Cracks

"Cracks" is a moody, often lurid tale of rivalry and repression.

Although Green is the sort of actress you can't take your eyes off , her presence is not enough to keep this movie from becoming mired in a slow and predictable rut.

"Cracks" is a bit of a knock-off, but it's a sturdily assembled vessel for a promising director and cast.

While Scott's movie has a consistent aura, it lacks a consistent tone.

Driven more by characters and relationships than narrative, Cracks explores the exclusionary power of cliques that develop within a closed society, the single-minded violence of the mob mentality, and the seductive charm of the charismatic individual.

"Cracks" recalls any number of girls-school dramas, like the much better "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie" (1969).

The story twists beautifully and shockingly. The ending is brilliant. Skillfully directed by Jordan Scott.

Along with Fiamma's shift, we can't buy a miscast Eva Green, whose teacher begins the film faultless and finishes looking like The Turn of the Screw's governess.

,,,sometimes seems too obvious, sometimes too opaque, and frequently leaves you guessing as to whether some episode has a deeper meaning or was just tossed out there to keep things moving.

Temple shines as Di. Her round face and large eyes convey almost as much as her dialogue.

Cracks only strays from the boarding school genre's playbook when it's entering questionable territory, making for a picture that's easily forgettable except in its disappointments.

Cracks is very tawdry and blunt, but it's also an effective parable about the way people -- especially impressionable young people -- can become complicit in their own oppression.