On March 15th Harmony Korine's controversial "Spring Breakers" opens in limited release.
The film starring James Franco, Vanessa Hudgens, Selena Gomez, Rachel Korine and Ashley Benson tells the story of four college girls who land in jail after robbing a restaurant in order to fund their spring break vacation. When they find themselves bailed out by a drug and arms dealer they take the ride and go for the thrills.
The film premiered at the Toronto Film festival and made its US premiere at the SXSW Film Festival. Reviews were mixed with Hollywood Reporter stating "It has hypnotic visual style and a dense, driving soundscape. But it's also too monotonous and thematically empty to be seriously provocative."
Variety also disliked it stating "Attractively fizzy pic may be a shock to the system for fans of teen queens Selena Gomez and Vanessa Hudgens, but remains pretty toothless titillation by its writer-helmer's standards."
The Playlist was more receptive and gave the movie a B grade. The publication stated "Ultimately a fairly thin, pulpy crime tale, given more substance than it should have on paper thanks to some excellent filmmaking."
Coming Soon also said "As edgy and in-your-face as Fight Club, Spring Breakers may be just as divisive."
Korine last directed "Trash Humpers" and "Mister Lonely." He came to fame after writing the script to Larry Clark's controversial film "Kids." Franco is currently starring in "Oz: The Great and Powerful" and will next be seen in "This is the End." Gomez last voiced a role for "Hotel Transylvania," and starred in "Aftershock." Hudgens last starred in "Sucker Punch" and is set to appear in "The Frozen Ground." Benson and Korine currently star in "Pretty Little Liars."
A24 will distribute the film in New York and Los Angeles. "Spring Breakers" is rated R for strong sexual content, language, nudity, drug use and violence throughout.