Directed by: John Stockwell
Written by: Phil Hay & Matt Manfredi
Starring: Kirsten Dunst, Jay Hernandez
Crazy/Beautiful tells the story of Nicole Oakley (Kirsten Dunst), a privileged yet self-destructive teen from Malibu, and Carlos Núñez (Jay Hernandez), a disciplined, scholarship student commuting two hours from East L.A. to attend her upscale high school. Their worlds collide in a raw and earnest teen romance—one that challenges societal norms and personal limits 1.
Nicole, burdened by the suicide of her mother and feeling overlooked by her father (Bruce Davison), plays out with destructive behavior—drinking, truancy, and casual sex. Carlos, in contrast, is focused on his academic goals and hopes to attend the Naval Academy. When they begin a relationship, cultural divides deepen: Carlos's Latino family worries Nicole will derail his dreams, while her father doubts Carlos's influence Their love story becomes a raw, emotional push–and–pull between maturity and impulse.
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Kirsten Dunst delivers a standout performance as Nicole—unpolished, emotionally naked, and unpredictably real. Critics called it her most powerful role since The Virgin Suicides, noting how she captures teenage pain and rebellion with subtlety
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Jay Hernandez is impressive as Carlos, balancing ambition with compassion. Reviewers praised his portrayal as authentic, grounded, and emotionally rich
The film explores class disparity, cultural and racial divides, emotional trauma, and teenage recklessness. Its tone swings between tender and turbulent—unflinchingly honest, even if it doesn’t fully escape teen-romantic tropes . Despite studio-mandated edits that softened its edges for a PG-13 rating, the film retains a gritty core, especially regarding Nicole’s coping mechanisms
John Stockwell (known for Cheaters) brings maturity to the teen genre. Scenes like Carlos’s dawn bus ride are visually striking—a balance of raw realism and cinematic beauty courtesy of Shane Hurlbut’s lens Yet at times, the film clings to formulaic teen-movie beats, especially in its soundtrack-driven emotional montages .
Critics responded with measured praise: Rotten Tomatoes rates it at 63%, noting its honest portrayal despite familiar territor. Roger Ebert described it as “an unusually observant film about adolescence” and commended the convincing performances Salon.com also highlighted Dunst's performance, stating her “presence cuts deep” and sustains the film's emotional weight .
Crazy/Beautiful transcends teen-romance clichés through its emotional honesty and sincere lead performances. While its pacing and storyline follow predictable paths, the portrayal of two deeply conflicted teens from polar worlds gives it a powerful, poignant core.
