Introduction
The Babysitters is a 2007 independent drama film produced by David Ross. The film stars Katherine Waterston and John Leguizamo and deeply delves into the themes of adolescence, power, and moral conflicts. This film is regularly categorized as an adult drama due to the subject matter but this review will look at the film’s narrative and the performances, without focusing on the more adult aspects, filmmaking aspects, and storytelling.
Plot Summary
The film tells the tale of Shirley (Katherine Waterston), who is a proper school high school student and works as a babysitter for Michael (John Leguizamo) and his wife, Gail (Cynthia Nixon). Michael, a typical suburban father, is just another unhappy husband caught up in a failing marriage. One day, events beyond Michael’s control arise between him and Shirley and as a result, Shirley’s friends become enveloped into a secret agreement.
With her eyes set to earning extra cash, Shirley comes up with the brilliant idea of enlisting other high school girls to Michael’s friends. What begins as grabbing an opportunity quickly spirals into a whole mess, affecting friendships, reputations, and lives. Shirley, a straight A student with big dreams, suddenly finds herself desperate to not lose her life, let it getting her tangled in a moral problem that is ultimately detrimental to her state of mind.
The film explores the dynamics of peer influence and control and vulnerability as well as the consequences of making choices. It brings up the issue of how these choices, at times, seem to be made without deeper understanding of responsibility.
Performances
Early in the film, Shirley, portrayed by Katherine Waterston, appears simplistic; however, her character become more complicated and intuitive as the movie progresses. Waterston plays the role of the young girl scoring financial independence at the expense of personal distress, or wanting to achieve economic freedom coupled with mental chaos. This makes her character realistic and complex. She struggles to balance the two, and Waterston does a great job of portraying this dissonance through her makeshift actions and facial expressions.
In addition, I wish to draw attention to John Leguizamo’s skillful approach to Michael. As an actor, he is known for his extreme flexibility. In this movie, he captures the character of a man undergoing internal conflict and self-doubt perfectly. Although Cynthia Nixon has a minor role, playing Michael’s wife, she portrays the causes and consequences of family deception effectively, adding greater depth to the film’s narrative.
Shirley’s parents and friends, like the other suburban children, are impressive in their performances. The relationships between the young girls are shown convincingly, with peer pressure and monetary gains leading to changing relations.
Direction and Cinematography
In the film, David Ross directs the film in a manner that is both restrained but also reminiscent of a documentary. Superb Igor Martinović both photographs and films Martin’s daily life in an almost affectionate manner. The film’s muted color palette intensifies the difference between Shirley’s teenage life and the fantasy world she is unwittingly drawn towards, while also giving credence to the film’s serious tone.
Sensationailzing the subject matter is not Ross’s forte. He chooses to look at the character’s interplay and the internal repercussions. The film’s pacing is smooth with a gradual build up of tension as the situation becomes dire. Some scenes are intentionally drawn out allowing the audience to fully cognize the gravity of Shirley’s decisions and the consequential events that follow.
Themes and Messages
The film, The Babysitters is at it’s heart a tale of poor choices and unfortunate consequences. Choosing to discuss an array of issues ranging from losing innocence and facing the pressures of growing up, the movie also touches on the imbalance of power. Young people are forced to make immature decisions because of the financial issues they are facing and also succumbing to peer pressure which they do not fully understand at the moment.
One of the most interesting elements of the film is the concept of control. Characters who appear to be in control of their lives undergo an agonising revelation: They were in fact control by or contained within their own choices. The same is true for Shirley and Michael who both have to deal with the fallout of their actions in an unforeseen way.
Another recurrent theme is the psychological damage caused by keeping secrets. With Shirley concentrating more on her professional life, it becomes evident that she has cut off: her studies, friendships and personal goals which ultimately served as her previous life. The film asks us rather discreetly if achieving financial objectives is worth sacrificing one’s identity.
Critical Review and Rating on IMDb
The Babysitters has received a mix of positive and negative reviews from critics and audiences. Some managed to find Waterston and Leguizamo’s performances remarkable and very engaging, whereas other found the critics of the goal uncomfortable and the intentions of the film vague regarding certain characters and moral dissection.
In the eyes of the audience, the film was moderately rated, as is the case with its reviews. It received praise for its realism and character development, as some viewers felt it could have better handled its themes.
Final Thoughts
The Babysitters is a reflective film that treats difficult issues. It is niche, but the direction and the acting make it worth watching. The movie hits the mark on showing how even the smallest decisions can have a huge impact on people, particularly young adults who are exploring their identities.
The audience is not given simple solutions to the questions posed by the film. Rather, they are forced to reflect on the actions and the motives of the characters. It can be viewed as a cautionary or even a socially critical perspective on modern adolescence. It is a film that will be remembered long after the credits are over.
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