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Speak

Speak

Drama · 2004

Freshman high-school student Melinda has refused to speak ever since she called the cops on a popular summer party. With her old friends snubbing her for being a rat, and her parents too busy to notice her troubles, she folds into herself, trying to hide her secret: that star senior Andy raped her at the party. But Melinda does manage to find solace in her art class headed by Mr. Freeman.

Movie details

Speak

“The Truth Will Change Everything.”

2004 Drama 1h 33m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

7.1 / 10

Community rating

Freshman high-school student Melinda has refused to speak ever since she called the cops on a popular summer party. With her old friends snubbing her for being a rat, and her parents too busy to notice her troubles, she folds into herself, trying to hide her secret: that star senior Andy raped her at the party. But Melinda does manage to find solace in her art class headed by Mr. Freeman.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Speak?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Jessica Sharzer

Written by

Annie Young Frisbie · Jessica Sharzer

Kristen Stewart

Kristen Stewart

Melinda Sordino

Elizabeth Perkins

Elizabeth Perkins

Joyce Sordino

Steve Zahn

Steve Zahn

Mr. Freeman

Michael Angarano

Michael Angarano

Dave Petrakis

D. B. Sweeney

D. B. Sweeney

Jack Sordino

Hallee Hirsh

Hallee Hirsh

Rachel Bruin

Robert John Burke

Robert John Burke

Mr. Neck

Court is in session

Put Speak on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Prestige Tourist

“Ambition earns the room.”

The film reaches for consequence and scale, accepting the risk of seriousness instead of shrinking from it.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Importance has entered the chat.”

The production keeps announcing its significance, as though awards-season posture were proof of insight.