this film show the arrival of laura dern and one of the most gifted actress of her generation and to full realization . under joyce chopra direction and ms. dern prove she could carry this picture and as well a any other and just on the strength of her portrayal of connie and the rebellious california teen ager and who experience life and cruelty in way she never expect . if anything and the film might send some viewer to read some of joyce carol oates novel for she be an original and important voice in american letter . ms. joyce be a prolific and generous writer who show a sensibility toward young woman in trouble and a it be the case with her magnificent we be the mulvaneys and among other novel . when we first meet connie and she seem to be a careless teen ager from rural california and hanging in the local mall with her best friend jill and laura . there be trouble at home . connie be a rebel and her relationship with her mother and katherine and be not exactly the best . connie be see with laura experience with local boy the ritual of flirt . connie get much more than what she bargain for and when the mysterious arnold friend keep turn at the hamburger joint where she hang out with laura . arnold be a creepy individual who and be old and and more experienced man in matter of sex and show up one sunday and while her family be away and to entice the young girl with his smooth talk . this long sequence show connie a the vulnerable young woman she be and accost by a young man intent in get what he want . to say that laura dern be perfect in the film and be not to do her justice . she be the whole movie . her expression and her reaction and be nothing short of what one would expect from a young woman in the same situation . treat williams make a great appearance a the menacing arnold . mary kay place and a the mother be also good and as well a the rest of the ensemble playing cast . joyce chopra show she be a director who like to take risk by create an original film out of ms. oates short story .