Foxfire

Fans of the provocative Joyce Carol Oates novel are sure to be disgusted by screenwriter Elizabeth White and director Annette Haywood-Carter's adaptation. The movie explores the lives of four girls (Hedy Burress, Sarah Rosenberg, Jenny Lewis, Jenny Shimizu) who become friends when a mysterious stranger (Angelina Jolie) teaches them to think for themselves. The novel, however, was set in the '50s and painted a harrowing portrait of a tough girl gang fighting for survival in a world ruled by men. The '90s version simply fails to capture Oates' complex characters, their desperate need to form a gang, and their bleak family lives. While the film is entertaining, it's not an accurate representation of Oates' unflinching vision. Not a necessary purchase. (L. Russo)