Stella Does Tricks

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Stella Does Tricks

Released Jan 28, 2000

1h 37m

Drama

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3 Reviews

61%

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250+ Ratings

Stella (Kelly Macdonald) is a 15-year-old Scottish runaway working as a prostitute in London. Her pimp, the abusive and manipulative Mr. Peters (James Bolam), controls her life and also runs the local underworld. When one of her friends is beaten by Peters' stooge, Fitz (Andy Serkis), Stella makes an attempt to go straight, with the help of a benevolent drug-addict (Hans Matheson). As she struggles to escape Peters' web, Stella realizes her best course of action is to enact revenge.

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Rated: 2/5

Aug 1, 2005

Full Review

David Noh

Film Journal International

This film might have actually been rather affecting if only one could understand what the hell the characters were saying.

Oct 30, 2001

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Christopher Null

Filmcritic.com

Rated: 2/5

Oct 30, 2001

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Audience Member

Amazing movie - dark, moving, brilliantly acted by Kelly MacDonald.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/14/23

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Audience Member

I expected this to be better. The performances are good, but the screenplay & direction were lacking something.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/19/23

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Audience Member

Teen runaway Stella (Kelly MacDonald) finds camaraderie in London among the stable of hookers run by her sly pimp, Mr. Peters (James Bolam). When one of her friends is abused by a thug, Stella attempts to escape her cruel life and start anew. Good movie on a disturbing subject.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/17/23

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Audience Member

I actually saw part of this late night on cable. I only gave it 1.5 stars because I never caught the ending. Anyway, no matter how horrible a character Andy Serkis plays, he is totally hot.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

01/13/23

Full Review

Audience Member

The film's grainy aesthetic and erratic soundtrack gives it a grittiness that helps it hit hard. It further manages this without being graphic in depicting the horrors of Stella's actions. The script does lack direction at times, but in doing so it captures more of a youthful thought process. Kelly Macdonald's performance is the best of the bunch, while the rest are effective but nothing to write home about. The film's ending is a bit of a letdown, and the constant cuts between Stella's life and her dreams can be obstructive at times.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/29/23

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Audience Member

couldn't get past the ice cream scene at the start

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

02/11/23

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Coky Giedroyc

Director

Kelly Macdonald

Stella

James Bolam

Mr. Peters

Hans Matheson

Eddie

Ewan Stewart

McGuire

Andy Serkis

Fitz

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Synopsis

Stella (Kelly Macdonald) is a 15-year-old Scottish runaway working as a prostitute in London. Her pimp, the abusive and manipulative Mr. Peters (James Bolam), controls her life and also runs the local underworld. When one of her friends is beaten by Peters' stooge, Fitz (Andy Serkis), Stella makes an attempt to go straight, with the help of a benevolent drug-addict (Hans Matheson). As she struggles to escape Peters' web, Stella realizes her best course of action is to enact revenge.

Director: Coky Giedroyc
Producer: Adam Barker
Screenwriter: A.L. Kennedy
Distributor: Strand Releasing
Production Co: Compulsive Films, Sidewalk Productions
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 28, 2000, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 13, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $2.4K
Runtime: 1h 37m
Sound Mix: Surround

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