Rating: NNNNN
GIRLFIGHT (Karyn Kusama, 1999) is first-time writer/director Kusama’s inspirational girl-meets-boy, girl-beats-up-boy love story. Michelle Rodriguez stars as Diana Guzman, a Brooklyn teen with a bad attitude and a nasty mean streak. She discovers boxing as a way to channel her anger, and in the process falls for fellow pugilist Adrian (Santiago Douglas). Rodriguez holds the movie together with her super-intense performance, all the more astonishing because it’s her screen debut. She’s physically intimidating, but her glower and sneer mask a young woman who’s afraid of finding and then losing love. Look for Rodriguez to have a breakthrough year in 2001 with roles in a few indie and action films. NNNN (Music Hall December 3-4, Kingsway December 5-6) INGRID RANDOJA
