Trop jeune pour mourir

Brad Pitt and Juliette Lewis both turn in good performances in `Too Young To Die'. Together, the two really make the audience believe the roles are real; unfortunately, the roles are real as the movie is based on a true story. The movie has not one upbeat moment in it, then again, it's not suppose to, as the subject matter-the true story-can be described as nothing other than a depressing tragedy. Can our society condone the killing of children in the name of justice, even for crimes like the one described in this story? Or, should children be held to a different, lesser, standard than an adult? `Too Young To Die' does not answer this question, but it makes one think about it. So, if you want a good, thought provoking movie, this is the one, but if you're looking for a laugh, get a different film, because this one will bring you only tears.

Due to the seriousness of her crime, Amanda is being tried as an adult, for murder, and faces execution if guilty.

Amanda is 15 years old.

This film is based on a true story. Unfortunately, this means absolutely nothing in the film represents what actually happened to Amanda... except perhaps that she murdered someone and was found guilty.

So, viewing the film in it's own right, I think it does an excellent job of presenting us with information, with a scenario, and asking us many questions about the legal system, and the strange institution that is the death penalty. The subject is a minor, only 15yrs old. Alcohol and drugs are involved, and she is only 15yrs old. Sex, prostitution, and rape by a family member, and she is 15yrs old. Married, legally, at 15yrs old. Up in front of the beak, death penalty, possibly facing the end of her life, at 15yrs old.

In fact, having read my own paragraph above, I find it incredible that this is a true story... I mean, how could all this happen, and then a jury of adults be asked to decide on a death penalty for a child who has been through all this? Madness, to be sure. Perhaps a jury of 15yr olds would be better? After all, are we not supposed to be judged by our peers?

The situations in the film are well presented. The confusion and the strangeness not blindfolding us, and not brainwashing either.

We are allowed to think all the way through this movie... and I guess careful thought about this subject is what was needed. All actors do well, especially Lewis, who develops a very whole, very believable character throughout.

One criticism might be that while the film carries an 18 rating, what we actually see is , well, Disney-fied. The subject is wholly unpleasant, true or not, but the edges are certainly smoothed. It is presented in a Saturday matinée format, when it could quite easily, and maybe more truthfully, be presented in Natural Born Killers reality styley, and thus deserve it's rating.

Well worth watching... thought provoking, well acted, and deserves a "7" from me!

If this movie was true to fact, Well then the people who were on the jury was very blind. This poor girl was a puppet on a string, Form the way I got it is the dead beat she was with influenced her with drugs,fear, and a misguided sense of the word Love. Pumping her up with drugs then pumping her up with words to do something that with out the drugs she wouldn't even think of doing. full grown adults can be influenced with the help of drugs, and we're talking about a 15 year old child with a want to be needed and a place too call home. They had a chance too help this little girl, But instead they influenced one another too kill her. Did this happen during an election year? I don't know but it's very wrong when WE stop helping kids when they get into trouble, Ain't that what kids do?

Nothing new under the sun when it comes to storyline, here's another typical TV movie based on a real life story where a teen girl is accused of murdering a man and now she faces such charge with the possibility of getting the death penalty. Yet if the movie has some appeal and a following base is thanks to the fresh presences of future major stars Juliette Lewis and Brad Pitt. It's always fascinating to see and follow actors before their stardom and usually they deliver good performances which only evidences that they had a great deal of talent way before time - some actors appear in clunkers or cheesy movies, it's hard to escape and people need to eat, pay their bills and do what they love which is to act so most folks accept anything they can get. "Too Young to Die?" luckily is a fine moment for both young actors.

Juliette is the innocent teen whose major problem in life was having to deal with a problematic family with an abusive stepdad and a mother who refuses to believe in the girl's accusations against the drunk man. From there her life is all downhill after a brief, failed marriage with an irresponsible 18-year-old, she wanders from place to place starving to death without knowing what to do with her life since she can't come back home (and that lousy couple end up moving after all), until she finds the unwanted company of the low-life character played by Pitt, who arranges her a job as an exotic dancer. Their involvement plays the use of drugs mess things up and when she finally finds some solace in the company of a more mature man (Michael O'Keefe) things get pretty heavy.

The story is told through flashbacks, so she's already caught by authorities and we hear her version of events as she tells it to a dedicated lawyer (Michael Tucker), who'll try his best efforts to convince the jury and everyone that she's innocent. Their scenes are some of the best in the whole movie as he tries to uncover the truth and protect her from harm.

It's heavily cliched but then again so does life also happens to be a strange cliche, specially when it comes to lost characters and acts of murder. It's a painful experience to watch since almost nothing good happens to this naive girl, she doesn't stand a chance at anything, and we see that she could have turn things around for good in the company of a waitress who offers her a place to stay or a friend of which they became roommates for a while, she always makes the worst decision ever and it all revolves around men. But wasn't a man who ruined her life early on and made her an unwanted presence by his mother? It makes one angry that she fails to see the signs or understand things. Sure, teenagers are easily impressed most of the time but there's a part of me that kept wondering from what people did she came from? The brief presentation of her family life doesn't indicate someone as being living in a complete state of alienation yet she seems to not know anything about life. It's infurating.

On a higher level, the movie does have a positive meaning specially to youngsters. Watch it and you'll never forget the lessons to be learned from it. There's plenty of good things to show despite its downer storyline and outcome. On a more superficial level, just enjoy the show by the cast with everyone providing their best acting with the best of what's available. 6/10.

Too Young To Die is an above average television movie starring Brad Pitt, Juliette Lewis as a pair of young killers and Michael Tucker as the lawyer for Lewis. Tucker is desperately trying to keep her out of the gas chamber and the film is mostly in flashback as she tells her story.

The film really does belong to Juliette Lewis in a stunning portrayal of a pathetic life. She's 14, repeatedly raped by her stepfather, abandoned by her mother and living on the streets until she meets street hustler Brad Pitt.

Later on she develops a relationship with an army sergeant, Michael O'Keefe who has two small children. When their relationship is discovered by the army, Lewis is forced to go back to Pitt. She's full of hate for the world now and acts accordingly.

Michael Tucker who was playing lawyer Stuart Markowitz on L.A. Law at the time gets to play another attorney. He wants to help her, but Lewis is too dumb to get out of her own way.

Brad Pitt and Juliette Lewis got good notices for Too Young To Die and later played the same kind of parts in the theatrical film, Kalifornia.

I'm not a reflexive opponent of the death penalty, but applying to a minor and one like this seemed unjust. I think even some of the most hard hearted proponents of capital punishment would think twice about the state executing Lewis.

Too Young To Die is a fine film showcasing the talents of up and coming stars Brad Pitt and Juliette Lewis. See them in their salad days.