12 and Holding
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Movie Reviews of 12 and Holding
Movie Review: real kids not your Disney or Nichelodeon cutesy fakes
Summary: 5 Stars
A true baseball fanatic will go to a hundred baseball games hoping to be at that one well-played game in which your team wins the game on a home run in the bottom of the ninth. Nothing in sports can match the euphoria of that moment and it stays with you for weeks, months and sometimes years after all the other games are long forgotten. This movie is just like that. It is a rare treasure of great acting by all the performers, (not your cutsey Disney or Nickelodeon kids), of unexpected plot changes, of great story telling, and most noteably, scenes that somehow stay with you long after the movie ends. Somehow, I really ended up caring for all the characters: the kids, the parents, the construction worker, and even the so-called bad kid; and hoping that their lives will get better in the future. That is a rare film indeed that you can see the weaknesses and the strengths of all the characters and you end up liking all of them and hoping every thing turns out ok for all of them. Watch the film and see if you don't think about the characters when you are in a quiet setting or trying to fall asleep. It took me awhile to fall asleep after watching the film.
Movie Review: Very Thoughtful, Well-Acted, Insightful, Thought Provoking etc.!
Summary: 5 Stars
I saw this was airing on TMC last weekend. Didn't have time to watch it, then, but the brief description intrigued me enough to record it. After finally getting around to watching it, I'm so glad that I did. At first, I only recognized Annabella Sciorra in the cast listed at the beginning of the movie. I was quite pleased to discover Zoe Weisenbaum (who I'd first seen in "Lost in America" with Danny Glover); Jeremy Renner ("Twenty Eight Weeks Later"), and Conor Donovan ("The Departed"). Not one of these actors could be called a "Superstar" - at least, not at this point in their careers. (However, based on what I saw from some of these performers, that could change.) However, my point is that this was a very finely-crafted piece of work as regards screenplay, acting, direction...very much a work of art, without being "artsy." And the fact that it accomplished this without any tremendous "Star Power" is proof that it deserves all the accolades I, and others, have offered. Entertainment mixed with relevant social issues can be riveting and powerful stuff. (BTW: This film probably should not be viewed by those under 17 or 18.)Movie Review: brilliant and scary
Summary: 5 Stars
To say that 12 and Holding is a monumental cinematic acheivement would be saying the absolute least. Michael Cuesta, director of the equally brilliant and disturbing L.I.E. gives us another glimpse at young lives and deadly circumstances. After losing his brother to a prank played by bullies, a young boy must face life and its tragedies head on. His parents couldn't be more at odds over the situation, adding to his confusion, while his friends ultimately seem to be slipping into their own voids and allowing the sadness and desperation of their own problems to surface. Absolutely perfect acting performances propel this independent film to its' ultimate shocking climactic moment that caused such a force of emotions in me that I had to pause the DVD until I could properly get a grip and finish the film. This is as real as life gets. It is a movie to watch and really talk about. It serves as a prime example of what can happen when bullying goes too far. direction: 5+ stars Acting:5+ stars story: 5+ starsMovie Review: Good script, good acting, and unpredictable.
Summary: 5 Stars
Destined to be a sleeper gem that will remain largely undiscovered by most folks due to the unpopular content: kids are portrayed not as innocent teddy bears, but as savvy, wise-beyond-their-years, young adults. This is a big, tough, serious drama, with tension and a big emotional punch that will connect. Brace yourself for a rocky ride.
It might have been more believable if the kids were all geniuses from a magnet school. Frankly I have never been acquainted with anyone quite as precocious and independent as the characters in this film. But maybe this is where the human race is headed in the future.
It offers a welcome respite from the same old saws being churned out by the movie industry. I prize originality, creativity and most of all, good writing, and this movie definitely has all that. Highly recommended.
Movie Review: Blown away
Summary: 5 Stars
This film blew me away. It's a very surprising and touching script - daring and true, I think, to what could easily happen to these characters as a result of their circumstances. I thought all three storylines were remarkable, and I'm surprised that Anthony S. Cipriano wasn't nominated for an Independent Spirit award for Best First Screenplay. I think he should have been. I'm voting for the Spirit Awards, and this is my favorite of all the films, which is saying a lot. Very psychological, and very well-done - nothing missing, nothing superfluous, nothing overly confusing. Just beautiful, although certainly disturbing. Great performances from the children and especially from Jeremy Renner.