choices on the director. Very few movies reach the depths this movie does. I have not hated a movie so much since "The Doom Generation." Stay away if you can.
Let Slip the Dawgs of War
posted on 01 Jul 2009Teenager Anne Hathaway (as Allison) is bored going down on phony boyfriend Mike Vogel (as Toby). When she and her rappin' high school friends kick a trip to East Los Angeles, Ms. Hathaway finds herself attracted to real life gangsta Freddy Rodriguez (as Hector), who makes Mr. Vogel pee his pants. Soon, Hathaway and likewise bored "gal pal" Bijou Phillips (as Emily Rubin) are up for smacking the hook with da cholos. Then, things get out of hand… Huh? Wassup with the ending? Apparently, we're supposed to guess. Anyway, this was an unconvincing story. They start off with a cast of performers too far removed from both sweet sixteen and Compton. Don't feel too much like a pedophile while you enjoy the topless pair of leading women. They're of age. The phony wigger gangsta jive is laughable. Totally. The story becomes moderately interesting when Ms. Phillips makes her accusation, then drops off.**** Havoc (6/26/05) Barbara Kopple ~ Anne Hathaway, Bijou Phillips, Freddy Rodriguez
Havoc, yeah, right!
posted on 25 Jun 2009I admit the only reason I watched this movie was to see Anne Hathaway's contribution to the arts and to see if Richard Roeper's praise was on the mark. This was not art. What was she thinking? What was Roeper thinking? I thought maybe she chose this movie because she saw some challenge. The only challenge I believe she had was showing her breasts. Her character was shallow, and it was supposed to be. How difficult is it to play a shallow character? It couldn't have been too difficult because every one of the gang-banger-wannabes was shallow. True to life for them but so what? The parents were just as shallow. The more I watched, the more I prayed for someone to start acting. Just when I saw possibilities, I was disappointed once again.The best characters were Hector and his gang. They were the most intriguing because once Allison made contact, it became possible that someone was going to experience a change in life and Hector was truly one who could make that change. On the other hand, Allison could also make the change. Welll, it disappointed again. It isn't that a change hadn't occurred, a change did occur, but not one that would help this movie.The movie is weak and often gives one a reason to walk away. Someone wanted to tell a story that would show life on the wild side and probably encourage abstention to anyone tempted to indulge in a very tough and rough life. But the people who wanted to tell that story gave up, ironically, just like the shallow characters. The lesson was apparently lost with any hope to make this a quality film.One last thing, if anyone can find a character to relate to, good luck to you. Good luck to Anne, too. Maybe now that Anne has bared her breasts, she will be able to bare her soul in a role more deserving.2/10 is the best I can do. I guess anyone having anything to do with Havoc is destined to give so little.
Great movie
posted on 17 Jun 2009i thought this movie was excellent it was so real, the m0ral of this movie is so clear and the message is also. As a young teenager myself this movie is just so down to earth and i think is one of the best movies that i have ever seen. I LOVE THIS MOVIE. at school currently i am doing a presentation on peer pressure and teens growing up and i am using clippings from this movie to show teens at my school i think this movie is such a good things to show teens to show them what not to get involved in. And is the best movie for this presentation. As it shows how much problems the teens are going through and how this reflects on real life.
no passion of the Christ
posted on 13 Jun 2009I will agree with others when it was said that this was a pitiful excuse for a movie. It was nothing short of a porno. Within the first 20 minutes the f word was said 67 times (yes i counted) i had nothing better to do. There was no plot to follow. The story was so unbelievable. I don't even think kids in street gangs would approve of this movie-it was so over dramatized. And what was ann hathaway thinking, Disney princess has ruined her rep once this hits main stream. I think she was going for a more adult role in acting. Sweetheart, just to be adult does not mean you have to try having sex with yourself on stage. Needless to say i will never watch anything she stars in, she sickens me.This movie could never make the public viewing it is................ Pitiful Pitiful Pitiful
much like "Closer"
posted on 20 May 2009The film "Closer" (2004) was never meant to be liked, just revealing. I felt the same vibe resonate throughout the eighty-six minutes of Havoc. It's not at all meant to be a film you'll necessarily respect, favor, prefer, or like--the film is simply meant to show you the stupidity of the rap/gang culture. The emptiness, the lack of emotion and integrity that is showcased throughout the generation. A previous review stated that all the actors were terrible in this film, that there was no plot, and virtually nothing in the movie in the first place. I agree to an extent; there is no plot in the lifestyle, no purpose. However, I believe the actors actually gave surprising performances, Joseph Gordon-Lewitt the most convincing; I didn't even recognize him for a moment. The filming was well done with a few gag-me exceptions; most angles were appropriate for the scenes (though the sexual situations *definitely* could have used a little more imagination).Overall, there could have been more to the film than what we're left with. This could be attributed to the death of the original screenwriter in 2003, or it could be the director's execution. However, I still stand by my opinion that it's worth watching, but that you probably won't desire to see it again.
OK, but can we please get Bijoux Phillips a new stereotype!!!!
posted on 08 May 2009I thought the film was watchable, not a masterpiece or totally riveting, but interesting that some of these actors would take on a role. I think I can fairly say Anne Hathaway is trying to break out of the pretty little princess roles. Well, in this film she was a pretty little princess thats out of control. Anyway, I give it to her to have the balls to take in on. The gang guys did the best with what they had to work with. Oh well, my TIVO taped it for me or I would have never seen it.HOWEVER- I cannot help but feel dega-vu every time I see Bijoux Phillips in a role, so much so that I had to come and see if anyone else is thinking the same. Good grief girl, get a new angle!!! She is the go to actress when its a rich kid gone wild movie and they need someone to act all hot until she practically gets raped or something goes wrong. It baffles me that someone would even put her in this movie because she is the same person over and over again in these "controversial" teen gone bad movies. I would love to see her in a role that requires clothing and half a brain. It is just annoying me that she is the posterchild for slutty girl gone wild that always talks a big talk but then gets taken advantage of, as a woman, I find it disappointing, not empowering.
Simply average
posted on 20 Apr 2009Not a great film, but not a bad film. It suffers from being a little unoriginal. If you want to see a film that can have the impact that this one wants to have, watch the Catherine Hardwicke film "Thirteen". Anne Hathaway's performance is good, but not good enough to save this film from being as mediocre as it is. It was however refreshing to see an actor like Michael Biehn in this film. He is a fine actor and I do wish that he would open up to some films like this. The genre for this film is a little tired and exhausted to hastily create another one about "spoiled kids who want to live on the dangerous side of life". The acting is good, but the story is predictable, and tired. The actors deserve better than this.
this movie is terrible
posted on 20 Apr 2009well , to start off I have to ask , so was this based on a true story or just dedicated to some person, I am referring at the end of the movie....anyways, as mentioned on the first comment, this movie is terrible with its characters, I knew I had seen one of the white gangster kids somewhere (3rd rock from the sun kid) , whoever wrote this movie lives in some type of make believe world, gangsters would not embrace girls like shown in this movie...they hang out?? those gangsters in the real world would of either told those girls to hit the road (not in those words) or they would have raped them waaay sooner than this initiation scene. white girls wanting to go to east l.a.?? ummm I think not, terrible , absolutely terrible.
Intense Steamy Social Drama - Not for Prudes
posted on 10 Apr 2009This movie starts off on a somewhat generic note, looking like "The O.C." meets "Sex, Lies and Videoptape." But once it gets rolling it really rocks.Barbara Kopple is the latest director to blow the lid off the conventional Hollywood "wisdom" that older filmmakers can't do teens right. Like Larry Clark and Gus van Zant, she delivers incredibly believable, naturalistic characters, free from the crappy "teen dialog" so prevalent in typical Hollywood fare.Kudos to Anne Hathaway for bravely and aggressively shedding her Disney image, and to Bijou Phillips, who is hands down the reigning sex kitten of cinema, once again delivering a performance which would pop a gasket in John Ashcroft's heart.This is not the first film to deal with suburban "wiggers" getting into trouble by pushing their gangsta posing too far into the real world. Marc Levin did a pretty good job with Whiteboyz. But Havoc is the best. Interestingly, both Levin and Barbara Kopple began their careers directing documentaries.The gang members depicted in this movie are as real as they get, and thankfully they are not one-dimensional clichés.The plot line is fairly simple with an obvious outcome, but if you like intense personal drama with a very dark, sexy edge, this is as good as it gets.
Good Film
posted on 07 Mar 2009This is a good film.It's not exactly Hollywood quality and thank God for that.It focuses on a certain branch of teenagers who want something different from their ordinary lives.As Allison states, they're "really, really bored" I found it very interesting how an intelligent girl lives a double life hidden away from her parents. All of them are living double lives, wanting to be something they are not. But what they all find out later is that they really have no idea what they want.This is a great and very tragic film. It is not a waste of time, but you might not understand it very well if you haven't been through the same type of things as the characters in this movie.Life is ridiculous and so are the characters in this movie. Tragically ridiculous.
Interesting look into the "gangsta" lifestyle of a group of teens
posted on 05 Mar 2009I rented this movie on the recommendation of my cousin. I was definitely glad that I had. It provides a glimpse into the lives of a group of rich and privileged teens who have adopted the "gangsta" lifestyle. I put gangsta in quotes because one of the main points of this movie is that they really have no clue about what is real and what it is really like being in a gang. The way that they dress, talk, and act is solely based on what they have seen in movies and on how they believe people in gangs act. Joseph Gordon-Levitt's character Sam is the best example of this skewed image. To some, his performance may seem over the top, but this is how Sam truly feels as though gang members act. This life that they have created for themselves is so artificial, so fake, that they can just switch it on and off. When they are around their parents, they are the perfect children that their parents want. But, at night, they drink, get into fights with rivals, and do drugs with their "gang". The main character, Allison, gets a taste of the real world when she goes downtown one day. There, she finds a world that she wants to fit into and become immersed in. But, she isn't ready to handle all of the things that come with that world - being arrested, sleeping with the gang, etc. She goes along with it all for a while, but her fantasy of the gang life is soon shattered. The performances in this movie are outstanding. I have only known Anne Hathaway from movies like The Princess Diaries and Ella Enchanted. Here, she shows amazing depth and range as an actress. And, Freddy Rodriguez brings so much to his role of Hector the crack dealer. I truly empathized with him. This is an excellent film that I would recommend to anyone with an open mind. Yes, it does have a bit of sex and nudity in it, but it is appropriate for this film. Check this one out!
Not a bad independent film.Strong performance from Anne Hathaway &Freddy Rodriguez.
posted on 10 Jan 2009First off I've never understood "children" who have studied the black rap/hip-hop & gang culture & then decided to make them selves look & sound as uneducated as possible by becoming " wiggers" It's just a sub-culture i don't understand yet this film as in the previous film 1999's "Whiteboy" shows that when these usually rich white kids go bouncing around in inner city ghettos they either find one of 3 things: death,a good butt-kicking from the people their idolizing, or the police/jail. Anne Hathaway who's been itching to ditch the "good-girl" persona that both Princess Diary film & Ella Enchanted portrayed her as,has got rid of the good girl roles with this film Havoc & with Brokeback Mountain by showing her nice ample breasts several times in this film & by humorously trying to smoke crack & going down on her "wigga" boyfriend,played quite well by the very cute Mike Vogel. Bijou Phillips once again does a good supporting girlfriend role & Joesph Gordon Leavitt shine in this film as well as he did in Mysterious Skin. Freddy Rodriguez was convincing as the gang member that Anne Hathaway becomes hot for until in a very un-realistic scene Anna & Bijou decide they too want to be a part of the Mexican gang lifestyle & asked to be initiated, which requires them to roll the dice & whatever number they come with, they have to sleep with that many of the gang members. Anne gets one, & you know she picks Freddy but Bijou gets 3! Then in the middle of starting Anne decides she can't do it, but Bijou decides she's doing this & she wants Freddy first. Then as Freddy pounces on her, his brother comes in for the orgy & she starts screaming "No Stop"! Which, by all rights if they don't stop it is rape, & in the film they stop.But,in real life? No way! She would've been gang-raped as would've ms Hathaway & they probably would've been tricked out on the street corner or killed. Stupid White Girls is what they really should've called this film. So,except for a few unconvincing scenes it was/is a decently made film. *** out of *****
Started well, peaked and then....
posted on 06 Jan 2009I am not a big review writer, so I will keep this brief.All of the main eight or nine characters were played well (even the wannabe gansta's), brilliantly I must add for the lead two. The storyline was very believable as I could imagine rich kids who can buy nearly anything they wanted, putting themselves into dangerous situations in the hope of finding a new frill. What killed the movie for me was the ending.I won't give away anything that would spoil it for someone who has never seen it before, suffice to say all films need an ending. This film does not have one.My questions are:1/ How does one person recover from their experience? 2/ What is the conclusion of the last five people in the two cars? 3/ What happens to the lead male after his final scene?Watching this movie was like watching 'Lord of the Ring: The Two Towers', and knowing there would be no 'Return of the King'.
Different
posted on 25 Dec 2008I knew nothing about this movie and it made it better that way. It is intense (the unrated version for sure). Throughout the whole movie I found myself able to relate to different characters. Not personally, but because they seemed real. The best part of the movie was how real it was and how different it was. It is by no means a light hearted movie however, so be prepared to have to focus and not to laugh. This is not a good party or group movie.I was impressed by the actors. I recognized a lot of them and could never have pictured them in such a serious movie. Each played their part well. Anne Hathaway was incredible. I have seen Princess Diaries and this movie showed me her true range as an actor. The other characters were also played very well. This helped add to the realistic effect of the movie as a whole. The ending may leave you in question but I thought it was beautifully done.
Traffic Havoc
posted on 07 Dec 2008After seeing the movie,i have to say it feels like a lighter version of one of the story lines in the movie Traffic. The plot: A bunch of wealthy high-school kids,that include Allison(Hathaway) and her best friend Emily(Bijou Phillps)who are trying to act as if they are in a Hip-Hop culture.One night,when the kids go out to get some drugs,they meet some "real" people from a Hip-Hop culture.Everyone else is scared,but Allison really likes seeing what they do,so the next night she comes back and goes to a great party with them.She goes back and tells her friend Emily how great it was,so they both go to a party that night.While at the party they say they want to join the gang,the gang tell them they have to do an "initiation".Which is that they have to have sex with all the gang members.Allisons not keen at all and leaves,but Emily stays there.And has sex with all of them.But gets scared when things start getting out of hand.After the party Emily lies and says that she did not have sex but was raped. View on the film: The Screenplay. I have to say i am a bit shocked,that the screenplay had been on New Lines shelf for seven years!(i have seen a lot worst movies then this).Written by Jessica Kaplan (who sadly died 3 weeks before filming started,in a plane crash at age 24.)and Stephen"Traffic"Gaghan.There is a strong feeling in the script that,Gaghan took the Erika Christensen/Michael Douglas story line from Traffic,and put it in this.One of the things that makes this movie a bit different then other teen movies.Is using one of the issues from Sam Peckinpahs Straw Dogs.Which questioned if the main female character (who was getting raped),gets into it and stars to have sex with him.does it count as rape?.Which i think makes the film more interesting.The part where the kids act "hip" gets a bit boring,and there are some holes (i really want to go out with someone who has a 98% Chance of them blowing my brains out!).The Cinematography is good,but parts of it look to much like Traffic(the extrema use of the colourer blue and yellow.) The acting: While everyone else does well,Hathaway is a clear stand out,who does a good job at trying to keep her friend safe.Final view on the film: If any one wants to see a bit of a different teen movie,and want to see more of Hathaway .You will like this.
Tries to be powerful and affecting, but it doesn't go too deep. Still, it's entertaining.
posted on 05 Dec 2008Many people complain that this film is anything but good, and they dismiss it as simple trash that overreached while trying to be affecting. Well, I'm not one of them. I am one of those who think this is, in fact, an interesting film, and very well worth the hour and a half I spent watching it.I suppose most of the negative reviews towards this film come from the fact that it did not reach the expectations people had of it. I mean take director Barbara Kopple (yes, the documentary genius director), screenwriter Stephen Gaghan (who also wrote classics like Traffic and Syriana) and Anne Hathaway in a powerfully explosive role...you'd normally expect a highly artistic, disturbingly deep and intelligent film. This film isn't any of the above, even though it TRIES to be. Nevertheless, as I've mentioned before, it does have an interesting enough plot.It's about two rich teenagers (Anne Hathaway and Bijou Phillips) who are going through their rebellious teenager stage where drinking, heavy flirting and hanging out with the tough guys is in vogue. They decide to cross over from their posh neighborhoods into downtown East side, (the Latino side, really) where hard drugs, gang violence and gun fights are at the order of the day. These teens are impressed (to put it mildly) with how "real" everything seems in the East side, and are soon begging to be admitted into the hazardous Latino gang...with expectable detrimental results.The film tries to discuss really profound and disturbing points of view, and even though it DOES tackle some issues, it all seems a bit off. Hathaway is, of course, a revelation in her first challenging role, but the rest of the actors are a bit off. In fact, everything about the movie is a bit off. Even Stephen Gaghan, who writes the screenplay, offers us a probing look into the breaches of society and the cause and effect that lead our two protagonists in a downward spiral, but he refuses to reach deeper to actually make the audience care and feel enveloped by the psychological turmoil going on-screen.I'm sure I'm portraying this to be a base and horrible film, but it isn't. I feel I watched something entertaining and that serves as an illustration to other similar films I've watched before. It's an interesting movie to seek out, and I really do recommend it, but I hope you aren't expecting a masterpiece. Just watch it 'for the fun of it' (even if this phrase sounds a bit ironic).Rating: 2 and a half stars out of 4!
Great
posted on 21 Nov 2008I thought this movie would be another lame story about the 'westside'/'eastside' Damn i was wrong, i loved it! It reflects the true living of several rich kids, i know some people just like them in the movie. All though the language was a little over the top, i liked it. And the 'bling bling' on Toby could be replaced with something more discreet, but in the end they really capture it all. I recommend this movie to everyone, its true and honest and it really gets to you. And a standing ovation to Ann Hathaway who is absolutely amazing in this movie, i have seen some of her other films that is to attract 13-year-olds, but this movie she really steps it up. Good job
I'll Never Look at the Princess in the Same Light...
posted on 26 Aug 2009the acting was suspect, and the plot was full of holes. However I will support any movie that features a hot DP scene. Let's be honest though, if this movie was realistic, the first time these cats rolled into East LA, Toby would have peed himself right before getting a cap busted in his head, and Allison would have then been gang banged in some random gutter. Just calling a spade a spade here. And for all for all you birds out there who are trying to say Hector is hot, does that mean you are into the drug dealing rapist type? If so, I guess this explains my recent struggles with the females. I mean I understand broads like the bad boys, but let's be real. If Hector is the type of guy girls are looking for, I am looking at a long and lonely life ahead of me. This was a terrible movie, but I somehow can't keep my mind off it. Plus, it was only about 75 minutes long. At least they had the decency not to stretch this out into the two hour zone. So I guess I'll give it a five.