Catherine Hardwicke 101: Diving Into The Emotionally Captivating Work Of The Director Of 'Miss Bala'

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Catherine Hardwicke hasn't exactly gotten a fair shake in Hollywood. Despite directing several indie favorites and turning the first Twilight book into a goldmine, she's gotten relatively little credit. Hardwicke tends to direct films aimed at feminine audiences, which are traditionally looked down upon by (overwhelmingly male) critics. She's a true indie director who understands the power of storytelling, even on a shoestring budget. Hardwicke knows how to highlight emotion, using handheld camera techniques and working closely with performers to get the most out of every scene.In Miss Bala, in theaters now, Gloria (Gina Rodriguez) is a makeup artist from Los Angeles who gets caught up in kidnapping, money laundering, and drug cartels after a trip to Tijuana. She ends up playing both sides, working with both the cartel leader and the DEA. She'll have to rely on all her strength and cunning to survive the dangerous world of cross-border crime. Based on the 2011 Mexican film of the same name, Miss Bala highlights Hardwicke's return to telling emotional stories about women in precarious situations.

The Plot: Thirteen-year-old Tracy (Evan Rachel Wood) is a troubled teen who smokes and cuts herself but has somehow maintained good grades. That all changes when Tracy befriends popular girl Evie (Nikki Reed, who co-wrote the script with Hardwicke based upon her own troubled youth). Tracy and Evie start behaving badly, having sex, doing drugs, and committing petty crimes. Tracy's life begins spiraling out of control, and she learns that hurting herself also hurts the ones she loves.Unique Visual Flair: Thirteen was shot on a super 16mm camera, almost entirely handheld by cinematographer Elliot Davis. This gives the film a documentary-like style. Hardwicke also used color saturation to tell Tracy's story. Before she meets Evie, the film is slightly less saturated, duller. During her friendship, the colors become almost magically bright. Then, as things begin to fall apart, the color begins seeping back out of the picture.Most Emotional Moment: The film's climax/final scene, in which Tracy finally breaks down in front of her mother (Holly Hunter, who was nominated for an Academy Award for the role).Watch it: Available to rent on Amazon and Google Play.

The Plot: In Nazareth in the year 1 BCE, teenage girl Mary (Keisha Castle-Hughes) is betrothed to marry a local carpenter, Joseph (Oscar Isaac). She's visited by an angel and told that she will give birth to God's son. The Nativity Story focuses on Mary and Joseph's trials and tribulations as they travel across the desert to Bethlehem. Though Hardwicke had a religious upbringing, she said she was especially interested in the story of Mary, a peasant girl and a teen who was suddenly thrust into greatness.Unique Visual Flair: Though Hardwicke abandoned the highly-saturated look of her previous two films, The Nativity Story was nonetheless shot by Davis and still features highly dramatic lighting.Most Emotional Moment: Though Mary is terrified, both of being an unwed mother and the repercussions for being one, she finds some faith in her destiny when taking a break in the field with a kinswoman who is also pregnant. Her kinswoman is beyond child-bearing age, and thus the two are the subjects of "miracles" on opposite ends of the age spectrum. The two stand together and touch one another's rounded bellies. It's a moment that makes the reality of Mary's situation feel understandable, and illustrates the power of shared experiences.Watch it: Available to rent on Google Play and Vudu.

The Plot: Set in a medieval village, Valerie (Amanda Seyfried) faces a typical fairy tale dilemma: she's in love with a woodsman (Shiloh Fernandez), but her parents have already betrothed her to marry a wealthy blacksmith's son (Max Irons). Valerie's plans to run away with the woodsman are interrupted when a werewolf that normally stalks the edges of the town attacks and kills her older sister. The villagers enlist the help of a famed werewolf hunter (Gary Oldman) to get their revenge, but Valerie worries that the werewolf's true identity is that of someone close to her heart.Unique Visual Flair: Red Riding Hood has the look of a fairy tale, with gorgeous scenery and set design. The costumes, color-grading, and cinematography by Mandy Walker, who also did the Beauty and the Beast update Beastly the same year, all enhance the fairy tale setting.Most Emotional Moment: Valerie discovers the werewolf's identity, and she has a much closer connection to the wolf than she thought. She must choose between saving the person she loves, or killing the wolf that has terrorized the village.Watch it: Available to rent on Google Play and YouTube.

The Plot: Jess (Drew Barrymore) and Milly (Toni Collette) have been best friends as long as they can remember. Their friendship is put to the test when Milly discovers she has breast cancer and Jess finally becomes pregnant after trying fertility treatments. As they become estranged from their husbands and try to survive together, their secrets end up tearing them apart. The movie follows them as they attempt to reconcile their differences in the face of tragedy and explores the complicated relationships we all have with the people we love.Unique Visual Flair: Hardwicke shot two of the film's close-up shots on an iPhone 5 because she felt that it allowed for more intimacy with the actors than a traditional, large film camera.Most Emotional Moment: This entire film is a series of heartbreaking gut-punches, so it's nearly impossible to pick a most emotional moment.Watch it: Available to rent on Amazon and Vudu.