Speak

2004
PG-13
1h 29m

IMDb RATING

7.2/10

30K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

3,620

1,211

Drama

A teenager is traumatized into silence after a disastrous summer party.A teenager is traumatized into silence after a disastrous summer party.A teenager is traumatized into silence after a disastrous summer party.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.2/10

30K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

3,620

1,211

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 2 wins & 2 nominations total

Trivia
"Sordino," Melinda's last name, means "muted."

Goofs
At the party, when Rachel slaps Melinda after learning that Melinda called the cops, Rachel's hair is straight. However, when Rachel gets into the car with her friends that are trying to escape, her hair is curly.

Quotes
Heather: [to Melinda] I hate being a Martha. You were so right not to join. I mean all I am is their little slave. Okay, it was supposed to be me and Meg and Siobhan decorating the Holiday Inn for prom. And now Meg and Siobhan can't do it and I'm totally screwed! Mel, you have to help me! They have some sales meeting in there until like 3:00, but then they'll let us start and I know we can do it!
[Melinda blankly stares at her]
Heather: You are so great! I owe you big time! What if I help you redecorate your room? I know, a nice seafoam green!
Melinda Sordino: [hesitates] No...
Heather: Okay. Or something rich like... like eggplant!
Melinda Sordino: No, I mean, I won't help you.
Heather: But you have to.
Melinda Sordino: No, I don't.
Heather: But why?
Melinda Sordino: Because I was nice to you in the beginning of school when I didn't even like you and you blew me... blew me off because you're a self-centered social climber! And you know what? I know what I wanna do to my room and it doesn't involve eggplant. I think you should go.

Connections
Featured in Chris Stuckmann Movie Reviews: Speak (2004) - Overlooked Movies (2020)

Soundtracks
Heliopause
Written & Performed by Starving Goliath
Used with permission

User reviews119

Review

Featured review

8/10

Speak, shout or whisper??

Well which one is it? This movie really surprised me, as the performances from Stewart and Zahn are brilliant. The movie slowly unfolds and tells us the story of Melinda (Stewart) and a traumatic event during her summer causes her to lose all her confidence and become alienated from society.

Her fellow classmates and her "ex best friends" bully her and parents don't understand her problem because she cannot talk or even imagine the event that caused her confidence to falter.

Stewart does a great job as the frightened unconfident Melinda and the narration from her is quirky, funny but also gives an insight of how the character actually feels. Zahn also does a great job as the funky art teacher trying to inspire his students and help Melinda regain her confidence.

The direction of the film is steady and knows where it wants to head and finish and shows the harsh reality of highschool where cliques form and bullying thrives but i felt that Angarano and Zahn deserved more screen time because they were great.

Positives: Great acting, good story and really pulls you into the film Negatives: Should've had more from the secondary characters Overall: Should definitely watch this film!!