THE EDGE OF SEVENTEEN
Directed by Kelly Fremon Craig
Screenplay by Kelly Fremon Craig
Starring Hailee Steinfeld; Woody Harrelson; Kyra Sedgwick; Haley Lu Richardson; and Hayden Szeto
Let me get right to it, first time director and screenwriter Kelly Fremon Craig has created a gem here. Perfection.
She does a perfect job of understanding what it is like to grow up in a high school at this day and age of cell phones. The pressure of trying to be liked. The pain of a crush. The self centered behavior of a teenager. The realization of the loss of friends/ friends moving on. Craig has this story so real that often it is cringe-worthy.
This cannot work without good performances and it starts with the lead Steinfeld. I loved her in True Grit. Loved her in 3 Days To Kill. Not so much in Pitch Perfect 2. Here as Nadine she shines. She is in every scene. She is stubborn. Heartrendingly sad. Lost. We see her as a self centered teen, at the same time we feel so much for her.
There are other wonderful performances around here:
Woody Harrelson as the the most honest teacher in high school in years. He cares, but does not want to be in the spotlight. it is hilarious how he just wants to get through his day in peace.
Haley Lu Richardson as Nadine's best friend and then former best friend. Giving a wonderful performance walking a tightrope of trying to keep her friend but at the same time being in love with her friends brother. At first we think that she is awful for doing this to her friend, then we start to see maybe she is not the problem. It is a difficult part that is well played.
Blake Jenner as Darian, Nadine's brother. At first I thought he was ...a dud, a popular High school kid cliche. However as the story moves forward you start to see he is more, capped off with a wonderful lecture to Nadine. it is not an easy part and he pulls it off.
Kyra Sedgewick as mom. She is underused and kind of a cliche. However she is Kyra freaking Sedgewick!!
Then there is a small part played wonderfully by Hayden Szeto. Showing clearly that being awkward in high school is not just for girls. However finding a like crowd can change so much. He takes his small part and makes it big.
I really cannot think of much say bad about this film. It is funny one moment and heartbreaking the next.
5 out of 5 stars for The Edge Of Seventeen, one of the best if not the best film of the year.
BILLY LYNN'S LONG HALFTIME WALK
Directed by Ang Lee
Screenplay by Jean-Christophe Castelli
Based on the book by Ben Fountain
Starring Joe Alwyn; Steve Martin; Chris Tucker and Kristen Stewart
Coming clean I read the book. I think the book will be a classic.
So I was looking forward to the film, especially knowing Ang Lee was directing.
Well the film takes place during one day . Thanksgiving day at the Dallas Cowboys game. By the way Cowboys in the book, not in the film. Maybe because they did not get the NFL's okay after reading the book because the Jerry Jones character played by Steve Martin is an ass.
The movie is an interesting story that finds a middle ground between pro service and antiwar.
The characters are interesting. However we really do not get much about them. From book to movie they have been kind of sterilized.
I understand that it is hard to get a film all about the leads thoughts from book to screen, but maybe some books are not meant to be on the screen.
In the book The Dallas owner is an ass...here is a slight ass. Sterilizing.
Kristen Stewart playing Kathryn Billy's sister. Loves Billy so much but is stuck at home. A very good actress playing another character who is just there.
Then you have newcomer Makenzie Leigh who is the character that tugs at Billy (along with his sister), but she again is just there.
Nothing seems to go deep. We lose thoughts and conversations.
Then they give more time to Albert, played by Chris Tucker, a producer. He gets more time than in the book. Albert is more annoying in the movie, they should not have ramped up his part. Bad decision. They could have used that time for important character development.
I know it is not fair to judge a movie by a book. So I look for positive.
The movie is interesting because it takes place in one day.
Newcomer Joe Alwyn is very good as Billy. Holding his own being in every scene.
Like the book it stays with you.
Does Billy make the right choice?
2 1/2 out of 5 stars.
As always from the shadows thanks for your time.
No comments:
Post a Comment