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Movie Review: Gimme Shelter

Betsy Cizek

The story, Gimme Shelter centers on Agnes “Apple” Bailey played by Vanessa Hudgens. The film is based on the true-life story of a sixteen year old living with her drug addict/prostitute mother June Bailey (Rosario Dawson). Apple grows up never knowing her father, moving from foster home to foster home, in and out of the system, dependent upon a mother that cannot keep it together. She holds onto her one and only letter from her rich, Wall Street father Tom Fitzpatrick (Brendan Fraser). Where he refers to his daughter as the apple of his eye, hence she chooses to be called Apple.

Gimme Shelter begins with the audience hearing Apple talking to herself, stating that she is not afraid, she is not scared. She is mustering up the courage to leave her deadbeat mother and is determined to find a better life. She starts this out with an incredible hacking off of her hair. She manages to escape and make her way to her father’s luxurious house, but is not exactly welcomed with open arms. Shortly after her arrival we learn of her impending pregnancy and she is encouraged to abort the child. She refuses and runs away. Apple is now left to fend for herself, looking for warmth, food in dumpsters, all the while holding on to an ultrasound picture of her baby. Before you know it, Apple has an accident and is admitted to a hospital, during her recovery she meets a priest Frank McCarthy (James Earl Jones) that is able to break through her defenses and actually find a place for her stay that aids unwed mothers and pregnant teens.

Apple begins to let these women into her heart and a most unlikely family begins to emerge. Unfortunately Apple’s mother does not go away easily. She knows that without Apple, she will not receive her welfare check, so she takes her high self to the only home Apple has ever known and tries to physically remover her. Dawson’s portrayal of June, Apple’s mother, is really very believable. As a beautiful actress, it was interesting to experience just how repulsive they were able to present June to be. It is no exaggeration for me to state that when the audience was presented with the full impact of June’s rotting teeth there was a quite literal gasp. But to the contrary, the most unbelievable oversight had to be the beautifully bleached pearly whites that lead Vanessa Hudgens had.

Vanessa Hudgens in “Gimme Shelter.” © 2013 – Roadside Attractions

In conclusion, Gimme Shelter is good and moving but definitely predictable. However, just because something is predictable does not mean it should be ignored. Make sure to stay as the credits role, to view the real people that the film is inspired by.

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Betsy Cizek

Betsy resides in Michigan. She is presently writing a novel and pursuing a Freelance writing career. It’s important to her that her writing combines sensitivity, honesty and a hint of sarcasm to create a relatable experience with the reader. Having a passion for film and an all around American pie opinion, she aspires to have the sensibility for what the average Joe might enjoy.
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