Plot so thin, it passes unnoticed.

disgusting, overrated, pointless

Clever, believable, and super fun to watch. It totally has replay value.

if their story seems completely bonkers, almost like a feverish work of fiction, you ain't heard nothing yet.

Thinking about DVDs to get for my dad for Christmas viewing,I remembered enjoying the TV series adaptation of Judy Blume's "Fudge" books with him. Sadly failing to find the series,I found out that a film had been made based on a Blume book,which led to me looking into the eye of the tiger.The plot:Trying to make sense of the chaos after her husband is killed in a hold-up, Gwen Wexler takes her son Jason and daughter Davey to Los Alamos, New Mexico.Before the murder of her dad Davey had some stability,thanks to loyal friends,an active social scene at high school and a loving family. Uncomfortable with the attempts her mother is making to find a new route in her life,Davey finds herself withdrawing from the outside world, until she crosses paths with a Native‐ American climber called Wolf,who brings the fire into Davey's "tiger eyes" back to life.View on the film:Slapped with a terrible "family viewing" sticker on the DVD sleeve,the screenplay by Judy and her son Lawrence Blume (which for good timing is partly set at Christmas!) unexpectedly features some very dark moments sprung from the unsolved murder of Davey's dad,to the arguments between Davey and Gwen ringing with pent-up emotion. Climbing the mountains of Davey's pain with Wolf,the Blume's elegantly express Davey's struggle to embrace herself and to find a new optimism which treats the pain respectfully.Produced in 23 days,director Lawrence Blume & cinematographer Seamus Tierney cover the title in a "magic hour" gloss that stylishly casts the light across the screen that has gone from Davey's life.Made when he was dying from cancer, Russell Means gives a great performance with gravitas as Willie Ortiz,whose son "Wolf" is played by Means real son Tatanka,who gives Wolf's relationship with his dad and Davey a touching thoughtfulness. Displaying Davey's raw feelings by wearing no makeup, Willa Holland untangles all of Davey's painful emotions,with Holland's brittle exchanges with a wonderful Amy Jo Johnson as Gwen making the sparks fly,as light comes back into the tiger eyes.

Davey Wexler (Willa Holland) is struggling after her father was killed. Her mother Gwen (Amy Jo Johnson) has withdrawn. She, her mother and little brother Jason move from Atlantic City to New Mexico to stay with Gwen's older sister Bitsy Kronick (Cynthia Stevenson) and her husband Walter. At the new school, she's befriended by partygirl Jane Albertson (Elise Eberle). While walking alone in a canyon, she is found by native American Wolf who connects with her. She tells him her name is Tiger.This movie is based on Judy Blume's novel directed by her son Lawrence Blume. It's a teen girl struggling with some difficult issues. The difficulties are large and varied. It's a bit scattered. Willa Holland is quite effective holding the film together. Her performance adds the sensitivity needed although I'm not sure the material is used to its most effectiveness.

Growing up reading Judy Blume looks in the eighties, I was especially affected by the sadness of her novel Tiger Eyes, and drawn to the described peace and beauty of the west, to the point of living out there for several years as an adult. I delayed watching this movie when I saw it on Netflix for fear of being disappointed. But Willa Holland's portrayal of Davey, with her facial expression range and intensity, and Tatanka Means's thoughtful Wolf left me just as emotionally affected and fulfilled as when I read the novel. The two characters appear to be each other's only anchors, as Davey deals with the recent tragic loss of her beloved father, and Wolf is about to lose his wise father due to illness. The difference is Wolf is part of the American Indian community and its values of inclusion – when one person is hurting, others gather around him - while Davey is left to deal with her emotions all alone. Her brother is too young to process the loss, her mother, a role underwritten for the experienced Amy Jo Johnson (whom shone in Felicity) is so overwhelmed that she retreats from life, allowing Davy's unknown aunt and uncle to run the family in Los Alamos, New Mexico, and her aunt and uncle try but can't connect amidst their conservative values (obedience, security) and judgements about Davey's parents, whom we learn were teens when Davey was born and struggled financially.Additionally, Elise Eberle and Levi Boultinghouse shine as Davey's Los Alamos high school friends Jane and Ted, both kind and including her, but Jane has her own emotional challenges which are never developed, and copes in a negative way that Davey calls her out on. While Davey and her family heal, it is Davey's journey, as a teen and a grieving daughter, and her guidance from Wolf and his father that are the heart and focus of the story, and one that will stay with you even after the movie ends. Like Judy Blume's novel, this is a memorable gem.

I saw the film at its premiere at the Sonoma International Film Festival, and I thought it was wonderful. Willa Holland's performance was both subtle and powerful, showing an incredible amount of pent-up anger, frustration, and sadness that truly moved me. I have never read the book (or any Judy Blume novel,) so I was surprised by the film's depth and gentle handling of a very tough subject (the loss of a parent.) The film isn't your typical tale of teen angst and longings - it's a dark and subtle character drama. The film is also incredibly well-shot (mild spoiler - my personal favorite was during a scene where the mother is singing Christmas carols with her new friends, where Davey is watching from the hallway, framed by party guests in this very contrasted light that just reinforces her character's intensity in that moment.)All-in-all I thoroughly enjoyed the film, and I hope that it finds a distributor who not only cares enough to give the film a good release, but also doesn't screw up the marketing by making the film out to be something it's not.