Glass House,The

Glass House,The is rated PG-13: for sinister thematic elements, violence, drug content and language

ARRIVING HOME AFTER a weekend of partying, Ruby Baker (Leelee Sobieski) finds a police car parked in her driveway. Her guilty conscience immediately concludes her naively trusting parents have discovered she really wasn't at a friend's house doing homework. But the reason for the officers' visit proves to be more shattering than that. Her mother and father have been killed in a car crash.

Fortunately, the conscientious and forward planning Bakers ensured their will named former neighbors Mr. Terry and Dr. Erin Glass (Stellan Skarsgard and Diane Lane) as guardians of their two children. Unfortunately, they did not foresee the great deal of change that occurred to their family friends since they moved from the modest community into a pricey Malibu house made largely of windows.

With little to provide privacy in the home's open floor plan, it doesn't take long for Ruby and her brother Rhett (Trevor Morgan) to see through the couple's fa0xE7ade. Along with the revelation of financial problems and drug additions, comes the nagging suspicion that their parent's accident may not have been as accidental as it first appeared. For the viewer, this comes as no surprise as the sinister motives of the characters have been transparent from the beginning.

When her guardian also displays some inappropriate sexual attention, Ruby seeks non-violent means to get out of the dangerous situation. But skepticism tosses her back into the fishbowl where she is forced to take matters into her own hands. Although family ties tighten as the rebellious teen tries to protect her younger sibling, Ruby's efforts to preserve life eventually resort to revenge.

Predictably the movie is filled with violent acts. Scenes of peril include gore, motor vehicle collisions, suicide, and depictions of dead people. There is also an abundance of drug use and abuse, both for controlling another person and for escaping reality. Add a smattering of language and parents have ample reason to be concerned about their children peeking into The Glass House. (They may also want to reconsider their estate plans!)

Studio: (pictures (c)2001 Columbia Pictures).

Throughout the film, Ruby wears clothes that are designed to look sexy, yet is distraught when she attracts some unwanted male attention. How can the things we choose to wear send unintentional messages to others? (ie: designer fashions, shabby clothes, etc.) Have you ever judged a person by their apparel?

Ruby’s rebellious nature thinks very little of lying, cheating, or bending rules. How do these seemingly minor misdemeanors come back to haunt her when she seeks help?

Brokedown Palace is another movie that explores the consequences of acquiring a dishonest reputation.

Alfred Hitchcock’s Rear Window also presents some of the dangers of living in a glass house.

Although we have not reviewed the DVD version of The Glass House, we provide the following for your convenience…

• Studio: Columbia/Tristar
• Theatrical release date: September 14, 2001
• DVD release date: January 2, 2002
• Runtime: 111 minutes
• Production company: Columbia Pictures
• Package type: Snap case
• Aspect ratio: Widescreen anamorphic - 1.33:1
• DVD encoding: Region 1
• Available audio tracks: English (Dolby Digital 5.1), French (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround).
• Available subtitles: English, French.

• Production notes
• Theatrical trailer
• Director commentary
• Deleted scenes
• Filmmaker interviews